When it comes to acne, I’m no stranger. I struggled with acne in high school, university, and Naturopathic Medical school.
Acne affects people of all ages. Approximately 80% of people are affected by acne at some point in their lifetime.
Acne develops when sebum and dead skin cells block hair follicles.
Like me, most acne sufferers are willing to try anything.
I used Proactiv for a long time (along with antibiotics and other acne medications). While these treatments helped for a short while, the acne always came back (with a vengeance).
I knew I was masking a deeper underlying issue, so eventually I went to see a Naturopathic Doctor.
My ND put me on a cleanse, cleaned up my diet, and helped re-balance my gut flora with probiotics.
Cleaning up my diet was the hardest. I repeatedly heard from dermatologists that acne had nothing to do with food.
Wrong!
I soon learned that my acne had EVERYTHING to do with what I was eating.
A diet high in sugar and fast food can trigger gut inflammation, which can lead to skin inflammation.
I had inflammation because I was living off sugary treats, burgers, fries, and Diet Coke.
My diet was horrible.
Since I was a fitness instructor who was at the gym 7 days a week, I felt like I could eat whatever I wanted.
Boy was I wrong.
Now, let’s chat about coconut oil for acne. Because …
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked about using coconut oil for acne.
Probably because there are lots of articles online which recommend coconut oil for acne.
Raw, unrefined coconut oil can help (but it may NOT be right for your skin).
When it comes to acne, it’s important to identify the underlying root cause. The root of the problem can be gut inflammation, hormonal imbalances, Candida overgrowth, or food intolerances.
Coconut oil is gaining popularity because it works to re-balance the oils in the skin. While it doesn’t work for everybody, many people swear by its ability to fight acne-causing bacteria.
Let’s figure out what makes coconut oil so unique.
Firstly, coconut oil carries anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. This is mainly due to Lauric acid – the medium chain fatty acid that is found in coconut oil.
Lauric acid is the most potent anti-microbial agent among the three medium chain fatty acids that make up coconut oil.
One study evaluated Lauric acid’s ability to kill Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), which is the main bacteria responsible for causing inflammatory acne.1
What researchers found was very interesting.
When Lauric acid was released directly into the bacterial membranes of P. acnes, it demonstrated strong anti-microbial effects killing off the bacteria that was present.
Skin not only cleared within a short period of time, the coconut oil prevented future breakouts.
While medicated creams and topical ointments work for some people, these can dry out the skin and cause more oil production.
Coconut oil is often used in place of acne creams and ointments because it doesn’t trick the body into thinking there isn’t enough oil being produced.
Rather than stripping the skin of moisture, a small amount of coconut oil is often used to re-balance the skin’s natural oils.
As an added bonus, coconut oil does not contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. These can lead to fine lines and premature aging.
If you decide to try coconut oil on your skin, leave a comment down below and let me know your thoughts.
I love using it on my skin, and maybe you will too.
References:
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19665786
Dr. Sara has appeared on multiple radio shows/podcasts, the W Network, Breakfast Television and CP24. For almost 5 years, she worked as the National Spokesperson for a well-known digestive wellness brand, educating across the globe on gut health. Dr. Sara has been named a rising star in Canada receiving the Generation Next award for her outstanding contribution to shaping the future of Canada’s grocery industry. She frequently contributes to large publications and has been published in Best Health Magazine, The Globe and Mail, Sweat Equity, Grocery Business, Inside Fitness, Canadian Living, Elevate, HELLO, and ELLE Canada.
Dr. Sara’s approach to healthcare is not as easy as taking a pill. The “quick-fix” approach is not one she subscribes to. While there’s a pill for just about everything, rarely do prescription drugs stop the course of disease - they merely mask symptoms. Dr. Sara believes true health requires a commitment from both the doctor and the patient.
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