Does Coconut Oil Work For Eczema

Coconut Oil Boosts The Immune System

One of the complications of long-term treatment with steroid creams is that the body can develop allergic reactions to them. To counteract this, doctors may prescribe medication to suppress the immune system resulting in a reduction of allergic reactions. However, some of the side effects of these drugs are a risk of serious infection, vomiting, increased risk of cancer, and high blood pressure.7

However, it is known that coconut oil has properties which boost the immune system and help to modulate it. The lauric acid helps to enhance the immune response in the body and doesnt cause any side effects.8

You can also find other ways to boost your immune system.

Which Type Of Coconut Oil Is Effective On Eczema

Not every coconut oil is safe and effective. When you are looking out for the effective one, you should consider only virgin, unrefined, cold compressed and organic coconut oil.

Why?

Refined coconut oil is prepared from dried coconut meat and during preparation various chemicals are used for extended shelf life.

Virgin coconut oil is prepared from fresh meat without any chemicals added. So it has many nutritional benefits and effective than refined ones.

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Coconut Oil Is Gentle For All Skin Types

Coconut oil is so gentle on the skin that it can also be used on infants. In fact, eczema is a skin condition which affects more infants than adults.

The National Eczema Association website published a story by a mother whose 3-month old son had eczema. She found that the medication doctors prescribed would help for a time, but then the eczema would return. She started using extra virgin coconut oil and found a huge improvement in her sons condition.9

Studies into using coconut oil on infants also show that it is safe to use and is an effective moisturizer for atopic dermatitis.10

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Myeczemateam Members Comment On Coconut Oil For Eczema

Many MyEczemaTeam members have discussed using coconut oil to manage their symptoms. One member wrote: I used some shea butter with coconut oil and havent itched all day. Another member saw success after combining coconut oil with another product, writing: I tried coconut oil and calendula mixed together. Its helping so far.

One member found more success trying a different natural remedy instead: Its day four of using avocado oil on my arms and face after the worst flare-up this summer. So far, it has proven to work better for me than coconut oil, hemp oil, and sunflower oil. Ultimately, although both member stories and scientific studies have supported the possibility of coconut oil helping to manage eczema symptoms, it may not work for everyone.

Evidence For Coconut Oil On Eczema Rashes:

One study compared mineral oil to virgin coconut oil on the skin to treat symptoms of eczema . During the two months of the study, coconut oil performed better in easing the symptoms of these children, confirming your own experience.

Coconut oil is a source of medium-chain fatty acids. Perhaps that is what your naturopathic expert meant when she suggested your son needed some type of mid-level oil. This may or may not explain why it worked better than other creams and lotions.

We should warn that some people might have an allergic reaction to the coconut oil itself. Although this appears to be a rare reaction, it has been reported .

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Is Coconut Oil Effective For Eczema

The short answer, according to the National Eczema Association , is: It depends.

First, its important to note that coconut oil cannot cure eczema, but may help alleviate dryness and itchiness associated with eczema. There is no cure for the skin condition at this time, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration must approve a medication before it can be considered to effectively treat a health condition.

That said, some of coconut oils properties may make it beneficial in the everyday management of symptoms like dry skin. As the NEA notes, one of the first steps to managing itchy skin caused by eczema is to prevent it with daily moisturizing, which helps replenish the skin barrier. Because coconut oil can penetrate the skin quickly and efficiently, it can help hydrate and fight itchiness associated with dry skin.

One member of MyEczemaTeam shared their experience using coconut oil compared to prescription treatments: I think Ive found what is helping: coconut oil! Its taking a little longer than the steroid creams, but I can tell a difference! Ive been using it for three days now, and it seems to be working, slowly but surely!

Supplies & Ingredients Needed To Make Calendula Salve

• 1 cup of calendula oil, or 8 ounces
• 3 to 4 tablespoons* of beeswax pastilles, or about 1 ounce if youre using shaved, block, or other forms of beeswax. *If you opt to also add shea butter, use only 3 level tbsp of beeswax pastilles. However if you skip the shea butter, use 4 tbsp beeswax.
• Optional: 2 tbsp of shea butter. I personally like to add shea, but it isnt required! Shea butter is highly moisturizing and rich in vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants.
• Optional: essential oils of choice. Calendula has a mild earthy smell, but it is not extremely aromatic or floral on its own. Therefore, I like to add a few drops of certified organic lavender oil to my calendula salve for added soothing aromatherapy. Tea tree, peppermint, rosemary, lemon, or eucalyptus are also great choices! You only need a few drops of essential oils, as a little goes a long way!
• A double-boiler, or make-shift double boiler such as a pot within a pot, or a glass pyrex bowl or stainless steel bowl perched on top of a saucepan with water below. The use of a double-boiler is important, to avoid overheating the calendula oil and thus reduce much of its healing potency!
• Small glass jars or salve tins, for storage. We used these 2-ounce amber glass jars for this particular batch, though we sometimes used larger 4-ounce jars too.

Makes: Just over 1 cup of finished salve .

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Coconut Oil And The Skin

So what exactly is coconut oil and how can it help treat eczema? First, lets talk skin. Healthy skin helps retain moisture and protect from bacteria, irritants and allergens. In people with eczema, theres a gene variation that affects the skin’s ability to stay hydrated and provide this protection, making it an easy target for these environmental irritants. In short, people with eczema have to work extra hard to replenish moisture in the skin and lock it in, while those without eczema often have soft, hydrated skin without trying too hard .

Eczema is a lifelong health condition connected to the immune system and its inflammatory response. Unfortunately, researchers dont have quite enough info to develop a cure for this irritating problem, so for now we have to settle for alternative methods that treat the itchy red symptoms rather than the underlying condition. So, about that coconut oil for eczema

Coconut oil is an edible oil made by pressing the fat from the white, meaty kernel of mature coconuts harvested from the coconut palm. Over the last few years, its gained a cult-like following, being touted as a superfood that can help manage obesity, slow Alzheimers, improve metabolism and lower cholesterol, among many other things.

But thats for another day. Here, were just talking about a topical treatment for irritated, itchy skin and it turns out when it comes to baby eczema, coconut oilmight provide some serious benefits.

What Do I Need To Know About Immunosuppressants Used To Treat Eczema

• Not specifically approved to treat eczema sometimes used off-label for moderate-to-severe eczema.
• Sometimes used as an alternative to phototherapy.
• Very strong medications, developed for chemotherapy and to prevent organ rejection after transplants.
• Require short-term use and regular blood test monitoring by a doctor.Side effects may include blood pressure and kidney or liver problems.

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Coconut Oil Is Nourishing

The difference between coconut oil and other animal-based oils lies in their fatty acids.

Animal-based fats comprise of Long Chain Fatty acids whereas coconut oil is made up of medium-chain fatty acids.

Due to this reason coconut oil can easily penetrate the layers of skin tissue and repair the damage of eczema. It nourishes the skin and gives you a supple, healthy skin.

Anjou Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

While coconut is not an essential oil, it may help some people who suffer from eczema. There is some evidence to suggest that coconut oil contains other components that can help soothe the skin with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, says Fenton, supporting a study published in December 2009 in Pharmaceutical Biology. This versatile oil can also be used on the hair, scalp, and nails. Anjou Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cold-pressed, and unrefined.

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Coconut Oil Jojoba Oil And Beeswax

Another method to use coconut oil for eczema is to combine it with jojoba oil and beeswax. Thus, what you need to do now is to follow these steps below

• Firstly, prepare six tablespoons of coconut oil, four tablespoons of jojoba oil, two tablespoons of shea butter as well as two tablespoons of beeswax
• Then melt down jojoba oil and beeswax by using a double boiler
• Next, add coconut oil to this melted mixture and stir until it is completely melted
• Now turn to low heat as well as add shea butter and allow it to melt
• Keep stirring well and remove the heat
• After that, pour this mixture into the airtight jar, add two drops of lavender oil to this mixture and stir well
• Finally, take a small amount of this mixture to apply on your eczema affected area and allow it to dry
• Repeat this process twice a day until you dont see eczema on your skin anymore.

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Randomization Treatment Allocation And Blinding

The study statistician generated a list of random numbers using the table of random numbers. An assigned resident, who was blinded to the codes, allocated the treatments randomly using the list and dispensed the packaged bottles accordingly. The codes were not disclosed to the investigators until the end of the study.

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Is Coconut Oil Good For Eczema

A double-blind randomised control study* of 117 children carried out over 8 weeks in 2013 showed that coconut oil was markedly better in improving mild to moderate eczema than the mineral oil it was compared to. As similar mineral oils are used in the majority of eczema emollients, coconut oil represents a very interesting alternative eczema treatment. A similar study of adult eczema sufferers in 2008 has shown that applying coconut oil twice a day can decrease bacterial colonization by 95 per cent in eczema sufferers .

This reduction is probably due to the presence of lauric acid in coconut oil. Lauric acid is a proven antibacterial and anti-fungal agent which is not present in olive oil. It is well known that bacterial infection aggravates eczema, so these proven antibacterial properties of coconut oil must play an important part in its effectiveness in treating eczema.

So, yes: there is strong evidence for coconut oil improving mild to moderate eczema and reducing the bacterial activity which is thought to aggravate eczema. On this basis, we think that coconut oil a very interesting natural eczema treatment that is definitely worth trying for your eczema child.

*neither the parents nor the researchers carrying out the evaluations knew which children were treated with coconut oil as opposed to mineral oil control.

Webinar All About Complementary And Alternative Treatments For Eczema

Does coconut oil really work? Get up-to-date information about which natural treatments for eczema are shown effective through rigorous scientific research and which arent.

PresenterPeter Lio, MD, is assistant professor of clinical dermatology and pediatrics dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and founding director of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Center.

• National Eczema Association | 505 San Marin Drive, #B300 | Novato, CA 94945
• 415-499-3474 or 800-818-7546

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Data Processing And Analysis

For demographic characteristics, Student’s t-test was used for continuous variables and Pearson’s chi-squared test for categorical data. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to estimate differences in the proportions of patients achieving at least moderate improvement in SCORAD values, as previously defined. To measure the association between treatment and the occurrence of moderate or excellent improvement, treatment effects such as relative and absolute risk reductions and number needed to treat were also computed. Statistical analyses were performed using stata Version 10 . An intention-to-treat analysis was used for all patients included who received at least one dose of treatment. Test results that produced P-values of < 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant.

What Do I Need To Know About Oral Or Topical Antibiotics Used To Treat Eczema

• Topical antibiotics are used for small, localized bacterial infections oral antibiotics are used for more extensive or severe skin infections.
• Topical antibiotics are sometimes not recommended, as they can be associated with contact dermatitis and may contribute to antibiotic drug resistance.
• Mupirocin is a prescription topical antibiotic usually applied to the affected area three times per day for 1-2 weeks.
• Bleach baths may also be effective in treating and preventing infection.

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Is Coconut Oil Safe For Babies

Although coconut oil is generally considered a safe topical treatment, its recommended that you first consult your childs physician before starting any natural treatments. Coconut oil can generally be used just like any other moisturizer or lotion, but try it on a small patch of skin before applying it to the rest of the body to ensure your little one is not allergic. If the skin becomes irritated in that area, coconut oil may not be the way to go. And if your child is allergic to coconuts, its obviously wise to stay clear of coconut oil.

The Cons With Coconut

Like many other botanicals, however, coconut oil is not without some downsides. Specifically, there are a number of coconut-derived compounds present in cosmetics, some of which are not infrequent causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Cocamidopropyl betaine is a widely used surfactant that debuted in 1976 as the No More Tears ingredient in childrens shampoos . However, it has the dubious distinction of being the North American Contact Dermatitis Groups allergen of the year for 2004, and is thought to have a contact sensitization prevalence is estimated at between 3.0 and 7.2%.13

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Counseling for patients with known allergy to CAPB can be challenging because the cross-reactivity of CAPB with other coconut-derived surfactants and coconut oil itself is largely unknown. One randomized study of 12 patients with known CAPB allergy and 10 control patients examined 11 coconut-derived surfactants, as well as coconut oil cross-reactivity. Remarkably, not a single patient in the study reacted to coconut oil, and only three of the 12 patients with previous reactions to CAPB reacted on retesting. All of these reactions were doubtful. This study suggested that reactions to CAPB may represent irritant dermatitis as opposed to true allergic reactions, and that the risk of reacting to coconut oil itself is likely very low.14

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References:

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Soothing Seborrheic Dermatitis By Moisturizing With Coconut Oil

The second most discussed method for using coconut oil to treat seborrheic dermatitis is its usage as a simple moisturize. And especially popular, is itâs combination with the raw honey skin cleansing technique.

This method is clear as can be. High quality extra virgin coconut oil is used in place of regular commercial facial moisturizers. Please note, however, that a very little amount of coconut oil goes a long way.

My method of application was simply taking a tiny dab of coconut oil and massaging it between the fingers to let the oil melt. Once melted, I simply massaged the oil into moist skin . The oil locks in the water and moisture, while the water helps the oil spread lightly and evenly.

Overall this methods effectiveness in treating seborrheic dermatitis was very similar to the coconut cleansing method discussed above. The results were often inconsistent and at times it seemed to actually have a negative affect on the inflammation, while leaving the skin excessively greasy. Also, when the raw honey cleansing treatment method was used my skin already felt well moisturized and I personally never really needed to use the two methods together.

Q : What Is The Scratch And Itch Cycle Of Eczema

The scratch and itch cycle of eczema can cause discomfort, disrupt sleep and affect quality of life:

• In people with eczema the skin does not retain moisture very well, which causes it to dry out easily.
• This makes the skin more open to allergens and irritants, which can trigger the skin to release chemicals that make the skin itchy.
• Scratching itchy skin causes more chemicals to be released, making the skin feel itchier.
• If eczema is well managed this can avoid the scratch and itch cycle. It is therefore important to keep skin that is prone to eczema well moisturised, by using moisturising creams on the skin every day.

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