August, 27
Why is Coconut Oil Good for Your Eczema?
Eczema is a mercurial beast. Some people call it “the itch that rashes.” For many Eczema sufferers feel the itch before redness or rash occurs. Dry, flaky skin is common. It also affects the hands or joint areas. Sometimes it affects the feet. Others experience symptoms on the face.
Eczema is related to asthma, but even that connection is little understood. Eczema affects everyone differently. So how does coconut oil help you during a flare-up?
The first mechanism is its moisturizing properties. This has actually been tested clinically. Coconut oil is proven to reduce eczema symptoms in children. The clinical study compared it to mineral oil, another common treatment.
Another common suggestion. petroleum jelly does not moisturize. It only keeps moisture in the skin. If the skin is already dry, it just stops it from getting much worse. Coconut oil adds moisture to provide true relief for dry patches.
Controlling the dryness is critical. Dry skin can crack or split. If these areas are not treated, they are susceptible to infection.
One of the common problems associated with eczema is a form of staph infection. Coconut oil has a high concentration of lauric acid. The body converts this acid into a compound called monolaurin. This substance helps control fungal and bacterial infections, especially certain types of staph. This effect has also been studied and confirmed multiple times.
Another compound called caprylic acid, along with lauric acid, help control yeast growth. This can help prevent yeast infections.
Coconut oil taken orally can boost general immune system function.
Coconut oil is primarily composed of medium length fatty acids and triglycerides. This allows the oil to be used in skin cells to improve the quality of tissue. In short, it strengthens connectivity of the skin.
