Is coconut oil a good skin moisturizer?

Is coconut oil a good skin moisturizer?

Dr. Irwin
April 23, 2016
I have been using coconut oil on my body after showering. Is there any risk that the fats in the coconut oil could be absorbed and affect my blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels?

Is coconut oil a good skin moisturizer?

Coconut oil seems very faddish right now.   Not only is it in Trader Joe’s and other markets,  but it’s being put in various lotions, cream and sometimes just used straight.    Dermatologists are starting to see some reactions to coconut oil.   When it’s pure, it’s hard to know if the oil itself has become rancid and is oxidized or if the reactions are to contaminants that occur during processing.  Difficult to know.

Everyone needs to learn how to smell oils and cooking oils and know whether the oil is rancid.   Rancid oil has an unpleasant smell to it that’s hard to describe!   If rancid, it should be thrown out!

There really is no risk of elevating your blood fats with a skin oil.   There’s no evidence that I know of that it’s absorbed into the blood in any quantity.

Coconut oil should not be used on acne prone skin and it can also clog pores on the body and cause an inflammation called folliculitis.

Hope this helps, Dr. Irwin

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

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