Coconut oil has many surprising health benefits. Most of us grew up considering fats like coconut oil to be unhealthy and to be contributors to heart disease.
Coconut oil is composed of a group of unique fat molecules known as medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). Although they are technically classified as saturated fats, this kind fat can actually protect the heart.
Coconut oil also has potent antibacterial properties, which means that it can help other conditions too, including conditions of the skin.
Now, new research shows that coconut oil is potent for treating dermatitis.
According to Mayo Clinic: “Dermatitis is a general term that describes an inflammation of the skin. Dermatitis can have many causes and occurs in many forms. It usually involves an itchy rash on swollen, reddened skin.”
Researchers from the Department of Dermatology, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Manila, Philippines compared the effects of coconut oil to mineral oil at treating dermatitis.
Most commercial products for treating dermatitis include formulas with mineral oil and other chemicals that may contribute to skin irritation and potential skin conditions including cancer. “This is why natural, food quality ingredients like coconut oil, which have been used in traditional cultures for thousands of years, hold great promise as a viable alternative, and are increasingly becoming the subject of modern scientific investigation,” says Sayer Ji, a leading health expert and founder of GreenMedInfo.
In the study, the coconut oil group showed 47 percent moderate improvement and 46 percent excellent improvement. The mineral oil group only showed a 34 percent moderate improvement and 19 percent excellent response.
“Thus, among pediatric patients with mild to moderate AD, topical application of VCO for eight weeks was superior to that of mineral oil based on clinical (SCORAD) and instrumental (TEWL, skin capacitance) assessments,” the researchers concluded.
The study showing that coconut oil for potent at treating dermatitis was published in the International Journal of Dermatology.
Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
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REFERENCES:
1. “Coconut Oil Found Effective In Treating Atopic Dermatitis (Dry, Itchy, Scaly Skin).” GreenMedInfo.com. GreenMedInfo.com, 12 Dec. 2013. Web. 10 Aug. 2015.
2. “Virgin Coconut Oil Is Superior to Mineral Oil in Treating Atopic Dermatitis in a Pediatric Population.” GreenMedInfo.com. GreenMedInfo.com, n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2015.
3. “The Effect of Topical Virgin Coconut Oil on SCORAD Index, Transepidermal Water Loss, and Skin Capacitance in Mild to Moderate Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized, Double-blind, Clinical Trial.” Research Gate. Research Gate, Dec. 2013. Web. 10 Aug. 2015.
4. “Dermatitis.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2015.
