Despite what you've read, coconut oil is bad for your skin. And coconut oil for rashes is certainly not a great idea. In fact, I'd argue that coconut oil is too alkaline for your skin, and its high concentration of saturated fats makes it a poor choice, especially when it comes to skin rashes.
Yes, your skin needs an emollient moisturizer to help prevent water loss. This is especially important for dry skin, atopic dermatitis, and many other skin conditions.
And yes, coconut oil is one (of many) natural oils that is often used as a moisturizer.
Health blogs claim that coconut oil is some sort of health panacea — “It’s a miracle for everything!” they say.
But the truth is, when applied to your skin, coconut oil can make your skin worse.
Coconut oil skin irritation is real and it can be especially problematic when you've got some sort of skin condition plagued with chronic rashes. Since I started talking about this, increasingly more of my readers admit to me that coconut oil has irritated their skin conditions. So if coconut oil has irritated your skin, or made your rash worse, you're not alone.
And I'd rather not see you continue to suffer from coconut oil skin problems. So let's take a look at how coconut oil irritates skin and other options I'd recommend when it comes to coconut oil for rashes.
Do you need some help untangling the reason your rash keeps cropping up? Click here to download my Skin Rash Root Cause Finder – a simple way to figure out what's triggering your rash so you can finally find relief!
Is Coconut Oil Bad For Skin?
Is coconut oil bad for skin? Let's just say it's not ideal. It's pH is all wrong, it's too anti-microbial, and it's too high in saturated fat – and that's why coconut oil irritates skin. But before we go any further, let me tell you that this article isn't meant to knock coconut oil. I’m by no means anti-coconut oil. But what I will share is an important reminder that you may need to re-evaluate how committed you are to using coconut oil for skin.
And I’m not at all alone in my concern about the overuse of coconut oil in skincare.
This topic initially came to my attention in 2018 after speaking with several of experts who have been featured on the Health Skin Show podcast.
My friend and skincare expert Rachael Pontillo, shared with me that… “while coconut oil has become a popular DIY remedy for just about every skin, health, and hair issue, for many people, it makes matters worse.”
I know that you’re ready to ask, “Can you share the reasons why coconut oil is bad for skin?”
So here are four reasons why I don’t recommend that you put coconut oil on your skin (and what you should use INSTEAD).
1 – Coconut Oil Is Too Alkaline For Your Skin
Your skin has a natural pH level of 4.5 to 5.5. It’s not a good idea to disrupt this delicate environment – not even with a natural product like coconut oil.
pH is a measure of acid-base strength on a scale from 0-14. Pure natural water is right in the middle with a neutral pH of 7.
On one end are acidic substances (pH from 0-6), and the other end are basic (or alkaline) substances (pH of 8-14).
While the numbers 1-14 seem small, they’re actually powers of 10. Each unit of pH is 10 times stronger than the one next to it. That means that your skin with a pH of 5 is at least 100 times, more acidic than neutral pure water.(1)
We know that washing with soap and detergents can worsen atopic dermatitis because of their high pH values.
In fact, using soap and detergents is one of the most common causes of dermatitis of the hands and can trigger flares of eczema. Some are close to a 9 on the pH scale. (2)
Studies show that washing with soap increases the skin’s pH by up to 3 pH units (it can become up to 1,000 times more alkaline) and that effect lasts for 90 minutes!(2)
And the more alkaline your skin becomes, the greater your risk of skin infections from organisms like Staph aureus.
Coconut Oil Skin Irritation
The increased pH of coconut oil irritates the skin, thinning its protective outer layer known as the stratum corneum. This plays a role in creating a state of “Leaky Skin” that also helps perpetuate an imbalance in your skin’s microbiome.
That all said, coconut oil has a pH of 7-8. If healthy skin’s natural pH is around 5, it means that coconut oil is 100-1,000 times more alkaline than your skin.
And unfortunately, applying something that can alter the pH to such a degree like coconut oil can perpetuate a state of dysbiosis of your skin’s microbiome and Leaky Skin.
So if coconut oil irritated your skin, this could be why.
2 – Coconut Oil Is Too Saturated
I know how this will sound as we shift our beliefs about saturated fat in the diet, but…
Saturated fat applied to your skin can worsen some skin conditions.
Coconut oil is 90% saturated fat (and it's also highly comedogenic).(3) This may worsen some of the more sensitive skin issues like eczema and perioral dermatitis.
Coconut oil has large molecules and is absorbed slowly. This means it stays on top of the skin and can cause an occlusive barrier.
While it still… “provides protection, it ends up acting more like a plastic bag on the skin,” says Pontillo. This is one of the big reasons for coconut oil skin irritation.
It's a problem because coconut oil doesn’t allow for your skin cells to breathe or detoxify.
It also “interferes with normal lipid production, and can feel physically and emotionally suffocating (remember, the skin is a key part of the nervous system because it contains thousands of nerve endings per square inch),” says Pontillo.
Another reason why you don’t want an occlusive barrier of saturated fat on your skin is because it can also increase heat in the body. One of the skin’s main functions is body temperature regulation.
“Many people with chronic rashes and sensitive skin already have trouble releasing heat, so this could exacerbate your situation further,” says Pontillo. If you've ever experienced coconut oil skin problems, this could be why.
3 – Coconut Oil Messes Up Your Skin’s Microbiome
Anything that disrupts your skin’s healthy microbiome can make your skin worse. And this is certainly one of the ways coconut oil skin irritation happens.
You’ve heard to ditch your anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitizers because they increase your risk of skin rashes like eczema and psoriasis, right?
Well, if your skin has a rash, one of the major problems is dysbiosis of the skin’s healthy microbiome. Your skin’s microbiome helps your skin stay healthy and maintain a tight barrier from the outside world.
Coconut oil can kill microbes including bacteria, viruses and fungus. A solution with as little as 5% coconut oil is bactericidal to several types of bacteria.(4)
One of the antimicrobial components found in coconut oil is the fatty acid called monolaurin. Monolaurin makes up about half of the fat in coconut oil and it kills bacteria by disintegrating their outer membranes.(4)
Coconut Oil Skin Problems
Theoretically, it makes sense to use an anti-microbial like coconut oil on your skin if you have dysbiosis, but it doesn’t always work that way.
While certain fungal rashes might benefit from using a natural antimicrobial as a spot treatment, regular use is not a good idea. “Even natural antimicrobials can disrupt the balance of the skin's microbiome which can affect your immune system and barrier function, increase inflammation, and lead to dysbiosis,” says Pontillo.
Bottom line? Just because coconut oil has anti-microbial properties doesn’t mean you should put it on your skin, despite what you’ve read. Coconut oil skin problems often stem from the way it manipulates the balance of your microbiome with its intense anti-microbial effects.
If you want to rebalance your skin’s microbiota, there are other ways like using probiotics on your skin.
4 – There Are Better Options Than Coconut Oil For Rashes
I’m sure you’re wondering what to use if coconut oil is bad for your rashed skin condition.
Don’t worry! There are a lot of other natural oils to use on your skin that are probably a better fit.
The natural plant oils that I recommend include jojoba oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, sunflower seed oil, olive oil, and hemp oil (one of my go-to options I recommend to clients). These each have different components in them and help your skin from the outside-inward in different ways.
Jojoba Oil For Skin
Jojoba oil is excellent for your skin mainly because of how similar it is to human sebum. If you’re not familiar with the term sebum, it’s an oily substance naturally produced by your skin that lubricates and waterproofs your skin.(5)
There are a number of proven anti-inflammatory effects associated with jojoba oil. It can help with skin repair for acne and many types of dermatitis (e.g. atopic, seborrheic, and eczematous). Jojoba oil is also recommended for many skin conditions like infections and aging.(4)
Avocado Oil For Skin
Avocado oil is another healthy oil to try on your skin. It contains many vitamins, minerals, and skin-supporting oils like linoleic acid. It’s excellent for dry, damaged, or chapped skin.(4) And I’ve had a number of readers share with me how helpful avocado oil has been for supporting softer, calmer skin.
Sesame Oil For Skin
Sesame oil is an anti-inflammatory oil that promotes healthy skin barrier function. Because it has significant antioxidant activity, sesame oil has been used to relieve pain and inflammation in joints by massaging it into the skin in traditional Taiwanese medicine.(4) It also is a staple of ancient Ayurvedic skin care practices.
Sunflower Oil For The Skin
Sunflower seed oil has been studied for its help with atopic dermatitis because of its moisturizing effect. It has a high concentration of a fatty acid called linoleic acid which helps the skin barrier by enhancing the outer layer of skin cells.(4)
Tested in both adults and children with atopic dermatitis, sunflower seed oil works as a great moisturizer. Even a 2% solution of sunflower oil improves skin conditions similar to using a steroid cream.(6,7)
Olive Oil For Skin
Olive oil is another natural oil that your skin might love! It’s often studied side-by-side with sunflower seed oil, and several studies show them to be equally beneficial for skin health. When applied to babies’ skin, they rank similarly on hydration, reduction of water loss from the skin, as well as pH and redness.(4)
That said, it's not a great option if you're struggling with Malasezzia overgrowth which is commonly the case with dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. This type of commensal yeast normally living on your skin loves olive oil so it can make things worse for these two issues.
Hemp Oil For Skin
Hemp oil is a fantastic oil with lots of antioxidant properties to help soothe chronic dry, flaky, angry skin. It helps to maintain softer, calmer skin thanks to its omerga-3 and omega-6 fatty acid content which is far superior to using coconut oil for skin.(8)
There is also research showing benefits for skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, rosacea and lichen planus.(8)
One of my favorite products – Nourish Butter – is a hemp oil soothing salve with other herb and oil ingredients that make it a great option for angry, dry skin patches that need more than just a thin moisturizer.
Do You Need To Entirely Stop Using Coconut Oil For Skin?
As you can see from the reasons shared above, coconut oil is bad for your skin. I certainly do not recommend coconut oil for rashes, rash-prone skin or acne-prone skin. And it’s not going to help you get the results you’re looking for no matter the promises of magic you’ve read about on natural health blogs.
I too was quite surprised by this information when I initially heard it. But after speaking to so many experts and hearing from clients about their own personal experiences, I felt compelled to share.
Frankly, I feel that coconut oil for skin rashes presents more challenges than solutions (even if your skin is pretty clear and you’re not experiencing a flare).
Its pH can disrupt the skin’s pH and thin its outer layer. It’s too saturated which can form an occlusive layer on top of the skin preventing it from breathing and releasing excess heat. It is also a strong antimicrobial which can disrupt the skin’s natural microbial balance.
Coconut Oil For Rashes
So do you have to cut out coconut oil completely from your skincare routine?
No, but you may want to minimize your skin’s coconut oil exposure – especially if you're prone to rashes. And most especially if you're not sure what's triggering your rash. After all, coconut oil hiding in your skincare could be the cause of your skin irritation (especially if you have a hidden coconut allergy).
>> Need help figuring out what's causing your skin rash and how to finally get relief? Be sure to download my Skin Rash Root Cause Finder here – so I can walk you through how to figure out why you're breaking out in a rash and put a stop to it.
So – if you're currently using straight coconut oil on your skin, it's time to stop.
And it's best to cut out or minimize products where coconut oil is one of the main ingredients (which can be hard if you're buying more “natural” products).
Most of all, why use coconut oil when there are other, far better options available that I’ve shared above?
LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW – I’d love to hear your experience using coconut oil on your skin and your thoughts on what is definitely a controversial topic!
References
1 – https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/references/acids-bases-the-ph-scale
2 – https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)34442-0/fulltext#s006
3 – https://examine.com/supplements/coconut-oil/
4 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020/
5 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebaceous_gland
6 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20199440
7 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20964572
8 – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hemp-oil-for-skin
I have eczema on my hands, which become very dry, flaky and sore. I used coconut oil for a short time on my skin since I saw so many diy recipes for clean moisturizers that included it. It didn’t work for me, it made my hands super greasy and it didn’t moisturize at all, it made my hands even more flaky and made skin felt leathery. I thought I was some strange case. Thanks so much for this article. It really highlights how we shouldn’t get carried away with natural products as a cure for everything but rather investigate.
Hi Marilyn, thank you for sharing your experience! One thing I’m constantly reminded of is that we all are different and you have to keep in mind WHO wrote the article and WHO the article was written for. If your skin is really healthy, using coconut oil may be just fine. But for those of us with problems maintaining a healthy skin microbiome, it’s not always the best choice. Have you tried any of the other oils I mentioned herein?
And ys, I have skin and gut issues, leaky gut and eczema, and Thank you for the article, I am trying a ketogenic diet right now, for the brain and to loose weight and coconut oil is recommended there, for fat bombs and such, don’t know what to use instead, then
So I’ve exacerbated my dermititis by using coconut oil…it was helping for a bit and then the scales tipped. I’ve stopped using it now, but how do I get things back under control?
I have had Eczema all my life and could only use dove on my skin to bathe and ointment for lotion. Recently I’ve transitioned from dove to my mother’s natural soap she makes and it’s been helping but I’ve been looking for something to use as moisturizer to replace my eczema ointment and I started using coconut oil. I did not experience the things you described in this article, I honestly have noticed improvements with the coconut oil like how soft my skin is and how clean it smells but I greatly appreciate the information and the alternative options! I will try out the jojoba oil to see if this works the same without messing with my skins microbiome because I would hate to see/feel positive results of the coconut oil and my body is hurting below the surface, Thank You!
I agree with you. I had to pick up the pieces after Cancer Treatment, Radiation and Chemo, destroyed me until I started using coconut oil in my food and skin. I had radiation to my throat. Side effect I smelled like burned skin although it was directed in my mouth to get to my throat, Outside was black and hard ,rough, using coconut scrub and oil. Made me look radiant, deminished my ugly skin. THIS WAS RECOMMENDED BY MY RAIOLOGIST 🙂
Thank you for writing this! I knew it was an antibacterial but didn’t realize the power it had with our microbiome. I did once test CO and olive oil on each leg after shaving.. For one week I applied each oil to see which one may have hair growth properties…the leg with coconut oil had less hair then Olive oil (end of week) which meant coconut oil is great at reducing hair. Love your article!
What about taking coconut oil internally, I take about 2-3 Tblsps a day
Hi Astrid! That’s a great question! If you have gut issues, autoimmune issues, or believe that you may have leaky gut, I generally don’t recommend taking that must coconut oil internally because it can also be an issue in the gut. If you want to read more on leaky gut issues, this is a great article: http://www.jenniferfugo.com/2017/02/14/leaky-gut-program/
If you’ve got skin issues, I’d recommend other fat sources until your skin improves for consumption at that level like ghee which is actually a great source of butyrate and a helpful communication signal for the skin microbiome.
Thank you, how about mct oil, or is that on the same level as coconut oil?
Great question! I have no idea how that would work applied to the skin. Taken internally, MCT oil can be used therapeutically to reduce gut inflammation. Here is a great paper published in 2017 that helps explain it: https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2014/06/Parrish-February-17.pdf
Rosacea… or is it… I didnt know there was lye etc in fully processed coconut oil … I just grabbed from grocery section… and began using exclusively for removing make up… and now my face is painful and looks painful… for sure it is a full stop on the coconut oil usage
I’m so glad to hear it’s not all it’s cut out to be. I really hate the smell it leaves behind that permeates clothing even after several washes! I have been reading about the PH of skin needing to be slightly acidic while the interior body benefits from being slightly alkaline. I use a sunflower oil/salt scrub instead of soap when I want something other than just water and
had decided to try a sesame oil-and-coffee grounds scrub for days when I want something gentler. Jojoba sounds good, too. I shall do some more research. Many thanks for sharing the information.
I agree 100% about no coconut oil on the skin. It’s too powerful and kills the skin microbiome. I made an irritated patch of skin worse. I crushed up some acidophilus pills and made a paste with filtered water and put it on my skin which helped. I didn’t know about Jennifer’s website and the alternatives back then. Glad I found her page.
I have rashes all the time, at least 3 times a year I’ll get bad ones that last a good month or two. Everytime I go through the same vicious cycle. I buy coconut oil, use it, rash gets worse, then throw it out. Every time! I literally just did it again last week. I though I was crazy because everything says to use it. I wish I would have read this article a long time ago. I like your idea of the acidophilus pills, I think I might try that 🙂
Is Caprylic triglade. I know I’m not using correct or full product name
And butersyim parki shea butter bad
Sorry
Which is in moisturizer. Bad also since it’s a form of vicinity oil
Bad also for face ?
I have chronic eczema. I gave up using coconut oil on my skin because I heated up. Now I know why. I still use it as part of a deep conditioning mask for my hair. Will give that up, too. I had my first bout of heat exhaustion in 2015. It took a month to recover. My skin had been healthy for over ten years until this happened. Plus, I’ve had two minor bouts of head exhaustion since. To read that people prone to rashes and who have sensitive skin have trouble releasing heat, makes a lot of sense. I have always had trouble sweating, even as a kid. I now bring hydration tablets and carry a cloth to wet down to wear around my neck for those dizzy beginning to overheat spells. I will have to look at my skincare products. I bet some of the ones languishing in my drawers because they’re not quite right have coconut oil in them! Thank you!
Again, coconut oil made all my eczema, and dermatitis worse! Currently the best relief for me is Tallow mixed with a small amount of Megasporebiotic. Healing the gut has great effects on the skin. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for sharing this, Nita! You are clearly not alone and I appreciate your two cents. It really makes me sad that so many people have been misguided by the notion that coconut oil is the right fit for rashed skin when that’s generally not the case.
Thank you for this information. I am also wondering about castor oil, since I understand that it is a great skin lubricant. I have also read that combining it with coconut oil makes a great hair conditioner.
What is the best mascara remover, if coconut oil should not be used?
What about organic argan oil?
I must be one of the fortunate ones….. no rash of any kind…have used coconut oil on face for approximately 5-years…. almost no lines or wrinkles – will be 85 years this June. Think this must be genetics…. thank you for the article tho… will be good information for a lot of people.
I used coconut oil on my head and my head became covered in bumps and pain and my whole body then broke out in a red burning itching painful rash I went into the hospital and was treated with steroids They would not commit to coconut oil being the cause I was discharged after 8 days of treatment but my body is still red itching and burning O am convinced it was the coconut oil but I’m concerned as how long this will last Besides the 8 days I had it 12 days before I went to see a derm
Do you think using coconut oil all over your skin daily could raise your blood triglycerides? I have bizarrely high triglycerides and my diet isn’t bad enough to cause them. I am going to try the oilve oil for my extremely dry skin in addition to Gold Bond.
Hi Michele, no because the oil cannot be absorbed through the skin and metabolized in the same way as when it is consumed orally. Hope that helps!
What are your thoughts on using hemp seed oil on your skin? Thanks for this article, very thought provoking.
Definitely a good option! Some of this is trial and error as it is with all things in life. But a better option than coconut for your face. Just make sure to get an oil that is for skin, not cooking.
Hi there, how do you increase your skins alkaline levels after using coconut oil? will using a vitamin C based serum work? Thanks
You don’t want to increase your skin’s alkalinity. You want your skin to be acidic between 4.5 and 5.5.
Olive oil worsens my dermatitis.
There is unfortunately some research out there that olive oil can be more irritating to skin. Though many people use olive oil on their skin throughout the world without issue, I would say that it really depends on the person — as so much can vary from person to person when it comes to what they react to. But it olive oil also makes your skin worse, then I’d try something else.
So I’m switching to natural personal care products, and of course the new deodorant I have is based on coconut. What would you recommend instead?
Hi Jennifer – what a wonderful, informative article. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your thoroughness and knowledge. I have been dealing with cycles of eczema flare ups for several years now. They started in 2013 with a patch of dermatitis on my left shoulder area. I finally figured out what was starting it was histamine reactions from taking a hot yoga class where I walked out wearing sweaty clothes and the strap of my seat belt made the abrasive patch on my skin. This eventually became systemic and over the years I have been through quite a journey gradually figuring things out and encountering articles like yours that completely validated discoveries I was making all along on this weird skin journey. Early on in the eczema symptom stage I was seeking advice from a doctor I considered open and receptive who was suggesting I use coconut oil. I remember clearly saying to him that coconut oil didn’t work for me because it was too “bioactive.” I did know it was anti-microbial. But in 2013 there was no information on the skin microbiome. SO thank you Jennifer for validating an intuition I’d had about the incompatibility of coconut oil for eczema by defining the science so succinctly here. Best wishes and thank you for your mission.
CBD oil has worked miracles, clearing the psoriasis from my hands after 10 years of no help from coconut oil, steroid creams, extrac and laser treatments.
I looooove CBD too, Ann. I actually will have articles coming soon on it as well as podcasts about it and the use in skin in the near future. Stay tuned!
Thanks for the “whys”. Always enjoy reading your articles. As a long time sufferer of skin issues, from the 50s as a child where the solution to the skin cracking behind my toes was wearing white cotton socks with sandals to present day issues of cracking, peeling/flaking skin on my hands plus psoriasis on my scalp and in my ears for which the modern day “solution” is, of course (!), steroid creams, lotions and harsh dandruff shampoos. I went through a severe reaction to using too much, not diluted enough essential oils a couple of years ago to try to find relief for infected chigger bites. Ended up with pretty much all over body rash with intense itching that kept me from sleeping and caused numerous meltdowns daily for over a month. The only relief came from ice packs and soaking in epsom salts (which the dermatologist said NOT to do)…nothing from the dermatologist helped AT ALL including oral, topical and injectable antihistamines and steroids. I think my body just had to finally work it out. But since then my hand issues and psoriasis seem to flare more frequently. Coconut oil has provided some physical relief but after the greasiness goes away (had thought about getting fractionated co to avoid this) particularly my hands feel MORE dry. The amount I use in the shower mixed with a drop of frankincense oil on my face has seemed to do well. But sounds like a practice I shouldn’t continue. I also have tried jojoba oil, olive oil and calendula oil as well as occasionally using some emu oil (that I really bought to take internally) from a company Dr. Terry Wahls recommends. Haven’t tried avocado oil so can add that in to see. Anyway, these things all seem to provide some relief for the discomfort but I’m still working on a “cure”. There are so many factors: cold weather, working in the yard, times when I have to wash my hands a lot, STRESS, reverting to a poor diet for too long all seem to play a role. I’m seriously into working through an adrenal/thyroid program right now in hopes of relieving some root causes that might be contributing to some of these symptoms. Thanks again for the great article.
Hey Cheryl! Ultimately it sounds like there is internal work that needs to be done. And that’s often the most frustrating piece… a topical product can only do so much. Stay tuned though as we’ve got some great podcasts coming out soon 🙂
Hi!! What about coconut oil for hair and nails, would you recommend it?
As far as I know, there are no issues with it for hair and nails …. though admittedly I’m not the most knowledgeable on those areas.
What are your thoughts on using Hemp oil directly on skin?
Absolutely can be a great option, just don’t use the oil intended for “cooking” on your skin.
What is CBD oil? I understand pure beef tallow is very nourishing for skin it is so much like our human composition. Since it is such a saturated fat would it “suffocate” skin like coconut oil?
CBD can be helpful to the skin. I actually have some great podcasts coming up that will address it!!!! I use skin products that include it. As for the tallow, I’d like to get back to you with a clear answer. Stay tuned!
Thank you for this hopefully helpful information..I only use coconut oil to remove my eye makeup.
I do though, take mct oil in my smoothies,.I also use coconut oil on my toast, instead of butter..
I have very sensitive skin and dont use any kind of soap or detergent on my body..I will make sure
I dont use any lotions that contain coconut oil on my body..I will try using Avocado and sesame oil,
or sunflower oil..Thanks for the info..If you have a great body lotion you can suggest, please let me know!!
Coconut oil clogs my blood vessels. Putting it on the skin stops circulation at the place it is put.
She said that coconut oil cannot be absorbed by the skin- the molecules are too large. Therefore it can’t have travelled to your blood vessels.
I am a nurse, and have to wash my hands constantly with antibacterial soap. My hands are so chapped, dry and cracking! Do you have any products you recommend? I see the oils above you listed, and tried a moisturizer with aloe and avocado. I admit…it was listed as a hand lotion, and I tried it on my face. Made me break out! So then I looked at the other ingredients, and trust me…you wouldn’t like them. Petroleum, mineral oil and parabens, as well as fragrance. Groan! Any recommendations on a good product for the hands?
Carol, this is definitely an issue for those who work in Healthcare! Have you tried anything like a shea butter perhaps?
Also, I probably wouldn’t use the same thing on your hands as on your face.
I loved the article…I already have been using sunflower and jojoba oil..No more coconut!
[…] 4 Reasons Why Coconut Oil is Bad for Your Skin Blog Post […]
I am a Licensed Massage Therapist and I have skin issues with my hands…sad I know!! I tried using Coconut Oil as I had heard it was good for the skin, well after about a month, my hands were getting worse. I would wash my hands with a safe hand soap before and after working on my client with the coconut oil 4-5 times a day. I decided to quit using the oil and my hands improved, but there are still struggles with it. But those struggles are food/grain related. My skin issues started a year ago, but have been GF for 5 years. My hands and head behind my ears and on shin of right leg, occasionally on the left as well.
Quite a revealing article on Coconut Oil. All the while I have just thought that this is very beneficial for anything. Thank you for this post and knowledge on some risks of using this oil on skin.
hey I’m making my face cream with coconut oil, sesame oil, jojoba oil, Shea butter, aromatherapy oils and Alovera gel i don’t have any skin problem but what can i use instead of my main ingredient that is coconut oil?
It depends on how much is in the product. Is it used to help it solidify? Is it a large proportion of the total oils?
What about Emu Oil? I’ve heard it’s good for skin.
That too can be a great option! Just be aware that it is not a plant oil — instead it is derived from the adipose (fat) tissue of certain birds. So if you’re looking for a vegan option, it is obviously not plant-derived.
Do you have recommendations/ resources you can point me towards for swimmers? Giving up swimming isn’t an option, but the chlorine is killing my skin. Thank you!
I would check out Lara Adler’s website – https://www.laraadler.com/. She’ll be on the podcast talking all about this in the coming months.
Thank you for the info about coconut oil on the skin. The next time I make my lotion, it will not include coconut oil.
Your program is the best I.have read about eczema. You give so much information and different ways of looking at ways of dealing with eczema. You give us hope! Thank you, Freddy
Great info. Lucky me I discovered your blog by accident (stumbleupon).
I’ve book-marked it for later!
You should mention the PH of these alternatives as your main push is that coconut oil is too alkaline.
Hi Tom, the pH isn’t the main push for NOT using coconut oil. It’s just one reason. I’d say that the antimicrobial nature is the greatest concern for me, but all the reasons are truly important here. I actually answer the question about the pH of some of the alternatives here: https://www.skinterrupt.com/skin-ph-microbiome/
Hi Thanks for the article
I was wondering since coconut oil is not good for the skin, How about for the hair? I use it on my hair to help with some dryness, I don’t use any conditioners as that is all I use.
Thank you in advance
I’m not an expert on that. I don’t think this would have the same impact but I can’t say for sure.
I was diagnosed with Porphyria back in 2004, which is a sun sensitive skin issue. The Dr. instructed me to stay out of the sun as much as possible and to put on SPF 50 if I had to be in the sun. The Dr. did not give me any treatment options. After a while I began consuming a small amount of olive oil per day. It helped a bit. Many years later I began ingesting 2 tbsp. of organic virgin coconut oil per day;. one in the morning and one late in the afternoon. Many times I mix a tbsp. into my morning coffee. It is also good to take vitamins and supplements with coconut oil due to the fatty acid content. This helps the body to get more benefits out of certain vitamins and supplements, such as turmeric or curcumin. I get out in the sun at will now and many times without my shirt on for as many as 3 hours and I just get tanner and tanner with no damage. Ingesting coconut oil is far better for the skin than topical application. It conquered the Porphyria disease and set me free! I loves eating me some coconut oil! Tis the best way to get maximum benefits.
I was wondering why my skin looks worse than ever!! I have been using coconut oil every day for months. I have been eating better and my skins looks dull and not good. I put the coconut oil on my face to make it look more shiny and dewy which only lasted temporarily. Glad I read this!! And you’re right I noticed it only lays on the top of the skin and didn’t seem to penetrate!
You are perfectly correct I used coconut oil on my skin. It increases my skin problems. Like having white dots on my skin
My young son (18 months) has eczema due to cat allergies (we have two cats 🤦🏻♀️). We’d been using coconut oil on him since he was about 9 months due to a family member doing so while watching him for a week (she also has a cat) and his skin greatly improved. Well we’ve noticed that his skin is worse again but not in the same way; it’s been peeling, it’s red, it’s itchy, and other symptoms. Out of curiosity I looked up if coconut oil is actually good for ya and came across this page. Now hubby and I are second guessing how much we use the oil on him!! We’ve been talking to an allergist and baby is on meds so we think we’re gonna tone down the use of the oil and see if we see an improvement after a week. We have moved the cats to the basement a month ago so they shouldn’t be a main contributor anymore.
I’m glad I found your post on this!!
Nice Article… I have a mixed feelings on this article.
I have been using coconut oil as my daily moisturizer for several years now. I prepare oil myself at home. It’s been a boon to me in several ways… Honestly, personally I had a lot of benefits… My eczema got cured, blackness in my armpits and innerleggot lightened and several others…
I started applying coconut oil to my face… N for several unknown reasons pores increased, and had several skin tags and small pimples which weren’t going away.. I questioned myself that applying coconut oil to face may not be suiting me…
It was then I realized I m overusing it… As your article said it shouldn’t be DIY remedy and it doesn’t suit everyone and it’s not solution for all problems…
How to heal skin damaged by coconut oil?
I don’t think that coconut oil damages skin. If you’ve used it in the past, I’d recommend stop using it and switch to a different oil. If you’re still having rash issues, you’d need to look deeper at what’s going on.
Don’t know if you still answer this, but i have a small question. I am not using coconut oil as a moisturizer but rather for my sugar (Coconut-flower sugar, as it’s finer than normal sugar) face scrubs twice a week, wich i never have for longer than five to ten minutes and clean my face thoroughly after. I swapped to coconut oil because olive oil made my skin break out horribly. Now i want to know if those short periods still harm my skin? I don’t use anything else with coconut oil in it.
Hi Val, coconut sugar is different from coconut oil. I can’t say if the short exposure to coconut oil is harming the microbiome. I think you’ll just have to see how your skin reacts. You could also try jojoba oil. Some people find olive oil harsh on their skin. Everyone is different so it’s best to find what works for you. I just know that leaving coconut oil on the face can cause acne and other issues. If it’s just for a scrub, that might be fine.
I’d also like to add that if you have rashes on your face, doing scrubs may be too harsh. Just wanted to throw that out there in case someone reads this.
My skin reacts very badly to coconut oil! So glad to find this article, as it confirms everything I’ve been saying for years. Another ingredient I see in almost every product is Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (which is made from coconut), and I wonder if it has the same effects as coconut oil. Not sure if you are still responding to comments on this old articlem but thought I would try. Thank you!
Yes, the same would apply to Caprylic and Capric derivatives as they are definitely antimicrobial! Glad you found this article as well!
Hi i was wondering if i mix this with other oils it would be better, like maybe Joboba and coconut oil
I would not recommend that you use coconut oil to mix in other oils if you’re dealing with rashes. The issue here is the coconut oil. If you’re mixing in essential oils, they MUST be diluted appropriately or you can become sensitized to them (and develop an allergy) due to barrier damage.
Is coconut oil in toothpaste just as disruptive for the mouth microbiome?
I use coconut oil on my whole body including my face, It makes my skin soft, it seems to minimize lines and protects my skin in the sun without burns or rashes, I love how my skin looks and feels. The only thing that is obvious is it takes quite a bit of time to absorb but I love it.
Hi Cheryl, I’m glad it agrees with you. Most people here who are struggling with chronic rashes don’t find that it’s helpful… most find it makes rashes worse.
Hi Jennifer — Thank you for this great article. I was going to use coconut oil for my skin condition. I have a question. I am 70 years old and have never had skin problems. A few weeks ago my skin began to itch in places (armpits, elbows, inside of knees, legs, scalp and wrists) and I have itchy bumps and red patches. My first research told me I might have a histamine reaction, but I hesitate to use drugs. Over the years I have been eating a combination of butter and chocolate every day (minimum of 1/4 stick of butter, and 2 squares of chocolate) to substitute for sugary sweets. I am wondering whether this part of my diet could cause skin rashes (too much fat intake)? It may just be aging and dry skin, so I can use a skin oil I guess.
I’m not really all that concerned with that amount of fat in your diet and it’s hard for me to comment about it directly since I’m not privy to your whole case. I don’t know that I’d just blame what’s going on on some butter and chocolate. You could try removing one of each for a week to see if the rash goes away, but I don’t know that I have a lot of confidence that it will make a huge difference.
Is the same true for coconut oil in toothpaste?
I wouldn’t worry about this as much since coconut oil is used for oil pulling.
I am soo pleased I foud your page. I have suffered on and off with eczema/psoriasis/whatever it is under my arm pits and breasts which leaves me with an itchy scaly red rash. I’ve decided I’m allergic to my own sweat! Don’t use deodorant and drink plenty of water, eat well, no wheat/sugar etc but when this rash appears it’s a beggar to elimiinate. BUT, I have always used coconut oil as a base for my lotions and salves as, like all of us have heard, it’s an antibacterial/anti fungal. So, what better to use on a fungal/bacterial rash, right? Not right it seems as I’ve never had success and often rash becomes dry and then easily irritated and then the cycle begins… My problem is that I have an arsenal of salves and try one after the other till I find some relief. This morning, I thought “Hmm, wonder f it’s the coconut oil?”. Really hard to find any article that didn’t tout the wonders of cococnut oil so when I found yours – joy! Some info that made sense! I’m off to try hemp oil as I have some cold pressed organic that I use in general skin moisteriser (not on rash but perhaps I should have!) Thank you! 🙂
I think this actually comes down to everyone is unique. I use coconut oil when my skin is so dry from the coldest months in Wisconsin and I look haggard AF, nothing else has worked so well at keeping my skin moisturized and glowing. Every time I stop using coconut oil because I hear some beauty guru tell me iTS sO bAd for my skin, I regret ever stopping and return to it. I am lucky and don’t battle acne, I know some people can’t use coconut oil because it’ll clog up their pores and give them major break outs. So again, everyone’s skin is unique and will respond to differently to certain ingredients.
What about using coconut oil for oil pulling? Coconut oil seems to be the main oil suggested in this oral health hygiene practice. Is this detrimental to the mouth microbiome too?
I applied coconut oil after a shower to seal in moisture and get the benefits that you can read about all day long on the internet. However, I noticed that my skin was weaker in that when I scratched it, it would break very easily. It happened only after I applied coconut oil. So far, this is the only site I’ve seen that talks about how coconut oil might not be beneficial for skin for some people. Thank you for confirming what I’ve experienced.
I used a fractionated Coconut Oil after my shower the other day. I immediately started itching all over my body. I have mild eczema in spots. I won’t be using Coconut Oil anymore!
It’s an interesting article and brings another insight into possible skin irritants. The problem I have had is that I need a base oil for the essential oils I use to relieve pain. When I have used other oils (calendula, olive oil) the oil then gets onto clothing. And it’s my experience that when the clothing is washed the oil is not washed out, and becomes rancid over time, smelling appalling. It may be others don’t have this problem if they can use biological powders or strong detergents, or highly fragranced laundry products. But I don’t use any of these in the wash, just washing soda crystals and sometimes a drop of Bronner soap. I have had to throw away so many items of clothing, that I have returned to using coconut oil as the only oil that doesn’t go rancid on the clothes and smell. But I confess to having a permanent, intractable skin rash. What’s the solution? If I find one, I’ll let you know!