Benefits of Coconut and its Everyday Uses

Whenever coconuts come up in a conversation, do you imagine palm trees on an island getaway? To your skin, it really can be quite the treat, like a skin care getaway! The benefits of coconut are massive and have only surfaced in recent years.

Coconuts are hard on the outside, soft on the inside, and make dry skin turn from coarse to soft and supple. This fruit, nut or seed, is not just loved by skin experts, but by botanists too! Because it’s a one-seeded drupe (also known as a dry drupe), it can loosely be called a fruit, a nut or a seed!

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Curious about how coconut can further benefit your skin with everyday usage? Read below to find out more!

Heals Skin Conditions

The benefits of coconut for skin are plenty. It can improve skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (which is an inflammatory itchy skin condition), but how? The fruit-slash-nut-slash-seed’s moisturizing components help keep skin more moisturized, providing relief for some skin conditions.

Addedly, research by the Makati Medical Centre in the Philippines has suggested that coconut can speed up the healing process when it’s applied to wounded areas of the skin. It can also provide relief for mild xerosis, the medical term for very dry skin.

Because it contains lauric acid, coconut can also kill harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi – one of the reasons it’s suggested to treat some types of skin infections.

Keeps Your Skin Hydrated

Some body lotions and creams contain coconut because of its benefits for the skin! Coconut helps maintain hydrated and smooth skin complexion, boosting lipid content in dry skin.

After your shower, treat your skin by applying a coconut-based lotion to moisturize your body. Focus on rough areas such as your heels, knees, elbows and knuckles. For an overnight treatment, you can exfoliate your cracked heels and apply a coconut-based lotion.

Can Prevent Stretch Marks

There’s been a long debate over how to hide stretch marks. Some say it’s impossible while others swear by certain products. Nonetheless, stretch marks usually form due to genetics or an increase in weight over a short period of time. This is why many pregnant women get stretch marks: your skin doesn’t build up enough elasticity to catch up – so the area forms stretch marks.

Though coconut may not help reduce the appearance of stretch marks immediately, it can prevent the formation of stretch marks by helping your skin get ready and hydrated for the change! In that way, applying coconut can help prevent stretch marks in the case of any sudden changes in your body.

Because coconut is a combination of medium-chain fatty acids, it combines antioxidants with vitamin E, which allow it to have antimicrobial properties. This is one of the reasons why coconut is considered a great moisturizer; as it can tighten skin and reduce stretch marks too.