Coconuts are dependable for everything: providing sweet coconut water, the fleshy and tasty meat of the fruit and the hard exterior that you can use creatively to create artistic pieces.
And that is just the fruit itself.
Once the oil is extracted from the coconut you can use it to hydrate your skin and hair and even for cooking.
My first encounter with coconut oil was during a vacation on the East African Island of Zanzibar. Every meal that came to our table was extremely tasty with a distinct rich almost airy flavor. It was a delectable festival from breakfast to dinner.
I also noticed the locals had the glowing skin including senior citizens. My curiosity got the better of me and I asked the chef when he came to our table to inquire about our food.
Once the secret was out about coconut oil I try and incorporate it into most of my cooking and self-care routines.
Have I seen a difference: Yes!
There have been plenty of compliments on my food and my wife’s visage is always glowing.
So when I learned that coconut oil can help with rosacea it came as no surprise to me.
Rosacea is a skin disease characterized by a constant flush/redness that spreads from the nose and cheeks to the forehead and other parts of the face. It looks more like adult acne and it is chronic and incurable.
This condition tends to affect people over the age of 30 and can be extremely uncomfortable with some people even experiencing a burning sensation in their eyes or soreness on the eyelids.
Unfortunately, it can disrupt your life because of the constant flare-ups. It varies in intensity and can become more pronounced when triggered.
Causes and symptoms of rosacea
Research has not yet been able to pinpoint the exact genesis of rosacea although there are several things that exacerbate it.
These include:
- Alcohol
- Stress
- Smoking
- Hot and spicy foods
- Heat (from the elements and even exercise)
- Caffeine
- Cosmetics
- Some prescription drugs including corticosteroids
Main symptoms of rosacea are:
- Redness in the face
- The appearance of fine vascular blood vessels in the affected area
- Tiny pimples look red and inflamed
- A bulbous tip of the nose also known as rhinophyma
- Swollen eyes and sore eyelids
- Thickened skin that is bumpy
There are four types of rosacea:
1) Vascular rosacea
2) Inflammatory rosacea
3) Phymatous rosacea
4) Ocular rosacea
It is more prevalent in fair-skinned people and can easily get misdiagnosed as adult acne. It can be passed down in the family giving the impression that it has genetic links.
It flares up whenever the blood vessels in the face are triggered to expand. In fact, any temperature differences will cause the condition to show up.
How to treat rosacea with coconut oil?
The psychological impact of rosacea on people who suffer from is unmistakable.
It is a very visible condition which can cause people with it to lose their confidence, become introverted and reclusive and even affect the quality of their life.
Coconut oil has been used extensively by many people to combat rosacea for quite a while now. Here is how:
Internally
Apart from therapeutic and cosmetic purposes, coconut oil can be ingested as long as you are using the food grade coconut oil.
How to use?
Prepare your meals with a spoonful of coconut consistently before and even when you have flare-ups. The edible oil can be used in vegetables, stews, or baked goods.
Coconut oil fares better than other oils under high heat so you do not have to worry about the heat destroying all the nutrients within it.
- Prepare your vegetable, meat or dough
- For the vegetables place two tablespoons of edible coconut oil into the pan and cook on medium heat
- For the meat place two tablespoons of edible coconut oil into the pan and cook on medium heat until ready
- For the baking line the baking tins with coconut oil and brush some onto the dough for a rich flavor before baking
Topically
Instead of using moisturizers that are made from synthetic ingredients, replace your moisturizer with coconut oil to help soothe and calm the flare up.
How to use?
You can use the oil according to your preference. Some people like to leave the excess oil on their skin and let it dissipate naturally while others prefer to wipe off the excess or use very little.
- Cleanse your skin thoroughly
- Wipe off excess water but leave the skin moist
- Apply the coconut oil while the skin is still moist
- Wipe off any excess
Common questions about using coconut oil for rosacea
How long does it take coconut oil to clear up rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic condition that is incurable. However, using coconut oil can mitigate a flare up within a day by causing the symptoms to be less severe.
Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties which help calm the irritated skin. It also prevents the area with the flare up from becoming infected through its antibacterial and antimicrobial components.
Can you use coconut oil for demodex mites?
Coconut oil is great for repelling demodex mites because it is highly toxic to them. Demodex mites are very invasive and are a leading cause of rosacea but with the coconut oil, they are slowly but surely killed.
Take a shower with Epsom salt and apply the coconut oil letting it sit for 20 minutes and wipe off. You will notice the dead demodex mites as small black remnants on your towel.
Can coconut oil make rosacea worse?
This is debatable because some people with very sensitive skin will react to the oil. But in the majority of cases, the oil helps your skin to heal faster and protects your skin from scarring.
Coconut oil for rosacea compared
Coconut oil vs. rose oil
The astringent quality of rose essential oil enables you to balance the production of sebum so that there is no stale sebum that promotes the increase of demodex mites (which cause rosacea).
Between the two there is a rivalry but even the sweet smelling rose oil cannot beat coconut oil in this case.
Coconut oil vs. rosehip oil
Rosehip oil is a great calmer of the irritation that comes with demodex mites and rosacea by extension. It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the affected area and go deeper to combat the irritation.
It also has astringent qualities that strengthen capillaries effectively reducing the red appearance.
Coconut oil vs. tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is a strong disinfectant that gently and deeply disinfects rosacea-affected skin. It also works effectively killing germs, microbes and demodex mites.
It brings its powerful anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties to the treatment plan.
Best recipes for rosacea treatment with coconut oil
Recipe 1 (for hydrating the skin)
Ingredients
- 6 tbs of coconut oil
- 6 tbs of Aloe Vera
- 2 drops of lavender oil
Preparation and application
Mix the oils together and apply it on the flared up areas in circular motions. The mixture will calm the skin and soothe the irritated skin. The aloe vera packs a punch as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This is a great blend for your night time routine because it hydrates the skin and gives it a time to rest better which brings down the inflammation.
Recipe 2 (for irritated skin)
Ingredients
- 2 tbs of coconut oil
- 1 tbs of oatmeal
- 1 tbs of honey
Preparation and application
Mix the ingredients together to form a consistency of medium thickness. Wash your face and pat dry with a towel. Do not rub dry. Apply the mixture on your face and leave it on for 45-60 minutes before washing it off.
The honey is great at holding the moisture in the skin reducing the chances of dry irritable skin while the coconut oil and oatmeal soften the skin and make it supple.
Recipe 3 (for anti-aging)
Ingredients
- 1 tbs of bentonite clay
- 1 tbs of rose oil
- 1 tbs of honey
- 2 drops of tea tree oil
- 3 tbs of coconut oil
Preparation and application
Place 2 out of the 3 tablespoons of coconut oil in the mixture with all the other ingredients. Apply it and allow it to harden and after 15 minutes rinse it off with warm water.
Apply the remaining 1 tablespoon of coconut oil into your skin and leave it.
Other ways to treat rosacea naturally
Salmon
Salmon contains omega oils that help to boost the immunity of the body. It is better to choose wild salmon as opposed to farm-bred salmon because of its nutritive value.
The omega oils help to reduce inflammation from within and keep the skin supple and soft.
Honey
Honey seals moisture into your skin effectively alleviating dry skin that easily gets irritated and breaks. It is also naturally packed with antiparasitic and antimicrobial qualities so it kills off the irritating microbes that cause flare-ups.
It is easy to use as you can just apply it, leave it on for 30 minutes and rinse it off. Apply some coconut oil after for moisturizing.
Cucumber
Cucumber has been used in facial treatments for centuries because of its soothing and cooling effect.
You can blend the cucumber with coconut oil and apply it on your face or just place slices of the cucumber on the affected area as part of your night routine.
Aloe Vera
This green powerhouse plant is full of strong anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti microbial properties.
If you have ever had a sunburn and used natural Aloe Vera on it you know that you will experience fast relief and it will heal faster.
That is exactly what it does for the rosacea-affected skin as well: quick relief with a reduction in redness and any itching.
Green tea
You can drink the tea or apply it topically or both for a double whammy!
Make yourself a cup of green tea and let it work from within. You can have the tea as many times as you want in a day. Alternatively, make the cup of green tea and chill it in the refrigerator.
Drench a clean wash cloth with the tea and place it on the affected area.
Green tea is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent which will reduce redness and irritation of the skin really fast. Also, green tea has photoprotective properties that reduce sun harshness on the rosacea-affected skin.
Licorice
Licorice roots which produce the licorice extract are naturally packed with emollient qualities as well as anti-inflammatory properties.
Glycyrrhizinate found in licorice extract soothes irritated skin and locks in the moisture making it more supple and less prone to dryness.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is very calming and will soothe the irritation that comes with rosacea. It should be applied topically in its uncooked form.
Blend it together with coconut oil and apply the mixture to the affected area leaving it on for 20-30 minutes.
Rinse it off and let the area dry before applying coconut oil.
Conclusion
Despite the psychological impact rosacea may have, if you have the condition you should not let it deter you from your dreams or negatively affect the quality of your life.
It has afflicted many people in the world who have worked past it to achieve great things in their lives including a former United States of America president (Bill Clinton) and the world’s most beloved royal (Princess Diana)!
Remember the sky is the limit even with rosacea. It can be and has been mitigated by some of the all-time greats.
It is time to join the club!
Image credits: Pixabay.com
My mom is suffering from rosacea and it has really affected her confidence level. Thank you for this article! This is really helpful!
Thank you, Yang!