8 Ways to Use Coconut Oil for Skin Rashes

There are quite a few skin conditions that many people suffer from. Dryness, oiliness and irritation all speak to how sensitive our skin can be.  How we treat our skin and symptoms will vary. Rashes are a common occurrence on skin and can be caused by many things. From acne to rashes, coconut oil can be a helpful and useful remedy. It is used to help soothe the pains associated with eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and other skin-related conditions. You could treat rashes with regular lotions or creams, but sometimes those cause other adverse reactions. However, there are natural solutions to consider and coconut oil is one of them. Coconut oil is well-known for its many beauty and health uses. Here are 8 ways to use coconut oil for skin rashes.

Treating Heat Rashes Externally

When your skin becomes irritated, you’ll experience a burning sensation and perhaps some itching. Coconut oil can treat both skin rashes and irritation. Because it won’t clog the pores in your skin, you don’t have to worry about any additional irritation. Rubbing the oil over the rash multiple times a day will lead to healing. You can use the oil in either liquid or solid form. This remedy will not only help with the itching and dryness but also reduce the redness of irritation.

As a Lotion

Coconut oil makes an excellent moisturizer and this will be of a great benefit in treating your skin rash. When you apply it to your skin, the fatty acids in it are quickly and easily absorbed into your skin. This means you’ll quickly get some relief. Our skin produces a natural fatty acid called sebum. However, because of the rash, it’s likely your skin will be much dryer and not produce enough. Using the coconut oil will stimulate your skin into producing the sebum. Once your own natural lubricant gets produced, your skin will have more moisture and elasticity.

A Natural Bandage

Rashes can cause tears and extreme dryness in the skin. There is also a likelihood of it being too rough to handle a normal adhesive bandage without causing further irritation or pain. You can use coconut oil to help soften the area. All you need is a cotton pad with a tablespoon of warm coconut oil. Wherever there is a tender or extremely rough spot, lay the cotton pad and let it rest for about twenty minutes. Use tissue paper afterwards to remove any lingering oil. You can use this remedy for eczema relief, too. This is also a great treatment that can help with any sleep disturbances. As a natural balm, anyone suffering from overnight irritation and itch should use this treatment.

As a Massage Oil

Many people suffer from harmful and bothersome skin conditions beginning as early as infanthood. As children, this can develop into areas of the skin with slightly reddened discoloration, flakiness and dryness. A long-term solution can be found by using coconut oil as an aid for massages. Coconut oil as part of massage therapy can actually repair skin and lead to dry patches shrinking.

To create an effective coconut oil for massage, you want to melt about 4 tablespoons of coconut completely until it is hot, but not boiling. Let it cool but not solidify before spreading it all over the body. Areas like the stomach, elbows and knees are especially prone to dryness and as such, you’ll want to apply the cooled oil directly to them. When applying the oil, use clockwise motions to ensure that your skin can really get the full effect and absorb the oil. You can also apply this to other areas that eczema effects like the feet, hands or neck. After a half hour, rinse the oil off with warm water and a mild soap until the skin is completely clean.

For Baths

Hot springs have been used a natural source for body and skin relief for many years. You can get some of the same soothing results at home in your own bathtub. If your eczema covers wide areas or those that are hard to reach, you can treat them with a relaxing bath. Simple add 4-5 tablespoons of coconut oil to the warm water and immerse your entire body. If you want a different scent other than coconut, you can try an essential oil like peppermint, tea tree or even lavender. Just be sure to test it on a small area of your skin to make sure it won’t cause further irritation.

After your bath, simply sponge off the water with a towel or, if you prefer, you can let it air dry. Your skin will be much softer and doing this before bed can aid sleeping.

Oil pulling

Oil pulling is a method of detoxifying that is gaining popularity. The process is simple and requires only about 20 minutes (which may seem like a lot at first, but even 10 minutes will be effective). It’s best to do when you first wake up and before you eat any breakfast. To do this detox, place a tablespoon of vegetable oil or a solid piece of coconut oil in your mouth and hold it in place. Doing this regularly will help you get used to the process and also make it easier to keep the oil in your mouth for longer periods.

The benefits of oil pulling vary. It provides dental benefits as toxins are pulled from your gums, aids in clearing sinusitis, and even helps with skin conditions like psoriasis and acne. Coconut oil is one of the more popular options because its taste is much more tolerable than other oils. After you remove the oil from your mouth, be sure to rinse with warm salt water. While helpful, there is the risk of swallowing the oil. Because of that, this procedure is not recommended for children.

Nighttime Treatment

You don’t have to be awake to take care of your skin. There are ways to get the benefits of coconut oil even while you sleep. During the night, your skin could dry out. You can avoid this by putting a small amount of coconut oil over your face before going to bed. If you already have a night cream you use to treat a skin condition, from oiliness to acne, then add a few drops of the coconut oil to really boost its moisturizing power. You’ll get hydrated, softer skin without excess oil buildup. If it’s the sun causing your nightly dry skin, you can add coconut oil to your daily moisturizer or sunblock to help protect your skin even more.

Adding Coconut oil to Your Diet

While you definitely want to use the coconut oil as a topical solution for immediate relief, you can treat constant skin dryness with it, too. Adding coconut oil to your diet will cause your skin to be quenched from the inside-out. It will quench the skin and can be done with just a teaspoon a day. If you want to add it into your food, you can try cooking or baking your food with coconut oil. You can also make various sauces or vinaigrettes with the oil. This is also a healthier alternative to other, more traditional oils.