From a Nurse: Using Coconut Oil as a Treatment for Eczema

by Helen Hecker R.N. 

Sometimes one has to resort to alternative, natural eczema treatment methods to get the best cure or results for their eczema problem.  And often it's a better choice, due to less exposure to drugs and chemical-laden products.  It should always be the first treatment to consider when you want to take the best care of your skin. 

First of all, eczema and dermatitis are often referring to the same thing in the medical world. They cover a variety of inflammations of the most outer portion of the skin. There are three different, broad types of eczema.

The type of eczema depends on the cause and where it occurs on the body. The types are basically, allergies, rashes, and nutritional deficiencies. The eczemas include atopic, dyshidrotic and nummular eczema.

Naturally you'll want to eliminate any internal cause of eczema as in non-contact allergies, rashes, and nutritional deficiencies.

For local causes of eczema such as contact dermatitis, you want to avoid having your skin come into contact with the offending item.  It could be jewelry, perfumes, chemicals in any cosmetics, shellac in mascara, lipstick, nickel, lotions, soaps, fabric softener sheets, pesticides from contact around the mouth, latex gloves, etc.

I'm assuming here that you already have a diagnosis of eczema.

The best thing I've found to heal eczema is extra virgin coconut oil. It works better than eczema creams, which are usually chemical-laden products, whether for babies, teens or adults.  Make sure you're working on eliminating the cause of your eczema, whether internal or external, which we won’t go into here.

Extra virgin coconut oil has helped many I know to help heal the skin.  Ultimately, of course, the immune system and body do the healing if you were to do nothing, but coconut oil can speed up the process. But it shuoldn't take long before you see the benefits of coconut oil.

If you also have acne it'll treat acne too and is better than most chemical acne products.

You want to make sure you get the extra virgin type that is not refined, bleached or deodorized.  You can order it online. Whole food-type markets are carrying more coconut oil, in pint and quart jars and especially the extra virgin coconut oil.  Get the organic kind if you can.

Coconut oil cures many other skin conditions and skin disorders too, besides making the skin soft and smooth.  I use it for everything including as a make-up remover and under my foundation.  My skin is always soft, silky, smooth, and free of rashes, bumps, blemishes, blisters, etc.  It stops itching and flaking too.

Coconut oil is very inexpensive therefore, a good, cheap home remedy. Keep it around to treat any other skin problem.  It's actually healthy to eat too.  It's a plant saturated fat, not an animal saturated fat.  I add two big tablespoons to my smoothies, to help my skin from the inside out too, and have been doing so for many years.

Although we refer to it as coconut oil, it isn't actually oil until the temperature climbs above 77 degrees. It can be applied when it is in the oil-state or non-oil state.

To apply the extra virgin coconut oil, massage it deep into the affected area. You can heat it if you like but you don't have to.  Depending on how severe the eczema is, apply it three or four times a day or more and especially at bedtime.

It's important to keep the area moist with the oil.  You may have to apply a loose bandage to your skin, soaked with the oil.  If the eczema is on your hands, you'll have to apply it even more often.

Also you can expose the area to direct sunlight for 20 minutes or so each day.   You'll get your daily dose of vitamin D that way too. 

Many have used coconut oil as a treatment to cure or heal their eczema or their baby's eczema.

It just takes motivation, a willingness to try it, and diligent application of coconut oil several times each day and at bedtime.  And your eczema and its symptoms, providing you've removed the cause, should go away. Continue using coconut oil and the benefits of a good clear skin will be your reward.

copyright©2007 Helen Hecker All rights reserved.