Natural oils – Coconut, Avocado and Olive oil

Coconut Oil

Vitamins E and K, medium chain fatty acids.

• Improve moisture and lipid content of the skin (3).
• Sunscreen properties – blocking about 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays (4, 5)
• Anti inflammatory and analgesic properties (5a)
• Anti fungal , anti microbial  (5c)
• May improve atopic dermatitis (1)
• May improve xerosis (2)

 

Avocado Oil

Vitamins A, B5,B6, C, D, E & K, and Omega-3 fatty acids, Antioxidants

• Contains sterolin. Avocado oil is high in a substance called sterolin, which studies have shown to facilitate the softening of the skin and to reduce the incidence of age spots (6a)
• Nourishing and moisturizing properties (6a)
• Increase collagen production (6a)
• Dermatitis and arthritis (6)
• Eczema and psoriasis (6a)

 

Olive Oil

Vitamins A, E and fatty acids

• Anti-inflammatory (reduction in osteoarthritis pain vs medical gel) (10)
• Used as a make up remover
• Useful for dermatitis (in a mixture of Olive oil, Honey and Beeswax was found to be:“Useful in the management of dermatitis and psoriasis vulgaris” (7)
• Can assist with skin repair from UVB damage (reduced the number of skin tumors in mice that were exposed to UVB) (8)

 

 

 

References

1 Verallo-Rowell VM, Dillague KM, Syah-Tjundawan BS. Novel antibacterial and emollient effects of coconut and virgin olive oils in adult atopic dermatitis. Dermatitis . 2008 Nov-Dec;19(6):308-315.

2 Agero AL, Verallo-Rowell VM. A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis. Dermatitis . 2004 Sep;15(3):109-116.

3 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15724344

4 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12715094

5 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22279374

5a http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20645831
Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities of virgin coconut oil.

5b D O Ogbolu, A A Oni, O A Daini, A P Oloko. In vitro antimicrobial properties of coconut oil on Candida species in Ibadan, Nigeria. J Med Food. 2007 Jun;10(2):384-7. PMID: 17651080

5c http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17651080

6 http://www.naturalnews.com/027509_avocado_skin_health.html##ixzz3OvjPWQdE

6a http://www.med-health.net/Avocado-Oil-For-Skin.html

7 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15022655

8 http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/11/2085.full

9 http://www.mercola.com/infographics/avocado-uses-health-benefits.htm

10 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22334264