“Coconut oil is comprised of a unique combination of natural fats, which makes it useful in treating the skin,” explains Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. These fatty acids include linoleic acid (which can be beneficial for acne-prone skin) and up to 50% lauric acid (which is hydrating and antimicrobial), he says. All you need is one thing: Raw (and preferably organic) virgin coconut oil.
Now, as tempted as you might be to use it on your peeling sunburn (hello, trapped heat!) or on a fresh cut (stick to antibiotic ointment), you may want to hit pause. Coconut oil won’t work for every ailment—or every skin type (especially if you’re acne-prone, since it’s known to clog the pores). Instead, these are the natural, DIY coconut oil tricks that doctors actually recommend.
