Is Coconut Bad for Eczema?
Author: Anna Wilen Clark
Coconut could be bad for eczema
If you suffer from red, itchy, swollen, and skin conditions such as eczema, then you’ve likely received all types of advice on how to handle it: some, from knowledgeable, trustworthy sources, and some from well -meaning, albeit misled, individuals. I see plenty of advise on social media about Coconut Oil being great for healing eczema, however there is an aspect of Coconut Oil that often goes unexplained.
It’s true that bringing coconut oil out of the kitchen and into the bathroom has brought some big benefits to many individuals. There are over 101 alleged uses for coconut oil, including sunscreen, soap making, shampoo, bug repellant, and body butter. Many individuals who are opposed to using tallow in their skincare due to their vegan or vegetarian lifestyles have made it a soothing staple in their skincare routines.
However, it often exacerbates eczema rather than helping it heal - and here’s why.
Coconut is high in salicylates. These simple phytonutrients are naturally found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, although some more than others, and serve as “nature’s pesticides”. That is, when consumed in excess, they make plants’ ‘predators’ - like deer, bugs, and humans - suffer, thereby discouraging them from coming back for seconds. They are designed to protect the plant.
A diet high in salicylates means a build up in the body over time. Each person seems to have their own threshold as to how much they can take in before experiencing adverse effects. Many people have an allergy or intolerance to salicylates and don’t even know it. Once someone is exposed to too much salicylates- either in their natural form, as with coconut products, or in the form of chemicals in soap, lip balm, toothpaste, and other items in the home or work environment - they may begin to experience dis-ease.
An individual’s reaction to a salicylate allergy or intolerance may vary, but could include more than one of the following symptoms:
- Aching joints and muscles
- Blood sugar problems
- Bloating
- Colitis
- Migraines
- Vertigo
- Tinnitus
- Indigestion
- Mood swings
- Restlessness
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Exaggerated appetite
- And there are more…
And most importantly, really aggravating skin rashes like eczema.
Salicylate sensitivity often goes misunderstood and undiagnosed, and many people whose skin problems are caused by the chemical wind up making their symptoms worse, rather than better, by trying to treat their eczema with coconut oil and other plant-derived products. While not ALL cases of eczema are salicylate-related, it’s likely that many are, as salicylate intolerance is incredibly common.
Wondering if salicylates could be causing your skin troubles?
It’s quite likely.
The condition is often linked with others. In fact, 75% of children with behavioral issues may be suffering from salicylate sensitivity, along with 20% of adults with asthma, 60% of individuals with food-induced itchy rashes, migraines, or headaches, and 70% of those with irritable bowel syndrome.
The only way to tell for sure that these chemicals do NOT cause your eczema is to undergo an elimination diet and allergy test. Even then, there’s no guarantee that you won’t develop an intolerance or allergic reaction over time.
There is an alternative for treating skin conditions that does not involved Coconut Oil and is in fact a better ingredient for the skin.
Organic grass fed beef tallow is better for your skin, and does not carry the risks that coconut oil does. It is easily absorbed, is extremely soothing and healing to damaged, dry, itchy, and fragile skin - and best of all, it contains NO salicylates! If you are discouraged that even ‘natural’ solutions like coconut oil haven’t worked. Don’t despair. Get healthy, happy skin you can take pride in, and try our Pure Range of tallow products today.
Salicylates are derivatives of salicylic acid that occur naturally in plants and serve as a natural immune hormone and preservative, protecting the plants against diseases, insects, fungi, and harmful bacteria. Salicylates can also be found in many medications, perfumes and preservatives.
Tallow, being an animal product, does not contain salicylates.
Useful links throughout this article:
http://www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-testing/allergy-testing
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/allergies-elimination-diet
http://www.thepaleomom.com/2012/10/what-is-salicylate-sensitivityintolerance.html
http://salicylatesensitivity.com
FREE POSTAGE OFFER - KEEP READING
At Paleo Skincare we are very sympathetic to those who have tried so many lotions and spend a near fortune on trying different products to help relieve skin conditions such as eczema.
As yet, we do not offer samples of these products which I know seems frustrating however we have good reason.
A sample will not give you the full impact of how good these products are for senstive skin. A sample will give you 2 maybe 3 applications depending on the size of the effected area.
We strongly believe that you will find much relief in using the full size product for a decent amount of time and with several applications. Our products are not steriods, they truly heal the skin and when the skin is that irritated it takes a little time.
In lieu of samples, we would like to offer you instead free postage on the duo of products that Tommy J used. The Pure Tallow Soap and the Pure Tallow Moisturiser. That is a savings of $11 (for those who reside outside Australia you will receive a discount of $11).
Please fill in the form below and a code will be sent straight to your inbox along with a link directly to the products. *Note you will have to confirm your 'subscription' - this is so I can email you (privacy laws etc etc)
We hope you take us up on our offer. Due to the nature of the tallow and the absence of fragrances and other contaminents, your skin will have everything it needs to heal.
Love Your Skin,
Anna & The Paleo Skincare Team.