Coconut oil has been used for hundreds of years as a pure skincare miracle, particularly in lots of African houses the place it’s used to moisturise, soothe dry pores and skin, take away make-up, and even soften child hair.
However this week, a viral tweet threw the web into chaos: a light-skinned Nigerian lady claimed she doesn’t use coconut oil as a result of it darkens her complexion.
Cue the debates. Everybody’s been weighing in on the gist, giving their profound takes and opinions. However what’s the reality? Can coconut oil truly darken your pores and skin?
Let’s break it down.
ALSO READ: How to prepare homemade coconut oil
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What’s coconut oil, and what does it do on your pores and skin?
Coconut oil is extracted from mature coconuts and incorporates fatty acids like lauric acid, which give it highly effective moisturising and antibacterial properties. For this reason it’s a preferred go-to for folks with dry pores and skin, eczema, and even acne-prone pores and skin.
When utilized to the pores and skin, coconut oil locks in moisture, soothes irritation, helps restore the pores and skin barrier and offers a glowy, barely oily end.
Nevertheless it doesn’t include any bleaching or darkening brokers. So the place does the concept it “makes you darker” come from?
Coconut oil + solar = extra UV absorption
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Coconut oil [Quora]
Coconut oil by itself received’t make your pores and skin darker. Nevertheless, making use of it after which getting into the solar could be a totally different story.
Oil sits on high of your pores and skin and might appeal to and entice warmth, make your pores and skin extra delicate to UV rays and act like a magnifying glass in sturdy daylight.
This intensifies solar publicity, which can trigger solar tanning or pores and skin dullness, particularly for individuals who use it in the course of the day with out sunscreen.
So no, it’s not the coconut oil itself; it’s the sun exposure that’s doing the damage.
SEE ALSO: 5 other benefits of sunscreen besides preventing sunburns
What dermatologists suggest
Most dermatologists agree that coconut oil is secure for the pores and skin, nevertheless it might not be appropriate for everybody. Right here’s what to remember:
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Use it at night time should you’re nervous about solar publicity
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Pair it with sunscreen in the course of the day
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Skip it should you’re acne-prone, as it might clog pores
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For warm sunny days, use lighter moisturisers like shea butter, aloe vera, or glycerin-based lotions
Be aware: It is typically really helpful to do a patch take a look at earlier than widespread use, particularly for delicate pores and skin, and to seek the advice of with a dermatologist for personalised recommendation.
Nigeria and colourism
A part of why this debate blew up is due to how we view pores and skin tone. In Nigeria (and throughout a lot of the world), there’s a long-standing bias that equates honest pores and skin with magnificence, wealth, and desirability.
This is similar bias that fuels the billion-dollar skin-lightening trade.
So when somebody says they’re avoiding a product as a result of it “makes them darker,” what they could truly be reacting to is the concern of dropping their light-skin privilege.
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