Asian J Beauty Cosmetol. 2014; 12(6): 907-914.
The Effect of Coconut Oil on the Skin Barrier Function
ABSTRACT
This study deals with the effects of coconut oil on the skin moisture and the barrier function. The experiment was conducted over a total of 4 weeks with a total of 20 subjects, who were assigned to either the control group or the experimental group after having tested about their homogeneity. The subjects of the experimental group used the coconut oil once a day after taken a shower. They used the oil by applying a suitable amount of it on their legs and then rubbing it in until absorbed into the skin completely. The evaluations of skin change were conducted before the test material applicaion and after 2 and 4 weeks of the application, is including skin moisture, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), dead skin cell amounts and survey for present skin condition, satisfaction measurement about the test material, etc. In the experimental group, the improvement rates of the skin moisture indicated 100.36% after 2 weeks and 148.89% after 4 weeks of coconut oil application in comparison of pre-application. These results were statistically significant and suggest that coconut oil considerably improves skin moisture. The improvement rates of TEWL indicated 27.70% after 2 weeks and 36.97% after 4 weeks of coconut oil application in comparison of preapplication. These results were statistically significant and suggest that coconut oil facilitates the prevention of the amount of TEWL. The improvement rates of dead skin cell amounts indicated 60.49% after 4 weeks of coconut oil application in comparison of pre-application. These results were statistically significant and suggest that coconut oil benefits the reduction of dead skin cell amounts. On basis of a subjective self-diagnosis questionnaire assessment conducted by the subjects after the experiment was completed, it was discovered that in the experimental group who used coconut oil, ‘the current skin moisture’ as well as ‘the current skin texture’ showed the greatest improvement by amounting to 165.27% and 180.6% respectively. According to the research results the effects of the improvement may be satisfactorily assessed. Evidently, coconut oil has a positive effects on skin moisture contents as well as the decrease of dead skin cell amounts among other things. Since research into the utilization of coconut oil for cosmetic products is still inadequately represented, various approaches to this research field are necessary.
Keywords :
Coconut oil, Skin barrier, Moisture, Transepidermal water loss, Cosmetics
