For many, summer means spending time at the beach, wearing swimsuits and soaking up the sun. But too much exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays causes sunburn.
In addition, the UV rays can age your skin quickly and increase your risk of developing melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
To deal with sunburn, you can always rely on coconut oil. Its fatty acid content helps reduce inflammation and revitalize the skin. Also, its moisturizing property prevents skin peeling, a common symptom of sunburn.
Simply rub extra-virgin coconut oil on the sunburned area and leave it on for a few hours. You can also add some aloe vera gel or a few drops of an essential oil such as lavender oil to it and then apply. Use it a few times daily for several days to promote healing.
During the summer season, do not make the mistake of going out in the sun without applying sunscreen that has a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 and is water resistant. Apply it generously to any exposed skin about 15 to 20 minutes before heading out and reapply if needed.
Acne, blemishes and other skin breakouts are more common in the summer. When sweat mixes with dirt and oil on your skin, it clogs your pores and leads to skin breakouts. Also, some sunscreen formulations and outdoor pollutants can contribute to clogged pores.
Coconut oil cleanses your skin and also offers antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant benefits. Thus, it helps eliminate acne-causing germs and other impurities from the skin.
Many people experience excessive sweating and body odor in the sweltering heat. Sweating itself does not cause body odor. It happens when sweat mixes with bacteria that grow quickly in a warm, moist environment.
Extra-virgin coconut oil works as a deodorant. It has lauric acid that helps kill bacteria that cause a bad odor with sweating.
Massage coconut oil gently onto the body parts that sweat the most top help you smell fresh and sweet. Also, take a shower 2 or 3 times and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
A common hair problem is frizzy and dry hair, which is very difficult to manage. Extreme humidity and heat during the summer can be hard on your hair. Also, swimming in chlorinated water and using a blow dryer add to the problem.
You can manage your frizzy hair with a coconut oil treatment. The moisturizing property of coconut oil helps seal the moisture in your hair strands to keep them conditioned and smooth.
Apply warm coconut oil on your hair, cover your hair with a shower cap and wrap a hot towel around it to retain moisture. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes, then shampoo your hair as usual. Try this hot oil treatment for frizzy hair 2 or 3 times a week.