INGREDIENT · PLANT OIL
Coconut oil for skin: benefits, risks and what trials show
Coconut oil has been a household moisturiser in India for generations. The trials are small but real, and they compared it with mineral oil, not with nothing.
You may see it written as
- Cocos Nucifera Oil
What coconut oil is, and what it was tested against
People in the tropics have used coconut oil as a traditional moisturiser for centuries.1 That history is why it has been tested at all, and it is worth knowing what it was tested against.
The trials below compared virgin or extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil, a common moisturiser. They do not compare it with a modern moisturiser cream, and they do not test other grades of coconut oil.
Coconut oil for dry skin and eczema
In a double-blind trial of 34 people with mild to moderate dry skin (xerosis), patients applied extra virgin coconut oil or mineral oil to their legs twice a day for two weeks. The two oils had comparable effects, and both improved skin hydration and skin surface lipids. Coconut oil trended towards better results, but not by a statistically evident margin. Patients had tested negative to both products beforehand, and there were no adverse reactions.1
A larger trial tested virgin coconut oil against mineral oil for eight weeks in 117 children with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (eczema). The eczema severity score (SCORAD) fell by 68.23% with coconut oil and 38.13% with mineral oil. Transepidermal water loss and skin hydration also improved more with coconut oil.2
Both trials are small and short, and they tested one grade of oil. They support coconut oil as a reasonable moisturiser for dry skin, not as a treatment for eczema.
Coconut oil on babies’ skin
Emollient application is a traditional practice in the Indian subcontinent,3 and one large trial tested coconut oil on newborns. In a randomised trial of 2,294 preterm babies in rural India, babies who had virgin coconut oil applied had better skin maturity and fewer episodes of low body temperature and breathing pauses than babies who were massaged without oil.3 Babies without oil gained weight faster on average. No significant adverse effect was found with the oil, and the authors say further studies are needed before a universal recommendation.3
This is not advice to oil a newborn. It is a single trial in premature babies, and what suits them may not suit a full-term baby. Ask your paediatrician.
Does coconut oil cause breakouts?
We did not find a clinical trial of coconut oil on acne-prone skin, or one that measured blocked pores, in our search. So we can neither say it clogs pores nor say it does not.
If you are prone to breakouts, try it on a small area first and see what happens over a couple of weeks.
Coconut oil in pregnancy and breastfeeding
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
No pregnancy-specific evidence is not the same as safe, or as unsafe.
Evidence on cosmetic products in pregnancy is limited overall, so ask your doctor or midwife about the specific product you use.4
What you will see on the label
Look for Cocos Nucifera Oil. Snifff shows it as Low risk. For the rest of the formula, see what the score means and how to read the list.
The trials used virgin or extra virgin oil, so they say nothing direct about other grades. Our guide to reading an ingredient list shows what the label does and does not tell you.
As Snifff shows itCocos Nucifera Oil
Pregnancy and nursing
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Wording as it appears in the extension, which can change between releases.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Common questions about coconut oil
Is coconut oil good for dry skin?
In a double-blind trial of 34 people with dry skin, extra virgin coconut oil and mineral oil had comparable effects on hydration and skin lipids.1
Is coconut oil better than mineral oil?
In a trial of 117 children with eczema, virgin coconut oil reduced severity scores more than mineral oil (68% against 38%).2 In the dry-skin trial the difference was not statistically evident.1
Does coconut oil clog pores?
We did not find a clinical trial that answers this. If you are prone to breakouts, test a small area first.
Is coconut oil safe for babies?
A randomised trial in 2,294 preterm babies found no significant adverse effect, but the authors say more studies are needed.3 Ask your paediatrician before using it on a baby.
Is coconut oil safe in pregnancy?
Snifff found no pregnancy-specific evidence for Coconut oil. Ask your doctor or midwife about the product you use.
WHERE THIS COMES FROM
Sources
- A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosisAgero AL, Verallo-Rowell VM · Dermatitis · 2004
- The effect of topical virgin coconut oil on SCORAD index, transepidermal water loss, and skin capacitance in mild to moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double-blind, clinical trialEvangelista MT, et al. · International Journal of Dermatology · 2014
- Effect of virgin coconut oil application on the skin of preterm newborns: a randomized controlled trialKonar MC, et al. · Journal of Tropical Pediatrics · 2020
- Cosmetic dermatology in pregnancy and lactation: a risk-benefit framework for clinical practiceKovacs T, et al. · International Journal of Dermatology · 2026
This page explains an ingredient. It is not medical advice, and it is not an assessment of any product. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a skin condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist.