[YEA]  01/31/2007: Barbara from Callands, VA: "Coconut Oil has been in my kitchen for about two years. I use it for cooking anything that requires oil. I also use it daily on my skin and it is a wonder for the winter dryness. I use it as a replacement for butter on my toast and internal. It lubricates from the inside out and the outside in."

12/14/2008: Laurie from Sudbury, Ontario replies: "Hi , can you please please tell me how much one uses on face and body and how often , do u leave it on or rinse it off. Same with the hair. No one ever says ingredients.Thanks "

[YEA]  02/24/2009: Nanci from Niagara Falls, NY replies: "I have used it all over & here's what I do - I keep some in a rubbermaid container (with the top on) that I toss into he tub while I shower. The heat makes it melty, so then I just pour it onto my palm afterwards & slather it everywhere. I also use it on my hair like a hot oil treatment before a shampoo.

For internal use: I soften it & pour it into those little candy molds & chill it, then eat them. My dog comes running when she hears me getting it out so she can have her VCO. (I saw a recipe here that mixes it with cocoa & honey) In the summer I use it before sun exposure - and gently tan without peeling.

You should only buy the Virgin Coconut Oils like Nutiva. If you're going to bother doing it, use the one that will give you the most benefits and have best quality.

http://nutiva.com/products/10_coconut.php find it on Amazon, Swanson, Vitacost etc."

[NAY]  11/30/2007: Kay from Toronto, Canada: "Hi everyone. I've been ingesting and using 100% pure organic coconut oil since October 2007. I have excema and keratosis pilaris. I've found that my keratosis has gotten better, practicaly non existent, but my excema has worsened. I find that it is drying on my skin and I would need to keep moisturizing constantly throughout the day which is no good. Not sure if that is just because of the cleansing properties of the coconut oil and the toxins are just making their way out of my system or not .. but my excema has definitely not improved. in fact, i've developed a whole new kind of rash. kind of a blistery raised looking rash. I had to switch back to using Aveeno on my skin and just ingesting the coconut oil. Has this happened to anyone else?? Should I be drinking more water? I only take a teaspoon of the oil a day and drink aloe vera juice as well, twice a day. should I just continue to take the oil and put it on my skin?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  07/24/2008: Emma from South Island, New Zealand replies: "i have using vco on my face as i have very sensitive skin around my chin and get acne there, although my spots are seeming at bay the rest of my skin on my face seems to be coming out in a kind of red rash with little itchy raised bumps around th bridge of my nose etc.and my skin seems so dry and flaky, i wonder if its cleansing properties are just too strong for regular use on my skin. has anyone else experienced this reaction? Have only been using for about 5 days morn and night."

07/26/2008: Che from Roxas City, Philippines replies: "To Emma of New Zealand: The reaction that VCO has gotten to your face is just a natural reaction as VCO is known for its natural antibiotic. Physician's usually prescribes to use the antibiotic for 7 days. Allow a day for your face to rest by instead pitting an eggwhite on your skin and chin, then the next day continue your VCO and observe the reaction."

[YEA]  10/28/2009: Tracy from Phoenix, Arizona replies: "I developed eczema (atopic dermatitis) as a result of intense exposure to allergens roughly 2.5 years ago. Several dermatologists and allergists were unable to offer anything beyond antihistimines and steroids. At one point I was taking 5 different antihistamines a day. I was so itchy and miserable I could barely function. But since I was awake for hours at night, I used the time to search the internet for possible answers/cures. Here is what ultimately worked for me: topical use of coconut oil several times a day (I actually make my own blend of coconut and olive oils now as well as a body butter by adding beeswax) and oral use of 1 evening primrose oil capsule per day (EPO contains GLA, which is good for eczema). I also try to cook with coconut oil and use it whenever possible instead of butter or olive oil. (Makes great popcorn.) It took over two years to figure this all out, but my eczema has been gone for two months now and I feel like a new/normal person without taking a bunch of drugs."

12/28/2009: Alinzer from Port Matilda, Pa replies: "Emma from New Zealand - The rash you are describing on your face could be a sign of Lupus - please see your doctor and take that into account if necessary. Best Wishes. Alinzer, a veterinary science writer"

12/30/2009: Sara from Mesa, Az replies: "A few years ago I was diagnosed with eczema on my face. It would appear in patches or on my eyelids. When I finally got the proper diagnosis, the doc gave me some topical steroids (which I barely used cause it seemed a bit harsh) and told me to buy a bar of soap. I think it has zinc and some other ingredients in it. The bar saved my face!

The coconut oil might not be working because my doc explained the type of eczema like this: your face might be oily or dry, but either way there will be some oil on your skin. Your body might start producing more oil based on hormone changes. The excess oil clogs the pores and the cycle begins. It seems kind of counter intuitive, cause my face never seemed oily, just dry. The coconut oil might just be adding more oil to the problem.

One the other hand, coconut oil has saved my feet. I actually have another kind of eczema on my feet. Cocount oil is the only thing I've found so far that will keep it at bay."

[NAY]  12/15/2011: Help Me :( from Toronto, Ontario replies: "I'm 16 years old going on 17 and I've had eczema my whole life. I've tried extra virgin coconut oil 100% natural and all. My eczema worsened by a lot!! I was so upset and depressed and this happened during my finals. I just don't understand how it worked for so many people but not for me. I feel like there's no hope. What's worse is that now I have keratosis pilaris all over my stomach and back.

I did this treatment for 1 month hoping and praying it will work. The result I got was eczema all over my body. I just wanted to die. Anyways, I'm just wondering where I went wrong. During that month I've applied Virgin Coconut Oil every day all the time and nothing else. It was actually really drying so I felt my skin was really dry even though I put Virgin Coconut Oil like 45 mins ago. Can I apply moisturiser after I apply vco? After my eczema 'magically disapears' do I continue applying Virgin Coconut Oil or stop?

Can someone please tell me exactly what they did and made it work? It will mean the world to me. Thanks"

12/15/2011: Leslie from New Castle, Pa replies: "Help Me :( from Toronto, Ontario,

Try Nixoderm. I am using it for perioral dermatitis (a suggestion from someone on this site) and it is working. I did some googling and I've read that eczema sufferers have found relief with it. I had to buy mine on ebay it came from the UK. It was cheap. I paid $1 for two small tins (you only need to use sparingly). The shipping was $6.00 since I live in the US. Nixoderm has been around for 40 years. If you go on acne.org and view the message boards there is positive feedback with using Nixoderm for eczema. Hope this helps. God bless."

12/15/2011: Pam from Charlotte, Nc replies: "Not sure if you have heard much about Hydrogen Peroxide or not but I just started taking it this week for a rash that I have had on my hands for over two years. I had been to my doctor several times and was prescribed several creams but nothing worked. I have been taking the 35% food grade Hydro for only 4 days and my rash is completely dried up!! I would also purchase the book, The One- Minute Cure!! Hope this helps!!!"

12/15/2011: Jen from Bozeman, Mt, Us replies: "Are you sure that you have eczema and not something else? I was diagnosed with eczema when I was about 2 years old and treated for it for about 10 years. The treatments never worked and finally when I was about 12 or 13 I was told it wasn't eczema but psoriasis. That was when the treatments started working. Either way you need to make sure you are taking in enough fat like coconut oil internally first. Your body cannot produce the right amount of moisturizer if you are not eating the right fats.

Young girls especially tend to stay away from fats but that is a big mistake when you have skin issues. I would try 1 to 2 teaspoons of coconut oil on your toast or in you coffee (if you drink it). Then make sure you are getting enough omega 3's from either flax oil or fish oil capsules. The other thing you can try is D3 internally and externally. I take D3 capsules and then I apply a D3 oil to each patch of dry skin when I get break outs (which I haven't for many years now that I take all of the above internally).

I know how difficult it is to go through when you are so young. I remember wishing I had a much less obvious illness rather than one that everyone could see, unless I wore a turtleneck and pants all the time (I lived in Sunny California so not an option). Good luck."

12/17/2011: Cat from Tauranga, New Zealand replies: "Are you using the coconut oil topically or internally? As with most health problems these days, they are best cured from the inside - out. Rubbing it on your skin will help but it's best to keep up with the good oils in your diet, that's probably what you're missing. Try the oil pulling with the coconut oil also, it is the miracle treatment!"

12/26/2011: Caitlin from Austin, Tx replies: "Mornings: Clean your face with the coconut oil and a warm cotton pad. Then, make a loose paste with baking soda and water in your clean hands and GENTLY message all over the face; let it sit for 1-3 minutes or until dry; rinse with cold water. Gently pat dry.

Before Bed: Follow same procedure but when done, message a very small amount of Balmex over the face (never on eyes). This should alliviate your eczema problem as it did mine in 2 wks.. Be patient. Also, eliminate what can cause eczema in the first place. Prime culprits are wheat, milk, and sugar."

01/12/2012: Caitlin from Austin, Tx replies: "Hi, Help Me! Your thread really stayed on my mind. I have a young niece (20) who also has eczema ruining her skin since she was about 4 years old - about the time she started eating junk food, particularly her favorites, pizza and ice cream!

Recently she went on a cleansing type diet... No grains, milk, SUGAR, or plain & diet sodas (just water). She stuck to cooked meat & fish, raw fruits, veggie drinks, and cooked vegetables. She used meat oils; not butter or grain based vegetable oils. The differance in her skin in one week was astounding! Her eczema began clearing by the fourth day. In a week it was just small patches on her stomach and arms and behind her knees. She was soooo excited.

Then, on the 9th day, she went to a friend's birthday party and had pizza and beer. The next morning, the eczema was back, full force. She now believes food sensitivities are the culprit of her chronic eczema and tries to keep away from milk, grains, sugar and her eczema is minimal when she does not eat these foods regularily. But, it is very hard for her as all her friends are junk food junkies.

I relate this to you because you may be eating many things that are not good for your body to process; that keep your skin in a state of inflammation. And, unlike some young people, you may be more sensitive to certain, common foods. I wholly recommend that you find out what those foods are.

I must say, the most beautiful young girl I had ever seen was in a FuDr.. Cker's hamburger joint. I joke not when I say that this young lady had a healthy aura around her that glowed. Looking about 18, she had clear, beautiful skin, very clear blue eyes, & thick beautiful, shiny hair. I decided to watch what she ate. She sat down with a full hamburger and immediately discarded the bread. She wrapped the meat, tomatoes and onions in lettuce leaves and ate this makeshift sandwhich with a few french fries. She drank 2 glasses of water. Her boyfriend, who had medium acne on his cheeks, ate the full hamburger with fries and strawberry malt. Although young, this girl had figured it out - "we look what we eat. '

So I say to you , clean out your system and start over. Find the foods that keep you healthy and discard those that don't. It's simple but hard to do. Depends on how badly you want it. Peace out, & love! Cat"