Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I see it at local CVS with spf of 5. I'd always assumed coconut oil is a tan accelerator. Any thoughts?

flag	asked May 15 2011 at 22:35 saintpuffy 444●3●13

absolutely.......and it has huge effect on the SPF of your Sebum gland. And it antibacterial. – The Quilt May 15 2011 at 22:55

Thanks, Dr. K. So no downside to use, cet par? – saintpuffy May 16 2011 at 1:01

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I have looked around quite a bit, and have found no scientific evidence of this. There are lots of hopeful anecdotes, which makes it a decent hypothesis, but how can you say "absolutely"? If you have a reference, I'd love to see it! – Ambimorph May 16 2011 at 14:45

I still burn, but don't with a regular SPF 4-10 – Danielle Jun 19 2011 at 2:17

Laurie D. · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-15 22:54:15Z UTC

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This is just one person's experience, but I used coconut oil exclusively last summer at the beach, primarily as a moisturizer. I never burned. Not sure if that was due to my Vitamin D levels of 80, the oil, or using my head to move under the umbrella when I started feeling a bit too hot. Whichever, no sunscreen was used and I got a wonderful even tan (and moist skin).

answered May 15 2011 at 22:54

Laurie D.
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	Did you feel like you had to get out of the sun earlier when using the oil? – saintpuffy May 16 2011 at 1:02
	Oddly, no. We always put up a large umbrella at the beach and tend to spend most of the day out there. In previous years, I got a little red (I tan easily) even under the umbrella. This past year, no burn at all and it was a very hot sunny week. I don't know that this would work for everyone - as I said I tan easily, but even so, I was surprised. – Laurie D. May 16 2011 at 22:40
	Nice to know. Thanks! – saintpuffy May 20 2011 at 23:38

lalabomba · Answer 2 · 2011-05-16 03:50:05Z UTC

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i eat a good deal of coconut oil and when i got sunburnt this year I healed extremely fast. I didn't think to use it as a sunscreen but i think that I am going to next time I am out in the sun for a bit.

answered May 16 2011 at 3:50

lalabomba
479●2●5

Lucinda · Answer 3 · 2011-05-16 12:58:22Z UTC

I used extra virgin coconut oil (the kind you buy in the supermarket) all summer last year and did not burn. I spend alot of time at the beach, and achieve a nice golden tan, it also makes your skin feel silky smooth. I didn't feel like I needed to get out of the sun any earlier than before using the coconut oil, and usually spend about 2 hours at the beach 3 or 4 times per week. I'll never go back to 'chemical' sunscreens :)

sunshinestarr · Answer 4 · 2011-05-16 17:12:15Z UTC

I wish I remembered the details more, and I would look it up if I had more time right now, but Weston A. Price visited some islanders who were always out in the sun and always used coconut oil on their skin. It wasn't until the "white man" came that they started wearing more clothing and stopped putting the oil on their skin. Things, of course, went south from there..

Mandy · Answer 5 · 2011-06-19 01:15:05Z UTC

My children and I have been using it as a sunscreen for about 3 weeks now. This week we have gone to the beach 5 times and the pool once- and no sunburns so far. We do, however, all tend to tan easily and I've read that if you burn easily you might need to apply more often. Just to be safe I apply it every hour.

We use raw, organic extra virgin coconut oil. Its about $9 for 16ounces which is much cheaper than the chemical sunscreen I was buying. Plus- you can smear it all over faces without worrying about getting it in the eyes, its an excellent moisturizer for both skin and hair. I put it on the part in my kids' hair so they don't get burns.. its much easier to wash out than chemical sunscreens.

Is coconut oil a sunscreen?

5 Answers