Coconut oil may be able to soothe redness from rosacea
Q: I just stumbled upon your article regarding milk of magnesia for rosacea. I found that rosacea definitely responds well to MoM, but I don’t like the feeling of tightness on my face as the MoMdries. Plus, the flaking residue can be annoying to dab off.
I noticed that virgin coconut oil also reduces redness, but it can be greasy. Instead, I tried combining the two, one part MoMwith two parts coconut oil. This seems to be a very effective rosacea treatment that doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight. My skin looks great. Hope you find this tip useful!
A: Dermatologists haven’t determined the exact cause of rosacea, which makes the face red and bumpy. They suspect, however, that this inflammatory skin condition may be caused by an immune reaction to Demodex mites that live on the skin (Dermatology and Therapy, December 2020). We don’t know how MoM affects mites, but it might discourage them.
We appreciate the idea of coconut oil to keep milk of magnesia from flaking. Coconut oil also has antimicrobial properties that could be helpful (Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, July-September 2019).
Q: At least half of the people who wear face masks do so improperly, with their noses exposed, which is the same as not wearing a mask. Thick beards also impair mask function. Howcan people use masks more effectively?
A: Even N95 respirators don’t work as well as they should if they don’t fit properly. If a mask is loose and slips below the nose, it cannot do the job. Face masks held on by ear loops rather than secured firmly to the head may not fit tightly enough to provide meaningful protection (JAMA Internal Medicine, online, Nov. 23, 2020).
To learn more about the proper way to wear a face mask, you may wish to consult the “Comprehensive Guide to Face Masks” from the Cleveland Clinic: health.clevelandclinic. org/a-comprehensiveguide-to-face-masks.
Q:You’ve written recently about lowering cholesterol. About 15 years ago, a friend of mine conducted an experiment for his doctor. He started taking a half teaspoon of cinnamon daily. After 90 days, his cholesterol levels were lowered to normal.
Myownnumbers were sky-high 40 years ago when myparents died. Our high cholesterol is hereditary. Various medications, including niacin and statins, resulted in bad consequences.
For many years now, I have relied on diet. My cholesterol numbers are not low enough, but
I have not had a heart attack although I am nearly 83. I eat a lot of wild salmon and avoid processed foods. I also consume at least a half teaspoon cinnamon in oatmeal or an anti-inflammatory shake daily.
A: Thank you for sharing your story. A recent meta-analysis considered cinnamon for lowering blood lipids like cholesterol in people with Type 2 diabetes (Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Sept. 29, 2020). The researchers analyzed 16 studies with more than 1,000 participants and found that cinnamon supplementation reduced triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. In a study of women with polycystic ovary syndrome, cinnamon lowered blood sugar and insulin as well as cholesterol (Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2018).
One word of caution: Cassia cinnamon, which is the most commonly used spice, may contain coumarin. This natural compound can harm the liver in high doses.