GreenSmoothieGirl Logo
Lose 10 Pounds in 10 Minutes. Add 10 Years to your life.
Our beautiful template for infinite variety of greens and superfoods in your smoothies—print this and eliminate the need for recipes! Get it now for free!

How to Use Coconut Oil for Wounds, Cuts, Burns, And Scabs


Robyn Openshaw - Updated: March 6, 2024 - - This Post May Contain Affiliate Links


You probably know that coconut oil has amazing benefits – but did you know that it can actually help to heal wounds and cuts? Scientists agree that using coconut oil for wounds is an effective way to promote faster healing.

In fact, there are many research studies that have found applying coconut oil to a cut or scrape on your skin can help you heal more quickly – and it works on all sorts of skin issues, from diabetic wounds to burns to dry skin. If you remember, coconut oil even came in handy for helping my concrete-mangled face shed its scabs and get back to smooth in just three days!

I often use coconut oil as a nighttime moisturizer, and in fact, it’s helped me heal after burning off about 10 pre-cancers. I also used it successfully on a deep cut on my lip two years ago (tennis racket to the face) that no doctor wanted to stitch up.

[Related: Top 11 Benefits of Coconut Oil, and How to Use It Every Day]

In this article:

Of course, using the right kind of coconut oil in the right way is crucial for reaping the wound-healing benefits and maximizing your results. From which type of coconut oil works best to heal wounds to when, where, and how to apply it, find out everything you need to know about the powers of coconut oil to heal your skin.

WHAT IS COCONUT OIL?

You’ve probably seen jars of coconut oil at your local grocery store, but you may not know exactly what it is – or more specifically, how it’s created. Coconut oil comes from coconuts that are found on the coconut palm tree, or the Cocos nucifera. The coconuts are harvested from the tree when they’re mature, and then coconut oil is extracted from the kernel or meat. This process creates a plant oil with anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects when used topically.1

Coconut oil can be extracted after the coconut milk has been removed while the meat is still wet, which results in what’s called virgin coconut oil. It also can be extracted from the copra2 – or dried coconut meat – which makes a more refined coconut oil. I’m a fan of using the “whole food,” or as whole as possible, for both food and for skin application, so I always buy organic, virgin oil.

Photograph of coconut oil, from "Coconut Oil for Wounds" at Green Smoothie Girl.

Coconut oil is loaded with saturated fats, with nearly 90% of fatty acids in coconut oil being saturated fats.

Another product that’s similar to coconut oil and has been found to offer many of the same benefits for skin healing is cultured coconut extract, which is virgin coconut oil that undergoes additional bacterial fermentation.3

This may be useful in helping the skin maintain its own microbiome. (Yes, like the gut, the skin has a wide variety of beneficial bacteria that keep it healthy and young-looking and quick to heal.)

Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid and a number of other fatty acids, which research suggests have a positive effect on wound healing.4 Scientists have found that the high levels of monolaurin in coconut, which is derived from the large amounts of lauric acid, are particularly important because monolaurin has the ability to disintegrate the membranes of lipid-coated harmful bacteria. In short, monolaurin is thought to be what gives coconut oil its antibacterial and antifungal properties.5

Photo of Green Smoothie Girl skin brush

CAN COCONUT OIL HELP HEAL WOUNDS?

When it comes to research about using coconut oil to heal open wounds on your skin, there’s no question: Using coconut oil can help cuts, scrapes, and scabs to heal more quickly. In fact, multiple research studies have found that coconut oil has a wide range of healing properties.

Graphic of bacteria, from "Coconut Oil for Wounds" at Green Smoothie Girl.

Coconut oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties.

In addition to helping heal wounds, coconut oil has been shown to have excellent skin benefits. It can help with a variety of skin conditions and offer added protection from damage caused by the sun.

HOW DO YOU USE COCONUT OIL FOR WOUNDS?

To harness the power of coconut oil for healing wounds, start with virgin coconut oil, the pure oil that’s extracted from fresh coconut meat before it’s been dried.

Most of the research involving coconut oil for wound treatment has been conducted using virgin coconut oil, and several studies have shown that, compared to refined coconut oil, virgin coconut oil has more inflammation-reducing anxtioxidants and is better able to fight free radicals.14

You can find virgin coconut oil online. (My readers love to stock up on discounted buckets of the highest quality oil I’ve found, during our annual wholesale-price Group Buy on a variety of whole-foods pantry staples, so get on our newsletter list so you hear about it in October every year).

Virgin coconut oil will be whiter than refined oil and have a more coconut-y smell and taste. Just make sure it says “virgin” and “cold-pressed” on the label. This same kind of oil I use for my skin is what I use for baking or frying as well.

Ad for 12 Steps to Whole Foods Free Video Masterclass at Green Smoothie Girl
Wounds respond best to coconut oil when they’re treated while still fresh, so it’s smart to keep a jar of virgin coconut oil in your pantry and in your medicine cabinet. You can treat a wound using coconut oil with the following steps:

  1. Immediately after getting a cut, wash it with running water and pat it dry.
  2. Apply a generous amount of coconut oil to the cut using sterile gauze.
  3. Cover the cut with a bandaid or sterile bandage if you prefer.
  4. Re-apply the coconut oil to your cut several times a day, and continue to apply coconut oil to your scabs until the wound is healed.

You can treat burns using coconut oil in a similar way. When I blended some boiling turkey drippings in a blender to make gravy, the blender jar exploded and I ended up with one arm covered with second-degree burns. I used raw honey, wrapped it with an ace bandage, and later, added coconut oil.

  1. As soon as your skin is burned, immediately run the burn beneath cold water, which will stop the burning process.
  2. Apply coconut oil to the burn using sterile gauze.
  3. Cover the burn with a sterile bandage, and repeat the process several times a day until the burn has healed. [Note: If you have it, I prefer aloe vera or raw honey, or alternating the two, to treat the initial burn for a couple of days, then coconut oil to help speed the healing process.]

Of course, if your wound or burn is large or severe, please get professional medical attention.

[Related: 12 Proven Aloe Vera Benefits (Plus Uses & Precautions)]

WHEN TO USE COCONUT OIL FOR WOUNDS

Using coconut oil as soon as possible after you receive a cut, burn, scrape, or small open wound can provide a wide range of benefits. Along with helping you to heal more quickly, it keeps your skin moisturized and boosts collagen production, both of which may help reduce scarring.

Because coconut oil also has anti-inflammatory effects, applying virgin coconut oil to your burn or cut may help reduce swelling and relieve some of the pain.

COCONUT OIL FOR SCARS

While research hasn’t shown that using coconut oil (or any other kind of cream) for existing scars will necessarily help to minimize or eliminate them completely, some anecdotal evidence shows that coconut oil could help. Because coconut oil is moisturizing on the skin and boosts collagen production, there may be benefits if you apply coconut oil to existing scars regularly.

Photograph of old woman with scars on knees, from "Coconut Oil for Wounds" at Green Smoothie Girl.

There is anecdotal evidence that coconut oil can help reduce the harsh appearance of scars.

Plus, treating scars with coconut oil hasn’t been shown to have any negative effects, so it’s worth trying. Most skin care products are full of chemical additives to preserve it for years.

At the very least, the moisturizing effects of coconut oil will help to keep your scar from getting dry and becoming uncomfortable.

Final Thoughts On Using Coconut Oil For Wounds

Next time you get a cut, an open wound, or a sore on your face (or any other part of your body), skip the chemical medicinal creams and head for your pantry.

By using coconut oil on your wound several times a day and continuing to apply it to scabs, you can cut down on your healing time, prevent scarring, and give your skin a little pampering – all in one fell swoop!

Read Next: Top 11 Benefits of Coconut Oil, And How To Use It Every Day

Photograph of Robyn Openshaw, founder of Green Smoothie GirlRobyn Openshaw, MSW, is the bestselling author of The Green Smoothies Diet, 12 Steps to Whole Foods, and 2017’s #1 Amazon Bestseller and USA Today Bestseller, Vibe. Learn more about how to make the journey painless, from the nutrient-scarce Standard American Diet, to a whole-foods diet, in her free video masterclass 12 Steps to Whole Foods.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that help support the GSG mission without costing you extra. I recommend only companies and products that I use myself.

SOURCES

  1. Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. Published 2017 Dec 27. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica “Copra” Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/copra
  3. Kim S., Jang J.E., Kim J., Lee Y.I., Lee D.W., Song S.Y., Lee J.H. Enhanced barrier functions and anti-inflammatory effect of cultured coconut extract on human skin. (Pt A)Food Chem. Toxicol. 2017;106:367–375. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.05.060.
  4. Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. Published 2017 Dec 27. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070
  5. McDaniel JC, Belury M, Ahijevych K, Blakely W. Omega-3 fatty acids effect on wound healing. Wound Repair Regen. 2008;16(3):337-45.
  6. Nevin KG, Rajamohan T. “Effect of topical application of virgin coconut oil on skin components and antioxidant status during dermal wound healing in young rats.” Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2010;23(6):290-7. doi: 10.1159/000313516. Epub 2010 Jun 3.
  7. Srivastava P, Durgaprasad S. Burn wound healing property of Cocos nucifera: An appraisal. Indian J Pharmacol. 2008;40(4):144-6.
  8. Amro M. Soliman, et al. “Virgin coconut oil and diabetic wound healing: histopathological and biochemical analysis” Eur. J. Anat. 22 (2): 135-144 (2018)
  9. Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. Published 2017 Dec 27. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070
  10. Agero A.L., Verallo-Rowell V.M. A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis. Dermatitis. 2004;15:109–116. doi: 10.2310/6620.2004.04006.
  11. Evangelista M.T., Abad-Casintahan F., Lopez-Villafuerte L. 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 trial. Int. J. Dermatol. 2014;53:100–108. doi: 10.1111/ijd.12339
  12. Kim S., Jang J.E., Kim J., Lee Y.I., Lee D.W., Song S.Y., Lee J.H. Enhanced barrier functions and anti-inflammatory effect of cultured coconut extract on human skin. (Pt A)Food Chem. Toxicol. 2017;106:367–375. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.05.060.
  13. Korac R.R., Khambholja K.M. Potential of herbs in skin protection from ultraviolet radiation. Pharmacogn. Rev. 2011;5:164–173. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.91114.
  14. Marina AM, Man YB, Nazimah SA, Amin I. Antioxidant capacity and phenolic acids of virgin coconut oil. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2009;60 Suppl 2:114-23. doi: 10.1080/09637480802549127. Epub 2008 Dec 27.

Posted in: 12 Steps To Whole Food, Holistic Care, Natural Remedies

17 thoughts on “How to Use Coconut Oil for Wounds, Cuts, Burns, And Scabs”

Leave a Comment
  1. Norbert says:

    Great article. I did use coconut oil in my food before, but not as a natural skincare product 🙂
    Would it be recommended for babies, when they have skin irritations or rashes?
    Thank you 🙂

    1. Rose Butler GSG says:

      You’re very welcome Norbert. Absolutely, you can use cold-pressed, virgin coconut oil on the pediatric population. Check out source #11 above for more information. Hope this helps.

  2. Patty says:

    Sounds absolutely wonderful. As I find that all essential oils and most brands of coconut oils are toxic for me what is the purest oil you can purchase. It is apparently due to to processing or something added to it. I am at a loss but will try something else again.
    Warmly,
    Patty

    1. Rose Butler GSG says:

      Hi Patty, if you’ve tried the cold pressed, virgin coconut oil and it doesn’t work well for you, how about an organic olive oil. I use this on my hands in the winter sometimes.

  3. Fiona says:

    I use coconut oil as a facial moisturiser and for sun protection. I work outside as a gardener, and find it very effective, especially when combined with wearing a sun hat if needed (rarely here in England), and keeping my shoulders covered on exceedingly hot days. I also use coconut oil to treat athletes’ foot, rubbing it between my toes each morning before putting on my socks. I haven’t had any problems with the fungal disease since I started doing that many years ago, after all the creams stopped working. I also put a desert spoonful in my porridge each morning and it makes the porridge really smooth and creamy without tasting overtly of coconut. There are so many uses for the oil that I can’t imagine life without it.

    1. Rose Butler GSG says:

      Hi Fiona, thanks for sharing how you use coconut oil. You can use it in so many ways!!

  4. I used coconut oil to heal the top of one of my sheep’s heads. She had rubbed it raw and then it became chronically flaky…almost like eczema. The coconut oil fixed her up in just a few days! Amazing stuff. Great article Robyn!

    1. Rose Butler GSG says:

      Cheryl, that’s great to hear!! Thanks for sharing.

    2. Raq says:

      Can U also apply it to stitches? II’m not comfortable with having to keep it covered for 9 days with white stick on bandages.It already has dry crusted blood.The stitches are a bit tight bc it was recut and restitched again.I’d like to soften the stitches to be more flexible and not so tight.

  5. Don says:

    I have a terrible habit of picking at scabs on my skin, done it all my life.

    I am now trying to keep them soft so I can leave them alone and I am hoping that using coconut oil will help.

    1. Rose Butler GSG says:

      Don, keeping your skin soft with coconut oil is a great idea, hope it helps you too!

  6. I like virgin coconut oil and used it as a moisturizer for my face for several years.

    Also, I used it to remove eye makeup at night. Long story short, however, I stopped using it anywhere near my eyes. In 1.5 years, I got 3 severe styes (my eyelids blew up and I looked like I had an elephant eye) on my left eyelid. I concluded that the coconut oil clogged the pores in my eyelid. I stopped using coconut oil 10 months ago and so far the stye has not returned whereas it was returning about every 5 months. Was it the coconut oil? Just not sure…Would love your take on this.

    1. Nichole says:

      Laura, I’m not Robyn, but I’ve used coconut oil to remove all my eye makeup (and rest of my makeup, then as my night moisturizer) for years with no issues. I’m trying to think how coconut oil could cause your problem (especially only in one eye) but I’m not sure. In any case, it sounds like NOT using it has been the best choice for you!

  7. Chris says:

    I have kind of deep abrasions/scrapes on my face n nose it’s jus starting to heal been about 2 days

  8. 3 stars
    The sight of palm trees, in any work of oil painting art,
    speaks to our unconscious. Therefore, I hope to hook you into the topic, by telling to you,
    about the symbolism, of the palm tree, and how you should utilize it, in your customized oil
    painting composition. If your soil shouldn’t be very nutrient, it may be strengthened with organic or inorganic fertilizers.
    Also the supply of fertilizers, both natural and inorganic, is necessary.

    It isn’t necessary to do this, however the reward is way better.

    It takes a long two years time. These two facts together
    make coconut oil one of many healthiest oils for your heart.
    This swap will benefit your coronary heart and your
    complete physique. Put Your Heart On Vacation! I believe that historically
    (a minimum of in Hawaii) Tiki Statues had been carved out of the trunks of palm trees indigenous
    to a given area (they used what was round).

  9. Dale Sands says:

    I have used coconut oil for bruises, cuts and scrapes. I am a fast healer but I swear coconut oil seems to supercharge whatever my system has and cuts the healing time down significantly. As an example I have had a little open wound from something I don’t even remember how I injured that spot and it just would not close up. It would get as far as starting to close and then not heal. I started pounding oil on it just this past weekend and now it has healed right over and closed. In the past bruises will disappear within a week if I pound the oil on them every day. So yes I say coconut oil does wonders for healing wounds.

  10. Kristyn says:

    Hello,
    My 3 year old daughter busted her lip open tonight and after two hospital visits, the doctors sent us away saying to ice it and that’s it. While seeing her almost get stitches was scary, I want to help it heal as well as possible without scarring and keeping it from getting infected. Would you please share with me your experience with your lip after the tennis racquet injury? I am very eager to help her heal positively and am looking for natural ways to do so. Many thanks

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Skip to content