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Avocado oil is one of the most talked about plant-based oil used for the skin. Ever wondered why the rave about avocado oil is? With the knowledge that avocado oil is one of the oils often used for skincare products, it is only normal that there are questions on whether avocado oil clogs pores or not.
Clogged pores are the leading cause of acne on the skin. The skin’s pores are tiny holes that serve as a passage for oils and sweat. Clogged pores are a blockage of these tiny holes by the buildup of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. As earlier stated, clogged pores are a major cause of acne and can be discomforting to the skin.
Yes, Avocado oil is regarded as a comedogenic product, which means it can clog pores. Avocado oil has a 65% content of oleic acid, and this acid is known to cause clogged pores. People with oily and combination skin types can experience clogged pores if they use avocado oil. However, avocado oil can be effective for people with other skin types.
The type of skin of each individual determines how their skin gets clogged and what they can use to unclog it. With avocado oil as an effective oil for skin treatments, many people are curious to know if avocado oil can clog pores. This article answers all the questions you have on this.
What is Avocado Oil?
Avocado oil is a plant-based oil that is extracted from the fruit avocado.
The avocado fruit is a great fruit known to be healthy and a great addition to anyone’s diet. The oil is extracted by pressing the fruit, which contains about 83% of fats. Avocado oil is majorly known for its culinary purposes, as it has a high smoke point and adds a unique flavor to any dish.
However, over time, avocado oil has been explored and used for other purposes, such as hair and skin care. This is mainly attributed to the discovery of various nutrients in avocado oil.
Using avocado for skincare has spurred many opinions on whether avocado oil can clog pores. Due to the oleic acid content of about 65% present in avocado oil, the oil is declared a comedogenic product, which means it tends to clog the pores.
The Comedogenic Scale
The comedogenic scale is a scale that helps to classify oil/butter/fats according to their tendencies to clog the skin pores. This is usually presented as a guide for users of cosmetic products to know what ingredients can cause clogged pores, acne, breakouts, etc.
The scale uses a 0 to 5 numbering scheme. The grading is as follows;
Number | Indication |
0 | Does not clog pores |
1 | Very unlikely to clog pores |
2 | A low probability to clog pores |
3 | Moderate probability to clog pores |
4 | Likely to clog pores |
5 | Very likely to clog pores |
On the comedogenic scale, avocado oil ranks number 3, which means it has a moderate probability of clogging pores.
Since avocado oil has a moderate likelihood of causing clogged pores, it can be used by people with other skin types than oily and combination skin types. People with oily and combination skin types can experience clogged pores, acne, pimples, dark heads, and more if they use avocado oil.
However, avocado oil is very beneficial to people with other skin types. It can be used to treat acne and other skin problems. The following are some benefits of avocado oil.
1. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant that is known to be effective in fighting off free radicals and toxins. Avocado oil is rich in vitamin E, which means that when in use, avocado oil can prevent the skin from getting damaged by free radicals.
2. Anti-inflammatory Properties
Acne often causes irritations on the skin, such as swelling and redness of the skin. Avocado oil contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help in reducing and get rid of the irritations caused by acne. Swelling, pain, and redness of the skin reduce over time when avocado oil is being used.
3. Healing of Sunburn
Avocado oil contains antioxidant properties that are helpful in healing sunburn. Nutrients such as Beta carotene, vitamin D, protein, vitamin E, etc have all been associated with repairing the skin and giving it room to heal.
4. Hydrates the Skin
Although it tends to clog pores, it does not leave a greasy residue on the skin, when in use. Avocado oil leaves moisture on the skin and helps it stay hydrated for a long time. This is attributed to the presence of fatty acids present in the oil.
5. Healing of Skin Problems
Avocado oil isn’t so useless on oily and combination skin types. Because of the anti-inflammatory properties present in the oil, it can still be used to treat some skin issues such as eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, acne, and others.
Types of Comedogenic oils include:
- Cocoa butter
- Coconut oil
- Oleic acid
- Soybeans oil
- Carrot seed oil
- Palm oil
- Flaxseed oil.
If Your Skin Is Clogged, What Can You Use?
If you have clogged pores, you can use other natural oils that are not comedogenic, i.e., castor oil, beeswax, etc. We recommend you visit your dermatologist to determine what best works for your skin type.
Final Thoughts
Several skincare products contain natural ingredients, especially oils. These oils, although good and full of nutrients, may not be ideal for your skin type. Avocado oil is an excellent oil for fixing skin issues, however, it has a moderate tendency to clog pores and this can be disastrous for people with oily and combination skin types.