Does Avocado Improve Your Skin and Hair? 13 Benefits

Does Avocado Improve Your Skin and Hair
Avocado is an excellent source of biotin (B complex vitamin) and other nutrients that can help prevent dry skin and improve hair health

Avocado is an excellent source of biotin (B complex vitamin) and other nutrients that can help prevent dry skin and improve hair health.

What are the nutritional benefits of avocado?

In one 100-gram serving of avocado, there is:

  • 485 mg of potassium 
  • 81 mcg of folate
  • 0.257 mg of vitamin B6
  • 10 mg of vitamin C
  • 2.07 mg of vitamin E

Avocado is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and potassium, which can help prevent:

13 ways avocado improves skin and hair health

  1. Increases skin glow: Avocado contains essential antioxidants and vitamins that could help nourish the skin from within and impart a natural glow.
  2. Smoothes skin: Including avocado in the diet or applying it topically as a face mask will help the skin procure essential fatty acids, which help keep the skin supple and soft.
  3. Prevents wrinkles: Enriched with vitamins C and E, both are vital to support healthy skin and prevent it from free radical activity.
  4. Reduces aging effects: Antioxidants, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, in avocado fight free radical formation and thus keep the skin taut and young.
  5. Moisturizes the skin: Antioxidants, such as B-carotene, lecithin and linoleic acid, help moisturize the skin from within.
  6. Prevents acne: Lauric acid and anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of avocado help manage acne.
  7. Naturally exfoliates the skin: Removes dead skin cells, unclog pores and exfoliates the skin from within.
  8. Stimulates collagen production: Helps keep the skin supple and youthful.
  9. Moisturizes hair: Vitamins A, D, E and B6 help manage extremely dry, frizzy and brittle hair.
  10. Protects hair: Proteins, amino acids, magnesium, folic acid, copper and iron present in the fruit protect hair.
  11. Boosts hair growth: Proteins, vitamins and minerals in avocado help hair grow faster.
  12. Reduces or prevents dandruff: Reduces scalp inflammation, stimulates dormant hair follicles and repairs and rejuvenates the scalp.
  13. Rejuvenates hair: Revitalizes and rejuvenates the hair to make them look perfectly shiny, bouncy and soft.

How to use avocado for your skin and hair

Eating avocado provides the best results for your health. Avocados are versatile and can be eaten with toast for breakfast, used in salads, or blended with other ingredients into a smoothie.

Face mask

Scoop out an avocado, mash it into a paste, and add a tablespoon of honey or yogurt. Apply the paste to your skin and let it dry for 15 minutes. Rinse off with cold water and pat dry. Use the mask at least 3 times a week. Benefits of this face mask include:

  • Help moisturize the skin
  • Prevent acne formation
  • Remove dead skin cells
  • Unclog pores
  • Hydrate skin
  • Prevent sun damage
  • Provide a plumping effect to the skin
  • Prevent premature aging
  • Protect from sunburns
  • Provide radiant skin
  • Reduce blemishes and wrinkles

Hair mask

Combine mashed avocado with 2 tablespoons of argan, coconut, almond or olive oil and apply all over your hair and scalp. Leave it on for about 20 to 30 minutes before washing it off with a gentle shampoo. Benefits of this hair mask include:

  • Repairs damaged hair
  • Prevents dryness and frizziness
  • Nourishes hair
  • Softens hair

QUESTION

An average adult has about ________ square feet of skin. See Answer
References
Image Source: iStock Images

Booth S. Avocado. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/all-about-avocados

Dreher ML, Davenport AJ. Hass avocado composition and potential health effects. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2013;53(7):738-750. doi:10.1080/10408398.2011.556759