I would do the oils into the body, not onto it.
Coconut oil is great internally (I also do Omega oil too) - take a few T's a day, warmed, wash it down with a chaser (water works for me). My skin has never looked or felt better, and I no longer having hive outbreaks, especially when I work out. Amazingly, I have a mild condition of being allergic to my own sweat. Yeah, weird, I know.
This too shall pass. I wouldn't make any decisions on the trips until right before. My guess is he'll be fine. Let him go - sounds like he's earned them.