Skin irritations can be very uncomfortable and can range from minor to severe. Conditions like eczema, psoriasis, sunburn, and prickly heat can cause extreme discomfort. Luckily, there are natural remedies that can be used to soothe these skin irritations.
I have some top tips on my natural remedies for eczema, psoriasis, rashes, dermatitis, sunburn and prickly heat that have been proven to help reduce inflammation and irritation for adults and kids. I always pack these remedies when we are going on a holiday in the sunshine.
Baths
Baths are very soothing and should be with lukewarm water. For best results, soak for about 15 minutes. Be careful to gently pat the skin dry to avoid lifting any peeling skin!
Oatmeal Baths
Have a Cleopatra-style milky bath - take a few handfuls of porridge oats (rolled oats not the likes of Oats So Simple!) into a sock or muslin cloth and tie. Pop it in when you start running the bath. Oats are soothing, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. Squeeze it over the body when the bath is ready, you will get a lovely thick milky liquid. Kids love watching the water turn white! You can also add a few tablespoons of healing bicarbonate of soda to the running bath.
An alternative to an oat bath is my amazing multi-tasking TEMPLESPA BE QUIET toner. BE QUIET is so much more than a toner, it's great for skin irritations and contains incredible anti-inflammatory and anti-itch fermented oats as well as anti-inflammatory alpine rose and can be used on the body as well as the face.
Many of my customers are loving it for rashes and other skin irritations. I used it recently to calm and soothe prickly heat and (😳) sunburn on holiday recently. It took the itch and sting away, soothing it and taking down the redness whilst hydrating my skin. BE QUIET can be used on children age 3+ too!
Tea Bag Baths - yes I said tea bags!
It's as simple as popping 2 to 3 tea bags into a running bath:
Chamomile tea - has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can relieve and soothe skin irritations such as eczema and rosacea.
Nettle tea - is naturally anti-inflammatory and can soothe itchy, inflamed skin and calm irritation reducing redness, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, acne, and rashes.
Peppermint tea - has anti-inflammatory properties and is thought to help reduce redness and irritation, calming and cooling the skin.
Or make a cup of the tea, keep it covered and allow it to cool and use throughout the day to bathe the affected areas with a cotton pad or muslin. You can place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to speed up the cooling process.
Drink Plenty Water
The NHS recommend that we drink 6–8 glasses of water per day, and the key is to start drinking in the morning and continue to do so regularly throughout the day.
Drinking enough water is essential for healthy skin. It helps to keep the skin hydrated and prevents it from becoming dry and irritated. Water can also help to reduce the symptoms of skin irritations such as eczema, psoriasis, sunburn, prickly heat or any other type of skin irritation. By drinking enough water throughout the day, you can help reduce inflammation and improve your overall skin health. Additionally, drinking plenty of water can help flush out toxins from your body which can also aid in reducing skin irritation in particular itching.
Aromatherapy
Mix my healing Lavender and anti-inflammatory Chamomile German with a carrier oil such as my Eve Taylor Safflower Oil. Shake/stir well before use. You can add this to your bath or apply it directly to the skin.
- Add 2-4 drops to 10ml of carrier oil like my Eve Taylor Safflower Oil
- Children age 3+ 1-2 drops/10ml
(Always do a patch test first, on the inner elbow to check there are no sensitivities)
Another product I adore is my TEMPLEPSA PEACE BE STILL. This amazing calming skin balm is great for sunburn, eczema, dry skin and sensitive skin. It's a great all-round body moisturiser containing calming essential oils and vitamin B5. It is also wonderful to apply after shaving anywhere. Gentle enough to use on hands and face. I just love it!
Alternative Therapies
My family and I have found Bach Flower Remedies, Homoeopathy and Acupuncture extremely helpful for all sorts of illnesses and it's reassuring to know there are other options than the conventional drug route.
Homoeopathic Remedies
I use many homoeopathic remedies for me and my family including for colds, bruising, hay fever and sinusitis. You can buy Homoeopathic from Holland and Barrett, Boots and other good health shops or online at my favourite Helios. Helios has a fantastic telephone service where you can speak to a qualified Homeopath for free advice. I am never without our Helios Nursery Kit or Basics Kit and I used their amazing Child Birth kit during and after having our son.
You can book a thorough consultation with a registered Homoeopath to achieve the best results. To find one near you, click here.
All of these remedies can also be used to give relief to chicken pox and shingles. I do hope this post helps anyone you know to get relief from their skin irritations.
Love Sara x