Skin Beauty: 8 Natural Remedies To Get Rid Of Your Skin Rashes

The skin goes a long way in determining
the overall look of an individual. Not
only is it the largest body organ, the
skin has also been described as the
mirror of the entire body, capable of
reflecting a person's overall health
status. And this is not far from the truth
given that several hundreds of disease
conditions are accompanied by skin
manifestations in the form of rashes.
By way of definition, a rash is a skin
lesion usually characterised by a change
in the colour and/or texture of the skin.
It could be very itchy or painful
sometimes and the affected person feels
very uncomfortable. Furthermore, some
common causes of rashes include
allergic reactions, infections, irritants,
skin disorders (like psoriasis) and
poisonous plants (like poison ivy). More
often than not, when the underlying
cause of a rash is identified and treated,
it subsides and ultimately disappears
over time. For instance, a person who
has allergic or irritant dermatitis, only
needs to identify the offending allergen
or irritant that he or she reacts to and
then avoid it to prevent a recurrence.
However, several natural remedies exist
that offer benefits in alleviating the
discomfort (such as severe itching or
pain) often caused by rashes. Such
itching may even spread or complicate
the rashes if not treated on time. A few
of these time-tested natural remedies
will be highlighted in this article:
1. Honey
Honey has been shown to be beneficial
in the treatment of rashes by virtue of
its antibacterial and hygroscopic
properties. It also aids healing of the
skin after rashes through
reepithelialisation. When mixed with
apple cider vinegar which itself has
antiseptic and antifungal functions, they
can be used to treat dandruff, acne and
generalised skin itching.
2. Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Niacin is a vitamin that has been quite
effective in treating some skin
conditions, hence its use in some skin
creams. Note that niacin deficiency leads
to a skin condition known as pellagra.
Also, niacin (nicotinamide) moisturizer
may be beneficial in the treatment of
rosacea according to some researches.
Natural food sources of this vitamin
include liver, poultry, fish and nuts
among others.
3. Low-histamine diets
Histamine is a chemical substance
released by the mast cells in the body. It
is responsible for most of the itching
(pruritus) that accompanies rashes.
Hence, if you have itchy rashes, it is
recommended that you consume more
of low-histamine diets like leafy green
vegetables, whole grains, fruits and
beans while you cut down on high-
histamine diets such as tomatoes,
alcohol, eggs, cheese, sugar and
processed meats.
4. Tea tree oil
This is a favourite ingredient in the
cosmetic industry and could be very
useful for treating pimples (acne) as well
as several other skin conditions due to
its antifungal and antiseptic contents.
Research has shown that tea tree oil is
quite useful for treating allergic skin
reactions and fungal infections. For
instance, 5% tea tree oil shampoo
applied to the scalp can cure scalp
dandruff due to ringworms.
Furthermore, tea tree oil can readily
combine with coconut oil which
contributes to a smooth, soft skin and
also relieves itching.
5. Aloe vera
Aloe vera gel contains numerous
vitamins and minerals that provide
relief from itching and enhance healing
of rashes. No wonder extracts from this
plant are extensively used in the
preparation of body creams and lotions.
Aloe vera gel is especially beneficial for
treating seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis,
sunburn, heat rashes as well as
dermatitis following exposure to
poisonous plants. However, do not apply
it to open cuts, blisters or sores.
6. Rose oil
Rose oil contains several vitamins and
minerals such as vitamins C, B and E,
calcium, zinc and carotenoids. All these
are essential for skin health and beauty.
In addition, rose oil contains
antibacterial and antifungal agents,
hence its use for skin conditions like
tinea, dandruff and acne (pimples).
7. Garlic and Onions
These are spices that also enhance skin
health and skin beauty. For instance,
garlic contains ajoene, a natural
antifungal agent which can cure fungal
skin infections and is also good for
treating hair loss. In addition, onions
contain quercetin, an antiinflammatory
flavonoid that is useful for inflammatory
and allergic skin reactions.
8. Grapefruits
Grapefruit is a delicious juicy fruit that
also promotes skin beauty. In fact, early
evidence has shown that grapefruits
could be beneficial in the treatment of
seborrheic dermatitis (eczema).
Grapefruit is rich in phytonutrients as
well as vitamin C which are potent
antioxidants important for connective
tissue and skin integrity.
Image Credit: clevelandclinicmeded.com