Not all skin problems require immediate medical attention. Some can even go away on their own, as long as you are in tiptop shape. Your body’s immune defense is enough to combat whatever invaders are causing the problem. But of course, since many skin ailments come with pain, rashes, and itchiness, it’s understandable that you’re going to want to do something about it.
For these common skin problems, here are some tried and tested home remedies that work like magic.
Dry Skin
One of the most common skin issues is dryness, which is caused by extreme weather changes, constant exposure to the sun’s UV rays, and pollution in the environment. All these factors can affect the skin’s moisture content. The moment the skin becomes dehydrated, its texture turns scaly, cracked and itchy. Here are some possible solutions to try:
- Papaya, avocado and banana – Mash one slice papaya, one slice avocado and one piece banana. Leave it on your face for 15 minutes. Rinse and pat dry with clean towel.
- Egg yolk – Make a nourishing face pack by mixing one egg yolk, one teaspoon milk powder, and one teaspoon honey. Apply mixture on your face and other dry areas on your skin. Leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing with cool water.
- Honey and rose water – In a bowl, dissolve one teaspoon honey in one tablespoon rose water. Spread a thin layer on your face. Wait for 10 minutes before rinsing.
Eczema
Otherwise known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is a condition of red, inflamed and itchy skin. It’s common among kids but can also occur in adults. Sometimes, it is accompanied by hay fever or asthma. Sad to say, there’s no cure for eczema. Those with this chronic skin condition rely on home remedies for pain relief. Here are some of those:
- Coconut oil – Take one tablespoon of coconut oil and spread a thin layer on affected areas of the skin. Leave it on for a few minutes before washing off. Repeat several times each day.
- Magnesium bath – Add a cup of magnesium flakes, one tablespoon of Himalayan salt and 10 drops of lavender essential oil to your bath water. Soak in it for 30 minutes to an hour before soaping your body with mild bath product.
Angular Cheilitis
Unlike eczema that affects the whole body, angular cheilitis only occurs in the corners of the mouth, causing redness, inflammation and sometimes even blisters and pus to appear in this area. It typically starts with chapped lips, and is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria, yeast or fungi. These home remedies have been proven effective in toning down the symptoms and even killing the microorganisms causing the problem.
- Cocoa butter – Apply a thin layer of natural cocoa butter on the corners of your mouth. Let it stay for 30 minutes before removing with clean cloth.
- Tea tree oil, vitamin E oil and petroleum jelly – Combine two tablespoons of tea tree oil, one-half tablespoon of petroleum jelly and one tablespoon vitamin E oil. Apply this concoction on your cracked mouth corners several times each day.
- Neem Leaves – Crush fresh neem leaves to extract juice. Apply the juice on mouth corner slits to kill the bacteria, fungi or yeast. Do this once a day.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
A type of eczema that affects the scalp and face, seborrheic dermatitis is characterized by scaly flakes and skin redness. The scaly flakes on the scalp are often mistaken as dandruff. This condition, which is caused by a problem in the sebum glands, can be alleviated with these practical natural remedies:
- Honey and water – Dissolve two tablespoons honey in a cup of water. Apply mixture on your scalp and leave it on for three hours. Wash it off afterwards.
- Apple cider vinegar – Mix one cup apple cider vinegar with one cup water. Apply it on affected area for a few minutes (10 minutes tops, if you can stand the stinging sensation). Rinse it off with water.
- Baking soda – Combine one-half teaspoon baking soda with one-half cup of water. Spread mixture on the skin for 10 minutes. Wash it off with cool water.
Common skin problems like eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, angular cheilitis and dry skin can be relieved using these highly effective but inexpensive home remedies. As you can see, most of the ingredients that you need can already be found inside your home.
*Our content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical advice. Users / readers are always advised to consult their Healthcare Professional prior to starting any new remedy, therapy or treatment. Your Wellness Group accepts no liability in the event you, a user of n-gage and a reader of this article, suffers a loss as a result of reliance upon or inappropriate application of the information.