Allergic Skin Reactions: Home Remedies
The skin is the
body’s largest organ. A number of things can trigger local skin inflammation,
or dermatitis, in sensitive people. In contact dermatitis, the offending agents
come into direct contact with the skin. Examples include poison ivy, nickel jewelry,
sheep’s lanolin, topical antibiotics, and ingredients in detergents and
body-care products. Radiation administered to cancer patients can also cause
dermatitis.
Some people have
eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, a condition that tends to run in
families, along with hay fever and asthma. Affected patches of skin are red,
itchy, scaly, and thickened, and in some cases oozing and crusty. Allergens
that provoke the inflammation may be difficult or impossible to identify. Hives
is another skin condition often caused by an allergic reaction. Red, raised
itchy patches of skin appear suddenly and may disappear as quickly as they
came. Caused by a release of histamine in response to an allergen, hives can be
triggered by just about anything—food, sun, dust mites, stress, medication, and
more.
Treatment for any of
these conditions depends upon the underlying cause. If your watch’s nickel
backing left a red, crusty patch on your wrist, you’ll need to replace it. If
you’re allergic to the antibiotic you’re taking, you may need to switch
medications and remember to never take that antibiotic again (as the reaction
could be more severe next time around). If you’re allergic to bee venom and are
stung, you’ll need an epinephrine injection. If you are prone to hives, a
simple antihistamine can often calm the allergic reaction. If you have eczema,
your doctor will probably advise switching to hypoallergenic personal care
products and laundry detergent, keeping your skin hydrated, and prescription
anti-inflammatory creams for flare-ups.
History
In ancient China,
healers considered eczema “asthma of the skin,” as many who suffered skin
outbreaks also suffered asthma. Allergies were treated through acupuncture,
herbs, and most important, by modifying the diet to increase foods that cool
the body (fresh fruits and vegetables and green tea) and to reduce foods that
heat the body (pumpkin, squash, onion, garlic, chilies, and ginger). In India,
healers saw dermatitis as a mild form of leprosy and balanced three treatments:
reducing stress, abstaining from dairy and fish, and using massage to increase
circulation. Many of these treatments are still in use today.
SALAD DRESSING TO FOIL
INFLAMMATION
1 part
olive oil
1 part
flaxseed oil
1 part
balsamic vinegar
1 part
apple cider vinegar
Preparation
and Use: Combine
all the ingredients in a dressing shaker and shake vigorously ten times. Pour
over salad and toss. You may think that eating oil will cause your
skin to break out; in fact, oil is an anti-inflammatory. The omega-3 fatty
acids in fish oil are especially effective in retarding inflammatory reactions
in cells.
COLLOIDAL OATMEAL BATH
2 to 3
cups (160 to 240 g) regular or colloidal oats
Preparation
and Use: If using
regular oats, pour them into a food processor, coffee grinder, or blender and
blend to a powder. This turns them into colloidal oats. Pour the oats into
warm, running bathwater. Disperse oats with your hand. (Alternatively, pour the
oats into a sock, bag, or bandana to contain the particles and help with
clean-up and place the sock in the bathwater.) Climb in and soak for at least
15 minutes. (Avoid using soap, which only dries and further irritates the
skin.) After leaving the bath, pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Oats
have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Applied topically, oats
moisturize the skin and decrease itching. The gooeyness you feel when you
squeeze the sock is caused by the complex carbohydrates in the oats.
Note: You can make a large batch of colloidal oats and store
in a tightly sealed jar or tin in a cool, dry place.
AFTER BATH NATURAL MOISTURIZER
¼ cup (55 ml) Aloe
Vera gel
¼ cup (60 ml)
high-quality oil (olive, almond, coconut, apricot, or grapeseed)
12 drops German
chamomile essential oil
Preparation
and Use: In a clean bowl, whisk together
the aloe gel and oil. Blend in the German chamomile oil. Immediately after
bathing or showering, while your skin is still damp, apply a generous amount to
your skin with clean fingers. Allow a couple of minutes for the moisturizer to
absorb before getting dressed.
•
Aloe Vera gel is anti-inflammatory, soothing, and
hydrating. Lab studies indicate that aloe can promote healing and may reduce
inflammation in eczema.
•
German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) has chemicals that reduce inflammation and allergies.
More specifically, the flavonoids quercetin and apigenin inhibit the release of
histamine from immune cells called mast cells. Lab studies indicate that it
improves eczemalike skin conditions. Essential oil of chamomile looks blue, due
to a potent anti-inflammatory chemical called chamazulene.
Note: Store leftover moisturizer in a clean, dry jar and throw it away after two
weeks when it’s time for a fresh recipe.
SOOTHING OAT PASTE
1 tablespoon (5 g)
colloidal oatmeal
1 teaspoon (5 g)
baking soda
Drops of water, as
needed
Preparation
and Use: In a small bowl, stir together
the colloidal oatmeal and baking soda until blended. Gradually add just enough
water to form a paste. Apply to irritated areas with clean fingers. Once dry,
rinse it off with warm water. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities
in oatmeal relieve itching. Baking soda neutralizes the acids that promote itchy
skin.
POISON IVY (OR OAK) POTION
1 part calamine
lotion
1 part Aloe Vera gel
Preparation
and Use: Mix the lotion and aloe gel in a
clean bowl. Apply to affected areas with clean fingers, cotton swabs, or cotton
balls. Allow the mixture to dry and then rinse off. The zinc oxide and
ferric oxide in calamine lotion are antipruritic, or anti-itch, agents. Aloe
Vera gel feels cool and adds anti-inflammatory relief. This is an effective,
time-honoured recipe for the rash caused by poison ivy and poison oak.
JEWELWEED RUB
1 quart (946 ml)
water (or more if you have lots of jewelweed)
Armful of jewelweed
Preparation
and Use: Bring the water to a boil in a
big pot. Turn off the heat. Put the jewelweed in the pot, cover it, and let it
steep for at least 30 minutes. Pour the mixture (a deep brown tea) into a
gallon jar or into ice cube trays and freeze. Rub on the poison ivy rash as soon
as you experience the first signs of itching. Urushiol, an oily resin in the
sap of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, causes an allergic reaction in
those who are sensitive to it. Jewelweed has strong anti-inflammatory
properties. It acts on urushiol to relieve the itching and blisters and halt
the spread of the rash.
Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
is a tall, stemmed plant with orange and yellow trumpet-shaped flowers, usually
found growing wild near streams and in deep shade in the woods. My family keeps
a batch of this handy during poison ivy season. (Jewelweed can sometimes be
found at nurseries, but don’t confuse it with the shade-tolerant garden annual Impatiens
walleriana, also known as “Busy Lizzy.” That one will not help your poison
ivy.) ~ BHS
SCALP THERAPY OIL
½ cup (120 ml) olive
or vegetable oil
3 drops lavender
essential oil
Preparation
and Use: Before bedtime, warm the oil in a saucepan until it feels
soothing to the touch. Apply to your scalp. Put an old cloth or towel over your
pillow and sleep. In the morning, use a mild shampoo to wash away the remaining
oil. This natural moisturizer soothes the affected scalp.
SAGE SKIN WASH
1 cup (235 ml) water
1 tablespoon (2 g)
dried sage
Preparation
and Use: In a small pot, bring the water
to a boil and then pour into a cup. Add the dried sage, cover, and let steep
for at least 15 minutes. Strain and allow to cool to room temperature. Apply to
the affected area with a clean cloth.
Allow the skin to dry before getting dressed. Do not
rinse off the sage mixture. In a 2011 study in Japan, researchers
used sage and rosemary, among other herbal extracts, on dermatitis lesions on
mice and found that repeated applications significantly healed the skin
lesions.
FACT OR MYTH?
Stress can aggravate
eczema. Yes! To help counteract a breakout and increasing irritation, take a
long walk, bike, or swim; do the Stress Less exercise (see page 119) in a quiet
room; or meditate.
All chamomiles have
the same healing properties. No! Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is
a different species and chemically distinct. Although it has benefits of its
own, it lacks German chamomile’s anti-inflammatory impact.
LIFESTYLE TIP
For an extra jolt of
good-for-you oils, never consume cod liver oil. It contains too much vitamin A
for your system and can even cause a bleeding disorder. Instead, opt for other
sources of healthy oils. Add walnuts and avocados to salad. Add hemp seeds to cereal
and smoothies. Eat oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines, etc.) at least once a
week. Or take a daily EPA/DHA capsule.
Brew a fresh pot of
coffee and take a handful of the wet grounds. Rubbing them on your hands will
soothe them and relieve inflammation.
WHEN SIMPLE DOESN’T WORK
Consult with
your family physician for stronger over-the-counter or prescription medications.
WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR
You develop a
rash around your eyes, mouth, genitals, or over much of your body from poison
ivy or poison oak.
Skin
inflammation worsens or becomes infected, as evidenced by increased redness,
heat, and pus.
Fever or other
signs of more serious illness accompany skin inflammation.
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