Saturday, 27 August 2011

• Taking The Sting Out Of Skin Irritation

  
  There's no getting around it: mosquito bites suck (no pun intended). They're itchy, painful, and downright annoying, so what happens when you run out of Calamine lotion and Cortizone 10? And what about splinters? Whole Living comprised a list of home remedies that will ease the pain of those pesky skin irritants. 

  Clay - Clay is comprised of mineral deposits (especially dark clays) and therefore will help soothe an itch. They're obviously found in nature, but can be bought in powdered form. To use, make a paste by mixing the powder with water and applying to the bite.

  Baking soda - Is there anything that baking soda can't do? Mix it with water and it becomes an instant anti-itch remedy. If you're covered in bites, you can add several tablespoons to a bath and soak for all-over relief.

  Mashed papaya and oatmeal - Delicious AND useful! Spreading these foods on a bite will relieve discomfort; papaya contains the enzyme papain which, applied topically, breaks down the proteins that cause itching.

  Chamomile - If you have some tea bags laying around, you'll never have to itch again! The flower calms rashes and has a "strong chemical constituent that inhibits oxidative stress (from sun damage or skin conditions like hives or eczema) and is palliative on irritated skin." Sounds good to me! Steep a tea bag in water, allow it to cool, and put it into a spray bottle to use as needed.

  Banana peel - This is definitely the most interesting splinter removal method I've ever heard. The enzymes in banana peel can apparently help draw a splinter to the skin's surface. Apply a piece of peel (pulp side down), and affix with a bandage. Wear it overnight, and the splinter will be easy to remove with tweezers in the morning.

  What remedies do you use when you have a bite or otherwise irritated skin?
  
  

  Click here for the rest of the list.
  Image Source

  • 6:30 PM
  • 1654 Views
  • 2 eProps
  • 1 Comment