Home Remedies for Rashes

Itching, pain, discomfort, and irritation – not a single good thing comes out of having a rash. While painful rashes can give you hell, the itchy ones can turn you into a scratching monkey. Some rashes go away on their own, but some can spread and become more aggravated if ignored.

A skin rash can be caused by a variety of factors, such as allergies, heat, stress, skin infections and diseases like chicken pox or measles. Even some medications can cause a rash as a side effect, and some cosmetics can irritate the skin and lead to a rash.

Rashes should always be dealt with promptly or they can become more than annoying. Severe rashes may bleed, hurt or develop lesions.

For severe cases, your doctor may prescribe medication to reduce the symptoms and allow the rash to heal, but the best way to get rid of a  rash is to nip the problem in the bud with some natural remedies.

Treating a Skin Rash Naturally

These natural remedies are generally well-tolerated by most all body and skin types, without any harmful side effects that may come with medications. The ingredients used in these remedies are commonplace but capable of producing remarkable results.

Here are five methods that can be used to get rid of skin rashes quickly and naturally.

Method 1: Use Olive Oil

Olive oil is a fast, easy and painless remedy for skin rashes that is all-natural. Being a natural cleanser, it flushes the skin of toxins and allergens; thus, speeding up the healing process.

Olive oil relieves uncontrollable itching and can soothe the inflamed skin. The compound oleocanthal present in olive oil is what brings relief to the inflamed skin.

Concoctions of olive oil and honey have been effectively used to soothe diaper dermatitis in children as well. (2) This oil absorbs into the skin and promotes healing. The presence of antioxidants and vitamin E in olive oil helps heal the skin from within and furthers the process of skin renewal.

Things you’ll need:

• Olive oil (soothes inflamed skin)

Single-Step Treatment: Apply olive oil 3-4 times a day

• Use a cotton ball to apply a light coating of olive oil over the rash-inflamed skin. Don’t saturate the skin with oil, use only what your skin can easily absorb.

Reapply the olive oil 3 or 4 times a day for a few days or until your skin heals completely.

Method 2: Use Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is light and is as safe on skin as it is effective. You can use it to treat a variety of skin rashes. It is so gentle that it can also be used to treat diaper rash on a baby’s delicate skin. Coconut oil can bring tremendous relief from the pain, itching, and redness of a diaper rash. (5)

This oil has antimicrobial as well as healing properties. The lauric acid present in coconut oil is responsible for its numerous benefits. This light oil readily absorbs into the skin without clogging the pores.

Things you’ll need:

• Coconut oil (helps heal itchy skin)

Single-Step Treatment: Apply coconut oil a couple of times

• Apply coconut oil over the rash with a cotton ball. You can easily apply it more than a couple of times to speed up the healing process.

Repeat the application daily for several days until the rash subsides.

Method 3: Use Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is nature’s most bountiful gift. It is a soothing and healing salve that can be used topically for a variety of health and cosmetic complications.

It boasts antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and emollient properties. This means that it can fight any infection that may be present in the rash, bring down the pain and swelling, and provide relief from the itching.

Aloe vera can easily speed up the healing process of any lesions resulting from the rash. (3) You don’t even need to wash it off as it absorbs into the skin, delivering better results.

The best kind of aloe vera gel that you can use is fresh from the leaves of the plant. A potted aloe vera plant is easy to keep alive and can provide you with fresh aloe vera gel around the clock.

You can also buy aloe vera leaves from some grocery outlets. These leaves easily keep for 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature. There’s also the option of getting aloe vera extract from a health store. Be sure that the product doesn’t contain artificial fragrance or other additives.

Things you’ll need:

• Aloe vera gel (has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe inflamed skin)

Single-Step Treatment: Apply aloe vera gel daily

• Apply fresh aloe vera gel over the rash.
• Let it dry for a couple of minutes. You don’t need to wash it off.

Repeat the application whenever you feel pain and itching in the rash. Continue with this treatment until the rash clears completely.

Method 4: Use Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

If you think that your rash is due to an infection, apple cider vinegar (ACV) can prove especially beneficial. Its acidic nature is effective in treating a variety of skin infections that cause rashes. (1)

While it may sting a little, apple cider vinegar can alleviate itching on rash-affected skin. The astringent properties of apple cider vinegar can also help dry out the rash and speed up the healing process.

Things you’ll need:

• Apple cider vinegar (helps dry and heal the rash)

Single-Step Treatment: Use apple cider vinegar twice a day

• Apply apple cider vinegar on the rash-affected skin with a cotton ball.
• Before using it directly on the rash, you should test apple cider vinegar on a patch of healthy skin. If you feel any irritation, then dilute the apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of water before applying it on the rash.

Repeat twice a day for a few days until the rash subsides.

Method 5: Use Oatmeal

Oatmeal can be used to treat a variety of rashes, including those caused by eczema, poison ivy, allergies, sunburn, and measles. It’s also beneficial in treating drug-induced rashes. This rash remedy has been around for ages. Oatmeal soothes the skin and subdues the rash, without giving rise to any side effects. (4)

Oatmeal exhibits anti-inflammatory properties that bring down the swelling and ease the pain and itching in rashes. The avenanthramides compounds present in oatmeal give it the antihistaminic properties that make it beneficial for rashes due to allergies.

You can make oatmeal soak with baking soda and olive oil to treat your rash. Baking soda also reduces the pain and discomfort while imparting a cooling effect. Olive oil will moisturize your skin to prevent it from drying out and speed up the healing process.

Things you’ll need:

• Water – 1 quart
• Raw oatmeal (rolled oats) (helps bring down the swelling and ease the pain) – 2 tablespoons
• Baking soda (reduces pain) – 1 tablespoon
• Olive oil (moisturizes skin) – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Mix oats, baking soda and olive oil in water

• Put about 1 quart of water in a bowl and add 2 tablespoons of raw oatmeal to it. You can also grind the oatmeal into a fine powder before adding it to the water.
• You can optionally add in 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
• Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• Stir the contents of the bowl.

Step 2. Soak the rash-affected skin in the solution twice a day

• Immerse the rash-affected area of the skin into the solution and soak it for 15 to 20 minutes.
• You can also make a similar preparation for your bathtub. You’ll just need to increase the ingredients proportionately.

Doing this twice daily for a few days should bring relief from the rash.

Tips to keep in mind

• Deal with a rash as soon as it appears to make the experience as painless as possible.
• You can also mix the coconut or olive oil with an equal amount of honey before applying it over a rash.
• You can mix the coconut or olive oil with turmeric powder as well. Applying this paste over a rash will work wonders.
• A paste of baking soda and coconut oil also works well to treat rashes.
• Castor oil is another type of oil that can prove to be helpful for the treatment of rashes.
• Fresh cilantro paste can also help to cool down the burning sensation in the rash.
• You can also add ACV to your bathwater if you have rashes all over your body.
• You can also mix oatmeal with an equal amount of yogurt along with a little honey and apply the paste as a mask over your rash.

Resources:

1. Chen H, Chen T, Giudici P, Chen F. Vinegar Functions on Health: Constituents, Sources, and Formation Mechanisms. The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1541-4337.12228. Published September 28, 2016.
2. Al‐Waili NS. Clinical and mycological benefits of topical application of honey, olive oil and beeswax in diaper dermatitis. The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1469-0691.2004.01013.x. Published November 29, 2004.
3. Grundmann, O. Aloe Vera Gel Research Review. Natural Medicine Journal. https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2012-09/aloe-vera-gel-research-review. Published 2012.
4. Ilnytska O, Kaur S, Chon S, et al. Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena Sativa) Improves Skin Barrier Through Multi-Therapy Activity. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27272074. Published June 1, 2016.
5. Lin T-K, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/19/1/70. Published December 27, 2017.

Summary of How to Get Rid of Rashes

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