Red, irritated, sore, hot–you scratch and scratch but get only temporary relief. Whether caused by insect bites, stinging nettle, poison ivy or some strange fungus, plenty of natural, “green” remedies for itchy skin can soothe and repair. Before you reach for over-the-counter remedies, try one of these!
1. Ice the itch. Hot skin itches more than cold skin, so apply a cold compress to the spot for instant relief.
2. Apply a compress made of cold water and baking soda mixed as a paste. This works particularly well on insect bites and stings.
3. Take a tepid bath with baking soda or uncooked oatmeal added to the tub for all-over relief.
4. Undiluted lemon juice contains anti-inflamatory properties and it smells nice.
5. Aloe vera plants are full of soothing gel that works on burns and other irritations.
6. Make mint tea rinse out of dried mint leaves and water–the menthol properties of mint cool down an affected area.
7. Lanolin, which comes from sheep heals and moisturizes wonderfully. Enviro Girl has a small tube of leftover Lansinoh from her nursing days that really does the trick on eczema and other rashes.
8. Plain old vinegar or apple cider vinegar can make an itch go away–something to do with Ph balances so it’s antifungal and antiseptic.
Enviro Girl bets you have one or more of these natural “green” itchy skin remedies in your cupboards–try a couple before you buy cortizone cream or calamine lotion.
Interesting. I had NO idea.
A neighbor used ammonia as a mosquito bite remedy. I haven’t done it myself; I prefer the ice technique first.
When I was a child, my mom would use a paste made of baking soda and water to take the sting out of insect bites. She would also soak rags in white vinegar and lay on my sunburned skin to take the heat out. Both worked like a charm.