Natural Cures for Facial Skin Irritation
Facial skin irritation can occur for a number of reasons: a reaction to artificial fragrances, dyes, or parabens, which are chemicals used to extend shelf life of cosmetics, and other beauty products.
Irritation can also be a result of being exposed to sunlight that will interact with different fragrances in these products.
Natural cures to relieve skin irritation include lavender essential oil, chamomile and arnica montana. Each of these are derived from lavender, chamomile or arnica plants, flowers or buds.
The advantage of using plant-based products that are known to be appropriate for sensitive skin, is that they are less likely to further aggravate already irritated, inflamed skin.
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Things You'll Need
- Unscented glycerin soap
- Unscented liquid Castille soap
- Lavender essential oil
- Chamomile tea or skin cream
- Arnica montana gel or cream
Instructions
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Perform a skin patch test before using any new product on your skin, especially your face. Dab a small amount of lavender essential oil on the inner elbow. Do the same for arnica montana and also chamomile cream. Place each little dab in a different area and sketch on paper where you applied each product. Cover with small bandages and wait 24 hours. If you have any skin irritation, do not use.
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Cleanse the irritated area with cool water and glycerin soap or gentle, unscented liquid soap such as castille. Lightly ice the skin with a clean cotton cloth run under cold water and wrung out. This is to reduce obvious redness and irritation before applying any lavender, chamomile or arnica montana essential oils, creams or lotions.
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Use Lavender essential oil (L. angustifolia) as many have for centuries to help even burned skin heal. It is generally gentle enough to apply to infant skin and adult sensitive skin. It is available as a highly concentrated oil extracted from different types of lavender plants. Use lavender essential oil neat by dabbing cotton balls with it and dabbing it on the irritated areas of your face.
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Apply skin creams with German or Noble Chamomile, another plant that may be more familiar as a tea that is often recommended to people who have insomnia. It is also known as calendula and is used to reduce skin irritation.
An easy way to use chamomile is to purchase organic chamomile tea bags and brew a strong cup of it. When cooled, soak cotton balls in the tea and dab on skin. You can also use the tea bag that has been steeping. -
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Dab small amounts of Arnica Montana gel, made from a plant that is also available as a homeopathic remedy. Homeopathic remedies use very small quantities of plants, flowers or buds and is available as pressed pellets and as a tincture.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are experiencing skin irritation, don't disregard what you are eating. There is a saying that whatever you eat will affect your skin's appearance. This also applies to any cosmetics or other health and beauty products you use: essentially your skin will absorb it and your body "eats" it. Remember that even "natural" products made from plants and herbs will can potentially irritate your skin. For example, even organic almond oil would not work for someone allergic to nuts.
