Home Remedies for Red Rashes and Itchy Skin

Home Remedies for Red Rashes and Itchy Skin

Skin rashes are characterized by red and itchy skin, often accompanied by small bumps or other changes in the skin’s color, appearance or texture. They may occur on any part of the body or be widely distributed on large portions of skin.

Apple Cider Vinegar

This isn’t the first time I’ve sung the praises of the uber-versatile ACV, and I suspect it won’t be the last. Apple cider vinegar is an effective antiseptic, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent that relieves itching, especially itching associated with dry skin (for example: sunburns and dandruff). It’s also popularly used for pets with dry, itchy skin as well, by adding a few cupfuls to their bath water.

How to use it: Just put a few drops of it onto a cotton ball or washcloth and dab it on to the affected area. Use raw, organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (Bragg’s is a good brand) with the “mother,” a strand-like sediment floating at the bottom of the bottle that contains raw enzymes and beneficial bacteria.

Olive Oil
Extra-virgin olive oil works as a great skin moisturizer, facilitates healing and promotes skin renewal as it is rich in vitamin E and antioxidants. It will also soothe your skin and reduce itching.

Simply rub extra-virgin olive oil or a combination of equal parts of olive oil and honey on your rash a few times daily until it heals completely.
Alternatively, you can add a little turmeric powder to some olive oil and apply it two or three times a day for a few days. Packed with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric soothes rashes and relieves itching.

In addition to olive oil, castor oil and coconut oil help heal rashes naturally. A combination of vitamin E oil and cod liver oil is another popular remedy.

Peppermint Leaves
Peppermint is great for bug bites and itching, as it provides a cooling sensation that’ll give you welcome relief.

How to use it: The quickest, easiest way is to crush up the leaves and rub the peppermint directly onto the skin. You could even freeze the crushed peppermint leaves into ice cubes for a cooling double-whammy, as the cold of the ice cubes also helps to numb the affected area and bring down swelling and inflammation. Always use clean, filtered water.

Baking Soda
Baking soda helps dry out skin rashes. Plus, it relieves the itching and inflammation associated with rashes.

Add one part baking soda to three parts water. Apply the mixture on the affected area. Leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Do this once daily for a few days.
You can also mix baking soda with some coconut oil to make a paste and apply it on your rash. Leave it on for about five minutes and then rinse it off. Repeat this once or twice daily until you see improvement.

Note: Do not leave baking soda on your skin for too long because it may cause further irritation.

Fruit Peels
Silvana, the Gerson Institute’s Director of Education, also turned me on to a cool trick. Rub bug bites with a banana peel. Another Gerson staffer also suggested watermelon rind.
This is a great way to re-purpose kitchen scraps that might otherwise be thrown out! But, this method does have a potential drawback: the fruity scent may attract bugs. This may be a better choice for using indoors.

How to use it: Rub peel or rind onto the affected area.

Aloe Vera
Due to its anti-inflammatory, emollient, antibacterial and antifungal properties, aloe vera is excellent for treating a number of skin ailments including rashes. Apart from healing, it also soothes the skin, relieves itching and reduces redness.

Extract fresh aloe vera gel from an aloe leaf.
Apply it on the affected area.
Leave it on for at least 20 minutes, and then rinse it off.
Do this at least three times a day until the rash clears.

If you do not have fresh aloe vera gel, you can buy aloe vera gel or extract.

Oatmeal
Oatmeal contains compounds called avenanthramides that reduce inflammation. This is a popular trick that’s been around for ages; I can remember my mom making me take oatmeal baths when I had chicken pox as a little kid. It’s also commonly used for poison ivy and eczema. You can add oatmeal to your bath, or make a poultice.

How to use it: To make an oatmeal poultice, add a bit of water to a cup or bowl of plain, organic, uncooked oatmeal (ground or steel-cut work best for this), then let it sit for a few minutes until it reaches a paste-like consistency. Apply the paste to the itchy area as needed.

Cold Compress
A cold compress can be beneficial in reducing rashes, especially those caused by heat, insect bites, poison ivy and shingles. It helps ease itching, swelling and inflammation, and can be particularly useful if a rash begins to develop into blisters.

Put ice cubes in a sealed plastic bag and place it on the affected area for a few minutes. Repeat a few times daily for a few days.
Alternatively, you can simply soak a clean washcloth in ice-cold water and place it on the rash for about 10 minutes.

Note: Do not put ice cubes directly on the skin.