Helping Skin Problems at Home

Skin irritations and blemishes can be frustrating, but many are easily handled with simple household ingredients.

Baking soda is effective at drying up acne. Mix three parts baking soda with one part water to form a paste. Apply it to your face and let stand for five minutes. Then rinse. The baking soda dries the oil on your face and also acts as a natural exfoliant.

Sunflower seed oil has been shown to help soothe itch and inflammation in eczema flare-ups when applied topically and can be found at your local grocery store. A vitamin D supplement may also help prevent irritation. In severe cases, a soak-and-seal treatment — immediately applying medicine or moisturizer to still-damp skin after a shower or bath — helps lock in moisture and calms a rash.

Cool compresses often soothe cases of dermatitis, helping with both itching and inflammation. If your flare-up is making you too uncomfortable to proceed with your normal day, try a bath of either baking soda or uncooked oatmeal. Over-the-counter ointments containing ingredients such as calendula or aloe may also help.

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