Some home remedies for contact dermatitis, such as oatmeal baths, aloe vera gel or chamomile compresses, have anti-inflammatory, healing, moisturizing and soothing properties for the skin, helping to alleviate symptoms.
Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into contact with an irritating or allergic substance, such as jewelry, detergents or causing symptoms such as redness and itching in the area, peeling or dryness of the skin.
Home remedies for contact dermatitis do not replace medical treatment, but can be used to complement the treatment recommended by the dermatologist, which is usually done with ointments containing antihistamines or corticosteroids, for example. See how contact dermatitis is treated.
8 home remedies for contact dermatitis
Some home remedy options for contact dermatitis are:
1. Oatmeal bath
A great home remedy for contact dermatitis is to take a bath with fine oatmeal, as it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties for the skin, and also acts as a moisturizer, helping to relieve itching and irritation caused by contact dermatitis. contact.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup of oat flour.
Preparation mode
Grind the oat flour in a blender or mixer until you obtain a very fine powder. Prepare a warm bath in the bathtub or large basin. Add the oat powder to the water and mix for about 15 minutes, until it is completely dissolved and the water turns milky in color.
Then, take a daily bath with soap suitable for your skin type and then immerse yourself in the water, from the neck down, for 10 to 20 minutes or pass the water with oatmeal over your body, at a temperature closer to that of your skin. Then, rinse your body with running water and dry with a clean, dry and soft towel.
2. Plantain compress
Plantain is a medicinal plant with antibacterial, detoxifying, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and healing properties, thus being able to help alleviate the symptoms of contact dermatitis. See other benefits of plantain.
Ingredients
- 30 g of plantain leaves;
- 1 liter of water.
Preparation mode
Place the plantain leaves in boiling water and leave for approximately 10 minutes. Then strain, moisten a clean towel and apply the compress 2 to 3 times a day.
In addition to the compress, a poultice can be made with the plantain, in which the plantain leaves must be placed on the irritated area, remaining for 10 minutes and then changing them. This must be done at least 3 times a day.
3. Slug Gel
Aloe vera gel helps to soothe skin with contact dermatitis because it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and healing properties, relieving symptoms of itching and irritation, in addition to hydrating the skin.
When preparing this home remedy, it is important not to use the bark of the aloe leaf, which has toxic effects, but only the transparent gel inside the leaf.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Wash the aloe leaves, cut in half and remove the gel from the leaf, placing it in a clean, dry container. Then, moisten a clean towel or gauze with the gel and apply it to the area of skin with contact dermatitis, about 3 times a day. See other benefits of aloe vera.
4. Chamomile compress
Chamomile is great for treating skin problems such as contact dermatitis, as it contains substances with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and calming effects, such as azulene, bisabolol and farnesene, which soothe itching and redness of the skin.
Ingredients
- 20 to 30 g of fresh or dried chamomile flowers;
- 500 mL of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Add fresh or dried chamomile flowers to boiling water and leave to rest for 15 minutes. Then strain, wait for it to warm and wet the gauze, cotton or clean cloth and apply it to the area of skin with contact dermatitis at least twice a day.
5. Virgin coconut oil
Virgin coconut oil is rich in lauric and caprylic acid with powerful moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action, helping to combat itching, inflammation and skin irritation, making it a good home remedy option for contact dermatitis or atopic dermatitis.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Wash your hands well. Then, apply coconut oil to skin with atopic dermatitis, once a day, for up to 5 days. Check out other benefits of coconut oil.
6. Calendula poultice
Calendula, known scientifically as Calendula officinalishas anti-inflammatory properties and is a great home remedy option when used in the form of a poultice for topical use, as it helps to alleviate the symptoms of contact dermatitis such as inflammation or itchy skin.
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 teaspoons of calendula flowers;
- 150 mL of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Place the marigold flowers in boiling water and let it rest for 5 minutes. Wait for it to warm, strain and soak a clean, dry compress in the calendula infusion, such as gauze or cotton, for example. Apply the compress to the area of skin with contact dermatitis, 3 times a day, leaving it to act for 30 minutes.
7. Cold compresses
Another good way to alleviate contact dermatitis is to apply cold compresses to the area, as they promote the contraction of the skin’s blood vessels, helping to combat redness, itching and swelling of the skin.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Place ice inside a thermal bag, then wrap the bag in a clean, dry towel and apply it to the affected skin area, leaving it to act for 5 to 10 minutes.
If you don’t have a thermal bag at home, some alternatives are to put a bag of gel in the freezer to cool down or use a bag of frozen vegetables, for example.
8. Compresses with essential oils
Compresses with essential oils are a good option for treating dermatitis, as they can reduce skin irritation.
Ingredients
- 3 drops of chamomile essential oil;
- 3 drops of lavender essential oil;
- 2.5 L of water.
Preparation mode
Place the drops of essential oil in boiling water and let it cool slightly. When the mixture is warm, moisten a clean cloth and apply a compress to the irritated area at least 4 times a day.
