Simple Home Remedies For Skin Allergies and Rashes

Introduction

Dealing with skin allergies and rashes can be annoying. However, sometimes, simple home remedies can offer relief. Using ingredients you have at home, along with soothing techniques, can help ease irritation and support the healing process. While it’s always best to consult a doctor for persistent or severe conditions, here are some home remedies you can explore to ease discomfort.

What Causes Skin Allergies and Rashes?

Skin allergy can result from external environmental allergens like pollen, moulds, plant and animal dander, and particular food and medications. Listed below are some common allergens:

• A few plants and grasses can cause allergic skin rashes
• Poison ivy (most common reason) 
• Botanicals (substances obtained from plants) 
• Dust and pollutants
• Pollens
• Cosmetic products and fragrances
•  Food items 
•  Medicines or herbs
•  Metal from contact with jewellery or accessories
•  An underlying autoimmune disorder

 When the skin comes in contact with a substance that irritates (allergen), it alerts the immune system, leading to a skin rash. This condition is called allergic contact dermatitis, where dermatitis simply means skin irritation.² 

If you can avoid the substance causing the reaction, the rash usually clears up in 2 to 4 weeks. Try using a cool, wet cloth and other self-care steps at home to soothe your skin. If the symptoms worsen, visit a dermatologist.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, MBBS, MD in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Symptoms of Skin Allergies and Rashes

As stated above, skin allergies and rashes can occur for multiple reasons. It occurs within minutes, hours or days after coming in contact with an allergen. Whenever our skin comes in contact with an allergen, it develops symptoms called allergic contact dermatitis.² Whenever it happens, it can be recognised by knowing that the rash:

• May be red 
• May be itchy 
• Might burn or sting 
• Might be associated with flaking or scaling of the skin on the rash 
• Might be painful 
• May be swollen, oozing or blistering 
• Might have swelling and appearance of hives (puffiness and intense itching of skin)² 

Colloidal oatmeal dissolved in a bath can relieve itchiness. Oats contain anti-inflammatory substances such as linoleic oil and oleic acid. Oats are an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant to relieve skin itchiness, dryness, and roughness. Studies have shown that the oils in oats work together to help repair skin.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)

Suggested Home Remedies for Skin Allergies and Rashes:

Skin allergies and rashes are common occurrences as we encounter several potential allergens daily. Treatment for these rashes can be of various types, as your doctor will suggest. It might take time for the rash to go away even after beginning the treatment.² However, here are some popular home remedies for skin rashes that you can try if permitted by your doctor in addition to the prescribed treatment.  

1. German Chamomile 

The scientific name of German chamomile is Matricaria recutita L. The flower can be used externally to manage skin inflammation, rashes and eczema, among many other allergic skin conditions. Human studies show it is more effective than hydrocortisone (a constituent of creams used to treat rashes) in managing chemical-induced toxic dermatitis.⁴ As a skin allergy home remedy, you can use a few teaspoons of German chamomile leaves to brew a tea and drink it. It is also a constituent of various ointments available on the market.⁵ You can also use the German chamomile flower extract by making a paste of the flowers and gently dabbing it over the rash.  

2. Sage Leaf 

Sage leaf is one of the home remedies for skin rashes. Sage is a medicinal plant native to the Mediterranean region and has been used in herbal medicine for ages to manage minor skin inflammations. In laboratory and animal studies, it was found that certain compounds present in sage showed inflammation-alleviating properties. Use of this in children below the age of 18 and pregnant and lactating women is not recommended.⁴ As an at-home skin rash remedy, you can use sage oil made from the sage leaf and apply it gently over the rash using a cotton swab. 

3. Evening Primrose 

In a clinical trial, it was seen that evening primrose can reduce the symptoms of atopic dermatitis. It was also found to reduce the symptoms of eczema when applied topically to rashes. Therefore, you can use evening primrose as a skin allergy home remedy. It might help reduce inflammation, dryness, itch, and skin exfoliation (removal of dead cells). Please note that it should not be used by people with schizophrenia and epilepsy, children, or pregnant and breastfeeding women.⁴ You can use it as a natural home remedy for skin rashes by adding a few drops of evening primrose essential oil to tea and drinking it. You can also apply the essential oil to rashes. 

4. Fenugreek Seeds 

Fenugreek seeds are a part of traditional herbal medicine for managing eczema and mild local skin inflammation. In animal studies, fenugreek seed extract exhibited inflammation-alleviating properties. It should not be used by children and adolescents below 18.^4. There is a need for more studies on humans to prove its efficacy; nonetheless, it is being used as one of the home remedies for skin rashes. You can use it as a skin allergy home remedy by taking a few fenugreek seeds, boiling them in water, and using the water for bathing.  

5. Aloe Vera Gel 

In animal studies, aloe vera gel reduced acute (adverse or extreme) skin inflammation. The presence of enzymes, sterols and carbohydrates contributes to the inflammation-reducing property of aloe vera gel. It can be used topically for minor skin inflammations and inflammation disorders. Rarely, it may cause allergy on contact, so use it cautiously. Moreover, the use of freshly extracted aloe vera gel is more beneficial.⁴ As a natural home remedy for skin rashes, you can use fresh aloe vera leaf to obtain the gel and apply it to your rash. It might help soothe your skin rash. 

6. Oats 

Oat straw is scientifically known as the Avenae stratum. It contains a lot of bioactive compounds. It can deal with many skin inflammations and seborrheic (disease-causing scaling and flaking of the skin) skin diseases, especially those accompanied by itching.⁴ You can use oats as a home remedy for skin rashes by mixing little oats in curd and honey and applying it to your skin rashes. This remedy can be used as a home remedy for facial skin allergy. 

7. Oak Bark 

As a traditional herbal medicine, oak bark has been used to manage minor skin inflammation, purulent skin diseases (diseases with pus discharge from skin rashes) and exuding eczema (fluid-filled skin blistering). The use of oak bark was reported to cause allergies in some cases, so be cautious while using it. Using oak bark for longer than a week and in children and adolescents below 18 years is not recommended.⁴ You can use the oak tree’s bark as a home remedy for skin allergies by using it to prepare baths by adding the oak bark or oak bark essential oil. The oak bark is a constituent of several herbal preparations for managing skin rashes.

8. Flaxseeds 

Flaxseeds are also known as Linum usitatissimum and are scientifically known as Linum usitatissimum. It is cultivated worldwide but mainly in India, Turkey, Morocco and Argentina. It contains many bioactive components and might have skin smoothening (emollient), irritation relieving (demulcent), and inflammation-alleviating properties, all beneficial for skin allergies and rashes. Flaxseeds can be used as a warm poultice by wrapping the seeds in a cloth, gently warming them, and applying them to swellings and rashes.⁴ You can also gain its beneficial effects by adding it to your diet. 

Though studies show the benefits of the given herbs and home remedies for the condition, these are insufficient to prove their effectiveness in treating skin allergies. Further studies and trials are needed to establish the true extent of the benefits of these herbs and home remedies for human health.  

When to Seek Medical Help?

You should contact your doctor if you notice one of the following symptoms: 

• If the skin allergy or rash doesn’t go away with treatment within a week 
• If the skin allergy or rash comes back after going away for some time 
• If the rashes itch constantly 
• If the rash hurts 
• If you see blisters on your skin 
• If the rash looks infected (redness, swelling or warmth)² 

You must not rely on home remedies for the management of the condition; you should consult a qualified doctor for an advice for the condition. 

Conclusion:

If you see a red area associated with pain and swelling, it might be a rash. A skin allergy to an animal or plant substance, metal, etc., might be what caused your rash. Skin rashes are caused mainly by an inflammatory reaction to allergens (substances that cause allergy). So, in order to treat it rightly, you need to identify the cause first. Even after all of this, it might take some time for the rash to disappear. There are home remedies for skin allergies like oak bark, flaxseeds, aloe vera gel and German camomile that you can try. However, if the rash gets worse and doesn’t go away or if you notice the signs of infection (redness, swelling and heat), you should consult your dermatologist (skin and hair doctor) and seek their medical advice.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

References:

1. Rashes [Internet]. MedlinePlus. [cited 2022 Jun 6]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/rashes.html  

2. Contact dermatitis [Internet]. Cleaveland Clinic. [cited 2022 Jun 6]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6173-contact-dermatitis  

3. Dawid-Pać R. Medicinal plants used in treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. Adv Dermatology Allergol [Internet]. 2013;3(3):170–7. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3834722/ 

4. Shenefelt PD. Herbal treatment for dermatologic disorders [Internet]. Benzie I, Watchel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects: Second Edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. 383–403 p. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92761/ 

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