5 herbal remedies for excessively dry and irritated skin

When you have extremely dry skin, drugstore treatments can be expensive. However, these all-natural solutions work just as well for a fraction of the price. Here are some homemade remedies to get you skin smooth and soft.

• 6 to 8 drops pine, geranium or lavender essential oils

  1. Add essential oil to a hot bath. Swirl to disperse the oil, then get in and soak for about 10 minutes.

  2. Carefully get out of the bath (it will be slippery) and massage in any oil still left on the skin. Don't take this bath more than once every 24 hours.

• 30 g (1 oz) witch hazel
• 5 drops cypress essential oil
• 3 drops geranium essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• 30 ml (2 tbsp) aloe vera gel
• Cotton cosmetic pads

  1. In an open-mouthed jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the witch hazel, essential oils and aloe vera gel. Saturate several cotton cosmetic pads in the liquid and refrigerate for at least an hour.

  2. Use a pad on the affected area when it burns and after each bowel movement. Store in the refrigerator for several days.

Be sure you have Calendula officinalis flowers from your garden or a health store for this lotion for treating eczema or dermatitis; they are the variety with the therapeutic effect.

• Calendula flower petals

1. Crush several calendula flower petals between your fingers (or with a mortar or pestle) until the petals are juicy.

2. Rub both petals and juice onto the skin.

Here is another treatment for rough, dry, irritated skin that outperforms the store-bought versions.

• 30 ml (2 tbsp) grated beeswax
• 250 ml (1 c) untoasted sesame oil
• 2 ml (1/2 tsp) tincture of goldenseal
• 2 ml (1/2 tsp) tincture of barberry root
• 8 drops tea tree essential oil
• 8 drops chamomile essential oil

1. In the top of a double boiler over low heat, melt the beeswax, stirring occasionally. Stir in the sesame oil.

2. In a small dish, mix tincture of goldenseal and barberry root. Add the tea tree and chamomile essential oils.

3. Stir this mixture into the beeswax-oil mixture. Apply as needed.

The honey in this ointment serves as a humectant to draw in moisture, which eases the skin irritation produced by eczema and dermatitis.

• 30 ml (2 tbsp) grated beeswax
• 250 ml (1 c) untoasted sesame oil
• 75 ml (1/3 c) honey
• 1 capsule vitamin E, 400 IU
• 60 drops rose, geranium, chamomile, lavender or bergamot essential oils in any combination

  1. In the top of a double boiler over low heat, melt the beeswax, stirring occasionally. Stir in the sesame oil. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly, then add honey. Pierce the vitamin E capsule and squeeze in the contents. Add up to 60 drops of essential oils.

  2. Pour mixture into a clean jar or jars and cover tightly. Use as needed to keep skin smooth and hydrated.

• Put one drop of lavender or tea tree essential oil directly on the rash, gently smoothing it over the surface.
• To treat a large area, apply a blend made by mixing three drops of either essential oil in 10 millilitres (two teaspoons) light olive oil.