Five Crucial, Natural Ingredients to Help Soothe Skin That's Sensitive and Dry

At this time of year, people often find their skin is feeling sensitive, dried out and in need of repair. That’s common in winter, as we spend more time inside with central heating running all the time. 

It’s important to get relief for eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, as soon as you notice symptoms. Otherwise, not only will you grow more uncomfortable, you run the risk of compulsively scratching the irritated skin, making the condition even worse. 

It’s prudent to check the ingredients list of products that you use for skincare. As the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases put it, “Moisturizers should be free of alcohol, scents, dyes, fragrances, and other skin-irritating chemicals.” The NIAD also noted that it’s helpful to run a humidifier to keep the air moist. 

Drinking plenty of fluids is essential as well. When you hydrate, you’re less prone to suffer from a flare-up. And endeavor to keep calm, since stress can make dry skin conditions worse.

Here’s a look at five important ingredients that nourish the skin and help provide relief for eczema. You’ll be pleased to know that some products on our site, such as the popular Eczema Honey, contain these natural ingredients, making them suitable for treating our customers’ eczema and other skin issues.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is famous for being an eczema-friendly, natural ingredient. The team at mindbodygreen refer to it as true plant medicine. Many people already keep aloe vera in the form of a gel that they apply to get relief from sunburns and cuts. It’s a safe and effective way to care for sensitive skin. Those who suffer from eczema would be well served to look for it in the products they use for self-care.

Colloidal Oatmeal 

It turns out that oatmeal isn’t just for breakfast. Colloidal oatmeal is made by grinding oats to a fine powder, which is then combined with water to make a viscous (thick) liquid colloid. Scientists call any substance a colloid when small particles of a substance are evenly distributed through a liquid. Oatmeal is so great for soothing itchy skin that people sometimes actually take baths in it for relief. 

Shea Butter

The shea tree produces nuts, from which we extract shea butter. Another edible ingredient like oatmeal, shea butter mostly comes from the continent of Africa. A creamy, thick spread, it will moisturize your skin, helping to keep you more comfortable for many hours after each application.

Coconut Oil

Not only does coconut oil provide additional moisturization, it’s anti-microbial, which is a boon to eczema sufferers since eczema is associated with harmful microbes such as staph. When you have a choice, it’s best to go with organic, raw coconut oil.

Jojoba Oil

Another oil that people often employ to revitalize their dry and sensitive skin comes from the jojoba plant. Free of fragrance, jojoba oil is lighter than coconut oil, making it easier to apply to the skin and superbly helpful in combatting dry, irritated skin.

Taking Care of Yourself the Natural Way

Natural ingredients including aloe vera, colloidal oatmeal and various oils are shown to soothe painful conditions such as eczema. And perhaps best of all, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on products, as long as you look for ingredients that truly work and help you achieve the results you’re looking for.

The next time you find yourself needing a product to nurture and repair your dry, sensitive skin, double-check the ingredients labels of skincare products to make sure that most or all of these five ingredients are included. 
 

Sources

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) Treatment
• https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/eczema-treatment
• Mindbodygreen: These 5 Key Ingredients Will Soothe Your Dry, Sensitive Skin
• https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/5-ingredients-to-soothe-dry-sensitive-skin