Five Natural Household Remedies for Skin Allergies, Atopic Dermatitis, and Eczema

Living with skin allergies isn't the easiest thing in the world; conditions like atopic dermatitis and eczema can lead to itchy, sometimes painful flareups on your skin. Although prevention will always be better than a temporary cure, we can't always avoid the occasional allergic reaction or two. Here are a few natural ways you can deal with the symptoms of a skin allergy:

Oatmeal is a popular chicken pox remedy for a reason; oats contain avenanthramides, which reduce swelling, itching, and irritation on skin. As a bonus, these organic compounds are also antioxidants, helping keep your skin safe from harmful free radicals.

To soothe your skin, all you need to do is mix in about one cup of oatmeal to a lukewarm bath, and then soak in the water for around 20 minutes. You could also add just enough water to turn your oatmeal into a paste, and then apply it to your skin like lotion.

Apple Cider Vinegar is not only an effective anti-inflammatory, but it also has anti-bacterial properties, which helps you get rid of itching in more ways than one.

Since the vinegar on its own might be too acidic for your skin, you'll need to dilute it with equal parts water before gently dabbing it onto the affected area with a cotton ball. Wipe the area clean with a damp cloth after 20 to 30 minutes.

If you've got spare peppermint leaves lying around the house, then you have the key ingredient for a nice, cooling salve. Pound the leaves into a paste with a tiny amount of clean water, and then rub the mixture onto your skin. The mint will cool the area, numbing it just enough to stop the itching and reduce the swelling.

Of course, you could always be more direct with your cooling and apply chilled water to the troublesome spot. Dip a piece of cloth or bandage into very cold water, and then lay it over the affected area.

The difference between this trick and the peppermint paste is that there's a chance you'll need to re-dip your cloth into the cold water every now and then, as your body heat will eventually warm the liquid up.

Coconut oil is lauded for its moisturizing properties. What fewer people know, however, is that it's also a great cleanser. The oil can help eliminate microbes that contribute to the irritation on your skin. 

Simply apply a thin film of coconut oil over the site of your allergic reaction. Over time, you'll notice that the rashes, flaking, and sore/itchy spots will fade away.

Now, even though all these skin allergy remedies are organic, that doesn't mean your skin will take kindly to them. Always do an allergy test with these substances before proceeding with the full treatment.

Again, prevention really is the best way to deal with skin allergies, so try to stay away from harmful chemicals that might irritate your skin. Wearing pure, organic cotton clothing is always a great start!