Natural Remedies For Summer Skin and Hair Problems

More time in the sun means more vitamin D (hooray!) but also more chances for burns and bites. Instead of turning to toxin-filled products at the pharmacy to take care of those summer ailments, I always recommend opting for natural remedies. Here are some of the most common issues you may deal with this summer and my favorite ways to address each one.

Aloe vera leaf for sunburn

Skip the green goop in a bottle and pick up an aloe vera plant to keep in the house year round for any type of burn. The treatment is simple: just apply the leaf’s sap directly onto the burned area. It contains ingredients that help with healing, pain relief, and inflammation.

Essential oils for poison ivy

Chamomile and lavender essential oils are especially helpful when you’ve become a victim to poison ivy because they have anti-inflammatory properties to soothe itching. And an added bonus: they smell great! Just apply a cool compress that has been soaked in water with a few drops of chamomile oil and a few drops of lavender oil.

Echinacea for bee stings

Head to your local health food store and pick up an echinacea tincture to store in your medicine cabinet. The tincture contains compounds that act as topical painkillers. The echinacea also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Avocado for dry, pool hair

Between the sun, pool, and ocean water, it’s very common for women to experience rough, brittle, and frizzy hair in the summer. The good news is that avocado can reverse the damage because it moisturizes hair shafts and builds them back up with protein. Just mix a ripe, peeled avocado with a spoonful of wheat germ and jojoba oil, apply it to freshly washed hair, and spread it all the way to the end. Cover your scalp with a cap, wait 15-30 minutes, then rinse.

Baking soda for bug bites

A baking soda and water paste can act as an astringent to help relieve itchy, uncomfortable bug bite symptoms. Baking soda is also alkaline in nature, which means it helps neutralize your skin’s pH balance. That in turn, reduces inflammation and pain.