We love being outside and enjoying nature! The only downfall is all the factors that can lead to skin rashes. Whether it’s too much sun exposure, the combination of heat and humidity, or contact with certain plants, getting a skin rash isn’t something uncommon. Rashes can be itchy, dry, and annoying, but they shouldn’t keep you from spending time in the beautiful sunshine! That’s why we’ve come up with some quick and easy things you can do to help relieve a rash. Here are 5 simple solutions on how to treat a skin rash:
1. Hydrocortisone
Hydrocortisone cream is a popular and easy solution for treating skin rashes. Hydrocortisone works by easing the swelling, itching, and redness of the skin. All you have to do is apply the cream to the rash two to three times per day. Apply the cream lightly, and rub it in until it’s fully absorbed. We recommend using a moisturizer 10 to 15 minutes prior to using the hydrocortisone cream. You can find hydrocortisone cream at Hines Street Pharmacy!
2. Benadryl
Many people use Benadryl to help ease the irritation of a skin rash. It’s often used to provide soothing relief when you have itchy skin. Benadryl is an antihistamine — it works by blocking the effects of a histamine that causes the itching. One of the best parts about using Benadryl to help with a skin rash is that it works fast. Most people feel relief from itching in about 20 to 30 minutes, and it continues to work for about 4 to 6 hours. You can find Benadryl at our local pharmacy!
3. Oatmeal Bath
Another solution to skin rashes is an oatmeal bath. Oats have been used for centuries to treat a variety of skin conditions. The oatmeal works as an anti-inflammatory to relieve the itchiness, dryness, and roughness. Aveeno is a popular brand that carries a ready-to-use oatmeal bath product, but you can also finely grind regular oatmeal in a food processor or blender and add one cup to your bathwater. For an oatmeal bath, you’ll fill your bathtub with warm water, mix one cup of colloidal oatmeal into the water, soak in the water for 30 minutes, and rinse off with a lukewarm shower.
4. Cold Compress
Perhaps one of the most simple answers to how to treat a skin rash is a cold compress. Cold is one of the quickest ways to stop the pain and itch of a rash. Not only can it provide immediate relief, but it can also help stop swelling, ease itching, and slow the progression of the rash. The cold limits the blood flow to the inflamed area, reducing the swelling and inflammation and stopping the itching immediately. You can make your cold compress yourself right at home by filling a plastic bag with ice or dampening a cloth with cold water. The key is not to place the ice directly on the skin. You’ll hold the compress on a cloth placed over your skin until the itching or pain subsides.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has been used for years in health and skin care. It’s been used as an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antioxidant. It works because Aloe contains B-12 vitamins, calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamins A, C, and E, and essential fatty acids. Those, along with its enzymes, carbohydrates, and sterols, are all thought to contribute to its anti-inflammatory effects. We recommend picking up a bottle of aloe vera at our pharmacy, which is easier to use than an aloe plant. Apply the aloe twice a day to the affected area for the best results.
Now that you know how to treat a skin rash, there’s nothing keeping you from enjoying the beautiful weather outside! Stop by Hines Street Pharmacy today for help finding the best products for treating a skin rash.
