Natural Remedies for skin redness?

About two years ago I switched to oil cleansing for my face. First I tried argan oil which was too drying, then I switched to castor oil with sweet almond, also too drying, then jojoba which I really liked but is a bit expensive and hard to find where I live, then I switched to coconut and it works perfectly for me. I switched to oil cleansing after doing a lot of research about natural ways to help my problem skin, which is acne prone, super oily but also dry, and has a bit of redness. Oil cleansing seems to have been the remedy for the acne, sebum overproduction and dryness, but the redness in my skin persists. I've tried sea buckthorn oil, which felt wonderful on my skin, but after about 5 months use didn't alleviate any redness, and that's about it.

I don't necessarily want to buy drugstore products (don't ask me why, as I'm no organic hippy-esque lady, I've just always had an aversion to them), but if anyone has any recommendations about products that have worked for them to alleviate redness in their skin I'd like to try them! I have very pale skin, always wear sunscreen, can't get a tan to save my life, have a dairy intolerance which I don't take seriously enough (could be the cause of skin issues?). The redness is only apparent on my face and sometimes my hands, which are very pink.

Any ideas?

a reply to: Atsbhct

Here are a few different things that you can try, and see which one works the best:

- Pure raw honey mask: spread on your face/red areas, leave on for 30 minutes, and gently rinse off with tepid water

- Raw sliced cucumber: place on effected red areas and leave for 30 minutes or longer

- Chammomile or Green Tea: steep tea to full strength, allow to cool, and then using a cottonball, apply to red areas

- Pure aloe vera gel: spread onto red areas and allow to be completely absorbed into the skin

- Pure vitamin E oil: buy the pure oil capsules, using a pin poke a hole in the capsule and squeeze the oil onto your skin allowing it to completely absorb in


All of the above are common anti-inflammatory redness reducing ingredients.

Personally myself, I swear by pure aloe vera gel as a skin moisturizer... it also does wonders on red irritated skin.




Edit to add: Oh, and one other thing that can reduce redness.... zinc cream, specifically the zinc cream you buy for baby's bottoms to get rid of diaper rash.

a reply to: Atsbhct
Organic olive oil. I sometimes will apply organic apple cider vinegar dilluted with water (50/50) for 15 minutes first and just wipe off with a paper towel when done than apply olive oil

Thank you! I love using honey on my skin and my hair as well. I think I'll try some of these today. I've had issues in the past with store bought aloe causing dryness due to alcohol in the formulas, maybe I'll have to invest in an aloe plant.

Eta: I just recieved some nice matcha tea from a friend, it's pretty amazing if you enjoy green tea and haven't tried it.
a reply to: CranialSponge

I always have an aversion to using olive oil on my skin, even though I know some people swear by it. I don't know if it's. Because I cook with it, or what. I'll have to bite the bullet and give it a try! Unfortunately vinegar, while awesome for my hair, makes my skin a little angry!

a reply to: gmoneystunt

a reply to: Atsbhct

I've had issues in the past with store bought aloe causing dryness due to alcohol in the formulas, maybe I'll have to invest in an aloe plant.

Yes, the bottled stuff is rarely ever "pure".

An aloe vera plant is the way to go, unless you can find some actual pure aloe gel somewhere (maybe an organics store?).

Aloe vera is also anti-bacterial, so while it's reducing the redness, it's also helping to kill acne bacteria.

a reply to: Atsbhct

Matcha tea ?

I'll have to give it a try one of these days.

My daughter bought me a fantastic mix of herbal teas for Xmas, so I'm good for tea for a while at least.

Also, I totally believe in an ounce of prevention. Does anyone know of anything dietary or environmental that I might be able to tweak that could be a cause? I know dairy can cause inflammation, maybe I'll have to cut it out of my coffee for awhile and see how I feel.

a reply to: Atsbhct
The root of the problem may be because of candida. Either way it would not hurt to look into and try a coconut oil detox. Caffeine will fuel candida,

Conquering Candidiasis Naturally

I've heard about candida so many times but I often overlook it thinking it's just another way to convince people to buy into a product. Maybe I'll do some research into symptoms of candida overgrowth and check if it applies, there's nothing to lose. Do you have any experience with it yourself?
a reply to: gmoneystunt

originally posted by: Atsbhct
Also, I totally believe in an ounce of prevention. Does anyone know of anything dietary or environmental that I might be able to tweak that could be a cause? I know dairy can cause inflammation, maybe I'll have to cut it out of my coffee for awhile and see how I feel.

My sister is an expert on this stuff. She did a seminar on all-natural skin care. They discussed skin redness\inflammtion as you described. It has been cured with the use of good probiotics. One of their tenets is you must have a healthy
gut for healthy skin. A couple women claimed they saw results very quickly using a good probiotic and eliminating dairy
products.

a reply to: Atsbhct
yes i did. I had something that resembled eczema on my hands, Acne and athletes foot. I used the vinegar and olive oil treatments on my hands and feet which cured it over a period of about 3 weeks. In the mean while i began taking pau d' arco to make sure i didn't have any parasites because that will add to candida overgrowth as well. Then i went to an apple cider vinegar detox and coconut oil detox combination. Which led to a candida die off that appears to make things worse at first. After a few months my problems were under control.

Heres some more info if your interested:

add 6-8 drops to a tablespoon of coconut oil and rub the skin or nails.

Tea tree oil
Oil of oregano
Neem oil
Peppermint oil
Rosemary oil
Clove oil

Garlic and apple cider vinegar are also very effective.

Although you will find many sites advising the use of corn starch for athlete's foot or other fungal infections of the skin, DO NOT DO THIS! Corn starch will feed the fungus and make it worse.

To treat systemic fungal infections, you can use many herbs and supplements in a variety of forms including essential oils, teas, tonics, and in some cases, gelcaps.

Garlic
Apple cider vinegar
Aloe Vera
Clove Oil
Coconut oil
Tea tree oil
Oil of oregano
Olive Extracts
Undecylenic Acid
Grapefruit seed extract
Diatomaceous Earth
Probiotics
Black walnut
Pau D'Arco
Wormwood
Barberry
Goldenseal
Coptis Chinensis

Black walnut, Pau D'Arco, and wormwood should not be used when pregnant or lactating.

Coptis Chinensis, Barberry, and Goldenseal are not to be used when pregnant, and limit use to 7 days for adults--3 days for children (followed by 3 days off).

Learn more: www.naturalnews.com...

Found a site with some info:

Probiotics and skin health

Thank you. Im definitely going to have to take that step of removing dairy. I get such cravings for it. Ill have to whip up batches of cashew or almond milk to have on hand instead maybe. Did your sister mention what type of probiotic worked best?
a reply to: ColeYounger

a reply to: Atsbhct

I am a pale redhead so I feel your pain. First off do not use any more daily sunscreen or makeup with sunscreen on your face. The chemical can cause redness.

I would try mixing a few drops of frankincense and myrrh to coconut oil or maybe olive oil and rub that on every night.

After a cursory look at symptoms of candida overgrowth it doesn't look like I have any symptoms other than skin redness, so I'm not sure if this is my issue. Next time I'm at the doctor I'll definitely ask her to check for it on a urine test, though. The more you know!

a reply to: gmoneystunt

The sunscreen I use is zinc based and not chemical based. Still a no? The sun is The Worst, and if I go without it and spend time outside, it's sunburn city. I often feel I'm a redhead at heart, my mother has intensely red hair.
a reply to: fictitious

a reply to: Atsbhct
There is a similarity here. Probiotics are to keep candida under control. I used Azo Yeast. I also took up oil pulling

I sometimes do oil pulling because I feel it makes my teeth feel wonderful, ( I'm scared of the dentist), but I'm out on wether it does anything with whatever "toxins" are floating around. That being said, I'm the only person I know who does it. What positive effects have to felt since beginning? I use coconut oil. Do you use that or another oil like sesame or sunflower?
I'm definitely going to get a candida test, just to see what it says. I've never suffered from infections, or fungus in my time other than a chest infection I had a few winters ago.

a reply to: gmoneystunt

Well, my experience as a man I can tell you that putting nothing on my face has done wonders I guess?

I rarely wash my face, and when I do I get dry skin, and redness.
Unfortunately the field of work I am in I need to wash my face and neck or else I'll look like someone who worked in a coal mine after a week. And my face has aged, bleh.

Try to just let your natural oils take over, no make up, no foundation, no added oils. My girlfriend rarely wears any makeup or uses oils and such on her face and she has no issues.