Natural remedies for common skin ailments

Bumps, bruises, swelling, bites and stings are part of everyday life, especially if you have small children. For minor ailments, try these natural solutions to avoid the potential side effects from synthetic remedies.

Wearing perfume and brightly coloured clothes and eating sweet, sticky foods increase your chances of being stung or bitten by insects. If you know you'll be outside in an area where there will be insects, cover your skin and hair and wear pale clothing. If you do get bitten, the following remedies may help to ease your discomfort.

• Consider taking bromelain, an enzyme derived from pineapple, which is available at health food shops. It may help to reduce the swelling caused by bites or stings.
• Use an ice pack or calamine lotion to calm red, irritated or itchy skin.
• Use a paste of baking soda and water to ease pain and itchiness.
• Apply calendula ointment to relieve inflammation.
• Try to avoid bites in the first place by taking vitamin B1 to repel mosquitoes. It's thought to produce a skin odour they dislike.

If you have a boil, resist the temptation to squeeze it. Doing so will be painful and you'll risk spreading the infection. Instead, bring a boil to a head by using gentle heat.

• Mix 250 grams (1/2 pound) of slippery elm powder from a health food shop with enough hot water to make a paste. Carefully spread the poultice over the boil and then cover it with sterile gauze. Leave it in place until it is cool. Repeat twice a day until the boil discharges.
• If you're prone to boils, drink immune-boosting teas, such as red clover, goldenseal and echinacea.

If you're prone to cold sores, try these tips for avoiding them or treating them if they do appear.

• Avoid eating nuts, seeds and chocolate. They contain the amino acid arginine, which may trigger the problem.
• Take natural supplements. You can take the amino acid lysine orally or apply it in cream form. Vitamin C and flavonoids may help boost your immunity. The herbs echinacea and goldenseal have natural antiviral and antibiotic properties, which may help reduce your chances of getting cold sores.
• When you first feel the tingling, hold an ice cube against the spot. For adults, you can try numbing the irritation by applying spirits such as gin or vodka.
• Use witch hazel to help dry up a cold sore. Alternatively, combine 10 drops of geranium or eucalyptus essential oil with 25 millilitres (5 teaspoons) of water, shake and apply with a cotton bud several times a day. Both remedies are astringent and antiseptic. Thuja ointment, which you can find at health food shops, may speed healing.
• Apply sunscreen to block out the sun and wind – both triggers of cold sores for some people – and to prevent recurrences.

The next time you suffer from a minor skin ailment, these natural remedies may help you enjoy a speedy recovery without the need for synthetic medications. But remember: for anything serious or if you have any doubts about treating something on your own, be sure to talk to your doctor!