How to make the switch to Natural sensitive skin products and treat Eczema naturally
If you have sensitive or eczema-prone skin, you’ll want to read this, and see how you can make the switch to natural sensitive skin products.
Some of the biggest contributing triggers for dermatitis or eczema sufferers come from the synthetic fragrances, fibres or chemicals in various products that we use or wear. To treat eczema naturally it’s advised to use natural sensitive skin products as often as possible, that will not aggravate sensitivities further, or bring on an eczema flare,
I’ve made a list of some easy switches you can make to treat eczema naturally.
What to avoid
What I’ve done is categorise areas where products can affect sensitive skin to avoid those that contain chemicals, unnatural or reproduced fragrances, and synthetic fabrics. It’s a good rule of thumb to try and use products that have been derived from nature, or better still, from plants, without the blending or addition of man-made ingredients or compounds.
Natural Sensitive Skin Products you can use daily
All-over Cleansing & Moisturising – Senstive Skin Products
Skin kind products to use when bathing or washing should be natural and chemical-free. There are a number of ways you can make some switches to care for your sensitive skin naturally.
Add to the bath
Dry porridge oats is a favourite go-to sensitive skin product, fairly cheap, and lovely to add to the bath. I also recommend The Wild Nettle Co’s Skin Relief Bath Salts – a beautiful blend of Dead Sea Salt, Himalayan Pink Salt, Epsom Salts, with Nettle, Lavender, and Chamomile oils. It’s like having a spa day at home, leaving skin silky, nourished, and soothed. The calming essential oils will help you feel so relaxed too,
Soap – Natural handmade soaps free from perfumes
Natural soap is a great swap, both for your skin and for the environment. Nettle Soap has the anti-inflammatory properties of nettles to take down flare, itch, and redness. It’s handmade with natural oils and butters so the skin is nourished and moisturised without any synthetic fragrances or nasties.
Washcloths, Soap bags and Sponges
Natural fibre washcloths like cotton, bamboo, or sisal soap bags eliminate the build-up of bacteria that synthetic products often harbour, and reduce aggravation as they are kinder to the skin. Natural sea sponges are lovely on the skin, and last for ages too.
Try to use cooler water for baths or showers. Very hot water can aggravate sensitive skin further, and dry it out even more. Warm water is much more gentle on sensitive skin.
Moisturiser or Lotion
When you’ve finished your bath or shower, use the soak & seal method to lock in moisture for dry or eczema-prone skin. This means partially drying off, leaving the skin still damp before quickly applying moisturising cream. This allows the moisturiser to be more easily absorbed into the skin while locking in moisture from the water.
Opt for a natural cream for moisturising that is free of chemicals or nasties that can hydrate your skin, and keep it hydrated. Nettle cream is beneficial because not only is it made using natural oils, shea butter, cocoa butter and coconut oil.
The added anti-inflammatory benefits of stinging nettle-infused oil are healing and soothing for sensitive skin, helping to reduce itch and other symptoms of eczema or psoriasis.
Haircare – Sensitive Scalp & Psoriasis
The scalp is often a very sensitive part of the body and prone to inflammation from the prolonged use of harsh shampoos, hair products, and dyes.
Inflammation can lead to a dry flaky scalp, dandruff, and thinning hair. These, as well as hair loss, are common symptoms of scalp inflammation. This is easily aggravated by commercial shampoos with sulfates and chemicals, synthetic fragrances as well as too much heat exposure from too-hot water as well as hair drying or styling equipment
Natural shampoo and hair products like Nettle Shampoo bars and Nettle Hair OIl are free from chemicals and handmade with natural nettle-infused oil. Nettle shampoo soothes irritated skin and nourishes dry scalp. The anti-inflammatory properties of nettles help to combat the inflammation, while the added peppermint and rosemary oils work to stimulate blood flow to the scalp, nourishing the follicles and promoting overall hair health and new growth.
Using natural products for your brushes and combs is another way to be kind to your sensitive scalp (and the environment) wood or bamboo combs or brushes with natural bristles are great detanglers, so will be kinder to your hair and reduce hair fall.
What are you wearing? Natural Fabrics can Reduce Skin Irritation
Fabrics, textiles, and knits that we put on our skin will have an impact if you have sensitive skin and can cause a flare if they are too agitating or tight-fitting. Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, or rayon limit breathability and can cause aggravation, as can clothing that is too tight.
Natural fibres are generally kinder to sensitive skin. Bamboo, organic cotton, silk, cashmere and linen are my favourites as they are soft to the touch and breathable. Some natural fibres like coarser weave fabrics and yarns can be scratchy and irritating, like hemp and wool.
Did you know that you can source sustainable fabrics and textiles made from Nettle fibres (also known as Ramie)? And Nettle yarn? I know right, mind blown! The nettle fibres produce fabric that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and it’s highly sustainable and cheap to produce.
I will be looking to source/manufacture some of these beautiful pieces, so please watch this space!
Want a better night’s sleep? Let’s talk Bedding
For a comfortable sleep when you have sensitive skin, I would opt for Bamboo sheets, for a number of reasons
- they are super soft, with a luxurious feel – think high-end hotel feel
- breathable and regulate your body temperature. Bamboo works to keep you at the perfect temperature all night long.
- Naturally Hypoallergenic – Bamboo is mild and gentle, and is not treated with pesticides or fungicides, and does not hold any odour.
- Naturally resistant to dust mites, mould and mildew.
- Moisture wicking – Four times more absorbent than cotton, it keeps the skin cool and dry by wicking away moisture, so you retain a natural body temperature.
Bamboo is such a fantastic sustainable crop, it grows incredibly fast, takes up less space than cotton crops, and produces more oxygen than other trees.
Bamboo is one of my ultimate favourite products. I used gorgeous, soft bamboo blankets for my babies, I love a bamboo comb, I chose bamboo activewear, and even my reusable coffee cup is bamboo!
Look out for more bamboo items coming to the online store soon!
The Takeaway
There you have it, I showed you a number of ways to switch to natural sensitive skin products that will be kind and gentle on your skin, reduce flare triggers and leave you feeling calmer and more in control of your skin struggles.
I hope you’ve found this useful, if you enjoyed this, you may also like 7 Easy Plastic-Free Eco Swaps that will make an impact and 10 Natural Remedies for Dry Skin and Eczema
I’ve made a list of a few of the items I mentioned in the post so you can get yours here.
Skin Relief Bath Salts
Nettle Natural Soap
Natural Sisal Soap Bag
Nettle Cream
Nettle Shampoo Bar
Nettle Hair Growth OIl
Bamboo bed Linen from Panda
Unbleached Natural Sea Sponge
