Here at Better Living we get many visitors to our Toronto health food store who are looking for relief from allergic reactions to insect bites and over exposure to the sun. The following are some tips that will help you have a rash and insect bite free enjoyable summer.
Get Rid of that Itch!!
If you spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer, you are likely to get bit by pesky insects like ants or mosquitos for which the essential oil tea tree oil is great for bringing down the swelling and/or itching. Tea tree oil is also great for preventing insect bites and is a good antimicrobial and antifungal to treat infections. You can mix 2-3 drops of tea tree oil in a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil and apply to the bite or rub it directly onto the insect bite to help stop the itch quickly.
Other helpful remedies for reducing the itch and swelling of insect bites include witch hazel, neem oil and Nature’s aid gel.
For multiple or larger mosquito bites you can use Biomed’s Luvos Powder which is a 100% pure and natural mineral healing earth powder without any additives. Biomed’s Luvos Powder is mined from mineral rich glacial deposits and due to its ultra-fine particles and magnetic absorption it can detoxify the skin and pull out impurities. This helps reduce inflammation, ease pain and discomfort, increase blood flow and improve oxygen supply and nutrients to the skin.
You can mix the Luvos powder with water or castor oil and apply directly on insect bites, bee stings and burns. The mixture should be applied up to one-half inch thick and left on to dry for 20-30 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
*For prevention of insect bites refer to our topical essential oil blend bug repellant spray recipe here.
Sun Protection and Treatment
Sun damage can leave you with dark spots, freckles and for some – even hives. If you have severe reactions to being in the sun you should avoid exposure, else for those with mild to moderate reactions you can try the following suggestions:
For sun protection supplements such as astaxanthin (sold on its own and also found in krill oil – omega 3 fatty acids found in krill oil are also sun protective) can be taken orally as astaxanthin acts as an internal sunscreen. Another option is resveratrol which is found in red wine, blueberries and red grapes. Both astaxanthin and resveratrol have high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties protecting your skin from sun damage.
For sun damage, for example to the face and chest, you can rub on an anti-aging cream or serum that contain antioxidants like vitamin C, alpha lipoic acid and herbs such as licorice root and milk thistle. Vitamin C helps build collagen and reverse the ultra-violet damage to your skin cells. We suggest Derma E’s Age-Defying Antioxidant Day Cream and LaVigne Natural Skin Care Vitamin C Serum.
Lastly be sure to eat your veggies as vegetables of orange and yellow colour provide carotenoids such as beta-carotene, which can help improve resistance to hives caused by sun exposure. Bell peppers, pomegranates, red grapes and watermelon are also great examples of sun protecting foods.
Nelia Amaral CNP, NNCP is a holistic nutritionist and live cell microposist available to answer your questions at 416-249-1895 or Nelia@betterliving.co.
