Skin Condition Remedies

I have or I should say did suffer from itchy shins, for years, , somedays it seemed I could have scratched my skin right off. This may sound silly, and I have no explaination as to why it worked but it did. I had used some castor oil to treat a hemorrhoid. I first tried the usuall treatment eg. Prep H to no avail, Then I found out about Castor oil, 5 or 6 days later, gone, I was impressed. One day while scratching my shins I thought, why not try some Castor oil on my shins. I just poured a little straight from the bottel and rubbed it lightly over my skin. WOW one week of treatments and my shins have not itched now for over a year, and I have Never applied any more oil. I just had to pass this along as I suffered from itchy shins for so long and even would wake myself in the middle of the night from scratching my shins I hope this might help someone else. Budd

I had a bad allergic reaction to Januvia, red, deep blistering rash that was spreading but only on my right side. I stopped the med but the reaction has already started, ..itching, spreading, etc. I used over the counter "anti-itch" meds, sprays, anything I could read about to use. Finally my PA put me on a very low dose of Prednisone, Blood Sugars went up to 400, appetite increased immediately and the itching was still making me get up several times during the night to apply something to try to stop the itching.

On the third morning around 2:20 am, I had applied ice, and got back on the computer and did more research....thank you God, I learned about Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother which I had in my cupboard. I stepped into our tub and with hot soapy water I scrubbed the area to cleanse all the other lotions, etc off. I applied the ACV liberally on all the affected areas. BURN!! Yes, but that was due to the major scrubbing prior to application.

Long story short, by 7:30 am the blisters were gone...I could not believe it. It has been 5 days since and the rash has shrunk from about 12 inches in length to about 4 inches. I apply it still about 1-2 times a day and especially at bedtime when the height of the histamines surface. I read more and more about the ACV and the combinations of that and Baking Soda for different uses. Now I take the combo at least 2x a day and my blood sugars and lower, I seem to feel better and my appetite has decreased. I am telling everyone about the amazing results of so many issues we have that can be cured ..not just "masked" but healed with natural resources.

The cure for all types of skin problems

I have seborrheic dermatitis since I was 12 y/o now I am 25 y/o I have tried eveyrthing you name it I have done it from steroids, changing diet and reading and trying the stuffs from what other people did either natural or not still failed but, I found out that the root cause of all skin problems is all connected in your gut so, I look for a supplement that could literally heal my gut and this supplement came out L-Glutamine supplement powder or pill form its works best now, I am taking capsule 500 mg which I think it helps alot I can eat foods that I do not eat anymore those foods that gives you crazy breakouts. I can manage it no itching sensation no feeling of scratching . I tell honestly before I do not have any food sensivity I can eat every food I want then when this skin problem develope my life become doomed . I dont want to continue my lonely story having this disease for 12 years. Just give it a try people and you will see the positives it will bring in your lonely life. I am on 5th day of taking it so far I am getting and feeling good each day .

Hello! I posted this remedy on a different site specifically about intertrigo, but I find your site very useful so I wanted to share this info here as well. I successfully solved my 7 years problem with intertrigo using kefir. My serious problem zones were always my armpits and "legpits" as I call them: inner upper thighs, *impossible* to keep dry -- as an expat living in tropical West Africa I sweat a lot on a daily basis. I tried several things before this, and I would like to report back on what helped. Topical coconut oil with turmeric powder was temporarily effective but stained clothing like crazy. Gentian violet was also temporarily effective, and also stained clothing like crazy.

I then found out about probiotics about 3 months ago, got some kefir grains 2 months ago, and a month ago it occurred to me, why not try them topically? So I did! The kefir did the job inside of a week, more like three days. My armpits look normal again. My "legpits" are no longer red-rash-looking, no itching, nothing. All I did was take a tablespoon or less (per application site) of the kefir grains mixed with the yogurt-like kefiran, smeared it on and left it on overnight, washed it off in the morning. I think what it does is crowd out the bad bacteria/yeasts with a diverse population of body-friendly bacterias and yeasts. I like drinking kefir, but this use is awesome and saved me from trying antibiotics again. So I wanted to share my success, and I hope this helps someone else solve their problem too. I should specify I used milk kefir grains, but I am guessing water kefir grains might work also.

Spicy foods causing outbreaks of pustules around mouth area

Background: I am a man who had painful outbreaks of pustules around my upper and lower lips for about 10 years. I avoided touching anyone while I had an active outbreak. I was never formally diagnosed by a doctor. My outbreaks were triggered by spicy foods. The pustules occurred mostly above my upper lip and sometimes touching my upper lip. Usually there were about 4 pustules and some concurrent blistering for each outbreak. Sometimes the outbreaks would also occur below the lower lip and sometimes touching the lower lip. Never inside of my mouth. Very painful however with burning and itching and soreness and tenderness and painful to the touch etc. And they would usually last about a week. I worked hard to avoid spicy foods.

Course of my actions: It seemed to me that my outbreaks were more than just an allergic reaction to spicy foods but that there was some sort of pathogen causing my problem. I had no way of knowing for sure. It seemed like some sort of virus or pathogen was possible but I did not know absolutely. I knew that the human body contains many lymph nodes, which are glands that cleanse the blood, and that the lymphatic system is designed as a cleansing system for our bodies designed to remove toxins and pathogens. The white blood cells within the lymphatic system are very skilled at identifying and killing pathogens. I learned that, in humans, there are 2 lymph nodes located directly below the tongue. I am not a biologist nor any sort of medical expert. I am by no means an expert on the workings of the lymphatic system and I have no knowledge or training of how to conduct medical experiments or to do scientific research. I have no training whatsoever in the medical field.

Nonetheless, one day, during an outbreak, and as one of the pustules was drying and beginning to shed or fall off, I captured and saved the remnants of that pustule on the tip of my finger. Simultaneously, I was wondering if maybe my lymphatic system needed some sort of a boost. I am talking about the whitish cakey pustule remnant that came off on my finger when I gently guided it off of my upper lip area. I then ( within 15 seconds) took the tip of that same finger, with the pustule remnant still sticking to it, and carefully placed the tip of that finger directly under my tongue. I made sure that the remnant of the pustule was directly touching the membrane directly below my tongue. Not the bottom of the tongue, but the part of the mouth membrane directly below the tongue. I left my finger there for about 60 seconds and then removed my finger. I deduced that perhaps via osmosis of that membrane, the lymphatic capillaries, which are linked to the lymph nodes, would intake some of that pathogen and then the pathogen would be pumped to one or both of those lymph nodes below the tongue where it would be identified and destroyed by the white blood cells which hang out there. That is what white blood cells are intended to do. I was assuming that the pathogen would then also be remembered by the lymphatic memory cells for destruction of any future encounters with that same pathogen. I was anticipating that the white blood cells would then also identify and kill all of the pathogens associated with those pustules, wherever they might be within my body.

During the first month after the procedure, the pustules cleared. Future outbreaks were different as they were mild with no pustules. Future outbreaks were only flaking of the skin around my upper lip. Just smallish flakes of skin. No pustules. No pain. No burning sensation. I thought that maybe it was because my lymphatic system needed more time to fully identify and rid my body of the pathogen? Or maybe that there was more than one type of pathogen involved? So I gathered some of those skin flakes onto the tip of my finger. I then took the same steps as before (with the original pustule material as described above). Over the course of the next 6 months, mild skin flaking outbreaks continued ( no pustules) and thus I continued the procedure about 6 more times over the next 6 months. The outbreaks of flaking skin slowly cleared and completely stopped after 6 months.

Results: For me, I believe that the simple procedure worked! It has been 6 months and I have not had even one outbreak and I have courageously eaten many very spicy foods just to be sure that I was not imagining these results. No more outbreaks.

Observations: I imagined that the lymphatic system might need a boost. I do not know why my lymphatic system would not have (years earlier) independently identified the pathogen or pathogens involved. To be clear, I have never been told nor advised that my lymph nodes would kill these pathogens nor that the membrane below the tongue allows for osmosis or the entry of pathogens into the lymphatic system. I don't know if I cured anything? I do not know if the outbreaks will return someday? I have no scientific proof. I am not a scientist.

Have you checked the 'Tinea' section in this site? It has fantastic info!

PS - While at work one day one of my co-workers was worrying about a white spot above her eye, that had been treated with various anti-fungal creams from her Dr and all has failed. I rubbed just a little bit of Castor Oil on it that afternoon. She came in the next day and it was gone. (worth a shot; as Edgar Cayce says, "Castor Oil always leaves the body in better condition than it found it".

Best of health!!

I know this is an old thread but in the jewelry business we associate sudden blacking skin to other environmental factors when gold is involved. (Usually a new lotion, including sun tan lotion, or cosmetics, to be specific.) Gold reacts to a number of ingredients in those. The most common reactions are to zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, ferric oxide and calamine; though there are others. Check your cosmetics labels, or just switch back to your old brands that seemed to work without issue. Also the OP mentioned she is taking zinc orally. I'd cut back on that a bit and see if it changes anything.

I am a 34 year old female and recently noticed several enlarged skin cells on my cheek and nose. They were skin colored, raised from the rest of the area, not tender or raw -- just raised and enlarged.

Instead of going to the doctor, I did research on Earth Clinic and saw recommendations for apple cider vinegar.

My results were so quick that I wanted to report what happened:

Day 1: Soaked my spots with ACV (with the Mother, organic, raw) throughout the day. I often held a q-tip with ACV to my face for 30-60 minutes or so at least once during the day. Did not tape any ACV to my face overnight.

Day 2: Repeated day 1 and at night I slept with a thick wet paste of Camu Camu powder on each spot (I recommend Whole Botanicals brand). Camu Camu powder is an awesome internal remedy for warts or as an immunity boost. It has the highest concentration of vitamin C.

Day 3: Woke up and saw small black spots the size of a pin head on both areas. Called my sister to ask about the spots, and she said that she developed those spots when applying ACV to her warts before the warts died completely. Repeated day 2.

Day 4: Woke up and the spot on my nose was nearly gone. There were more black spots but the enlarged cells were nearly flush with the rest of my face. The spot on my cheek is taking a bit longer to die off, but it is developing more black spots and the size is shrinking.

Overall verdict: Because I have had great success with taking Camu Camu internally for warts, I have a feeling that the swift healing is a result of the Camu Camu. I've noticed that more black spots have appeared when sleeping with the Camu Camu overnight. But applying the Camu Camu with ACV is a hefty one-two punch.

Responding to Prioris from Fl:on your request for sites on skin issues. I saw no one responded to your request as I was surfing at the Earth Clinic house. So here is a site that has some good pictures for you: One of these sites ought to have a picture of what you need to identify for yourself.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-common-adult-skin-problems

And this next site looks like a real winner for identifying skin disorders: http://www.healthline.com/health/skin-disorders

I have suffered from dry flakey skin on my forehead for years. I have tried a number of proprietory brand ointments, none of which have made any significant difference. More recently, my skin condition deteriorated, spreading to my ears which became inflamed, scaly and very itchy.

In desperation I accepted a friend's advice to check out your website, which recommended apple cider vinegar - mainly by way of ingesting small amounts. Never one to completely follow medical advice, I applied the cider vinegar direct to the skin by way of dabbing it on with cotton wool.

Within 12 hours there was a major improvement in my skin condition, and a week later my skin is almost completely clear of any irritation or blemish. A total transformation! I have gone from being a hardened cynic to a firm believer in "herbal remedies".

The apple cider vinegar I have been using is a New Zealand product which contains 2% honey. I have no idea if the honey has any medicinal properties, but it sure helps the cider vinegar to stick to the skin.

I have found that baking soda is the best at exfoliating the skin. Put some in your hand and make a paste, use your personal preference on consistancy. Get face wet and gently rub in circular motions. Rinse off throughly. It will burn at first. That means its working. Use once a day till your skin gets used to it. Use a good moisturiser afterwards. I have had major improvements with this.

I am a 50-something woman who has reached menopause having stopped menstruating 2.5 years ago. My skin has become blotchy with what can best be described as large light brown freckles. They are very obvious on my calves, once lovely, and a few on my face coupled with the melasma, or darkening from nose to chin around my mouth. I also had crusty, painful hairs on my upper lip (I liken them to matchsticks) that would get ingrown, scabby, flaky, etc.

I started drinking ACV about 2 months ago. I keep a little shot glass on my bathroom vanity and try to get 3-4 Tablespoons a day. I fill it about half full, add water, drink a little, add more water until it's gone......better than sipping, I believe, as your tooth enamel is not being exposed to it for an extended amount of time.

I have noticed in this time that the hairs have become much softer and fewer. The darkening has decreased significantly and with regular exfoliating the brown spots on my face are lightening. I have been told that my face is brighter. I have not noticed a big change in my legs, but have seen enough to keep going with this daily regimen. I will update as I see more progress!

Simple, don't use ordinary scented fabric softeners and detergents. They have many toxic chemicals that react negatively with your skin. There are ways to make your own using washing soda and baking soda You can use vinegar and essential oils to make a fabric softener. Use Google to learn how.

Hi Susan from San Antonio - I agree with the others regarding virgin coconut oil.

I'm reading a book called The Coconut Oil Diet and one of the authors recommended a Coconut Body Balm for an elder's fragile, sensitive skin. She adds a bit of shea butter to give the balm some staying power which provides a more protective moisture barrier. She also uses two essential oils which have therapeutic properties. If you don't have the essential oils, I would still make it.

Coconut Body Balm (from The Coconut Oil Diet)

1 ounce of shea butter
4 ounces of virgin coconut oil
2 ounces of distilled water
6 mL (approx. 1 teaspoon) lavendin essential oil (similar to lavender essential oil)
37 drops patchouli essential oil

Very gently melt the shea butter in a double boiler or on the stovetop over medium-low heat.

When completely melted, remove from heat.

Add coconut oil and distilled water to melted shea butter. Stir until completely incorporated.

As mixture begins to cool and thicken, stir in the essential oils.

Store finished balm covered in an airtight, dark-coloured glass container at room temperature.

A small amount covers a generous area. It is soothing and calming to the skin (including skin ulcers).

If you don't want to make the body balm, the author also recommends a coconut oil/Vitamin D3 mixture used mostly for psoriasis but could be used anywhere. I use it on my face at night just because it's lovely for the skin (a bit greasy, though).

Gently heat 100 mL (or 100 grams) of coconut oil until it melts. My coconut oil was already melted since it's summer.

Mix in 50000 IU of Vitamin D3. (I use liquid Vitamin D3 that has 1000 IU per drop so I added 50 drops. ) Pour into dark-coloured glass jar and keep tightly capped. Apply topically as needed.

That covers externally. Now for internally. Does your father have a good diet? I know it's sometimes difficult to get elders to eat (my Dad is 91). Maybe adding some good vitamins (perhaps liquid vitamins because older people sometimes don't digest capsules or tablets properly). Healthy smoothies are easily digested and you can add various "superfoods" to them. Vitamin C is good for the skin (helps with bruising and maintaining the skin's integrity).

Good luck Susan - I wish you and your Dad the best of health. Cheers, Bess

This has gone on for over 4 years. I have tiny white balls all everywhere I have a pore. Last Dr thought I looked like a had a tan when I had not been out in the sun for over three years. I was DX with Morgellons by a Dr in Atlanta. I have lots of black specks. I have been doing the borax and baking soda soaks and drinks. This seems to be helping already. I would like to hear from Ted. My skin will lather with just water with lots of white things. Skin also feels like grit. Eyes full of gunk. Please read my message again to be sure I am mixing borax to for internal Morgellons. Sandy

Hi Rae, You could definitely try the kefir topically and see if it helps. I just thought I'd clarify for you about kefir grains. Kefir grains or granules are the natural mother starter to make kefir. You can add them to milk for milk kefir or coconut water, seed or nut milk or ginger water to make water kefir. The grains themselves are living organisms that reproduce more grains. I find it all very fascinating. This is an excerpt from Dom's Kefir site explaining kefir grains and kefiran:

"A batch of kefir grains consist of many individual white to bone-coloured mostly self-enclosed bodies made up of a soft, gelatinous biological masssomewhat resembling cooked cauliflower rosettes. The complexity of the kefir grain is a mixture of protein, amino acids, lipids [fats] and soluble-polysaccharides. Kefiran a unique polysaccharide with many health-promoting virtues, is the major polysaccharide of kefir grains and is also found in kefir. The bacteria and yeasts not only create the bio-matrix structure, or the grains, the organisms are also harboured by the very structure that they create; abiding on the surface, and encapsulated within the grain itself."

I didn't have any kefir, but I had some yogurt and added some probiotics. I just applied it about an hour ago and it's already feeling better. No pain, less itching, and less stinging. I'll have to update this and let y'all know if it worked.

My husband suffers from Bullous Pemphigoid on occasion. The last outbreak I took him to see his doctor was in the spring 2012. Because there was some deal going on between my drugstore chain and our insurance, I delayed a few days getting his litany of RXs filled. Meanwhile I upped the dosage of coconut oil I was giving him and he suddenly cleared up. There is a warning here in using the coconut oil. You cannot become lax with it because if you do, he will have another outbreak. I don't know if the coconut oil will work as effectively as it does when you catch the Bullous Pemphigoid very early. I did and there was only a small outbreak. Good luck.

Never tried Cod Liver Oil for skin rash. Will have to check that out. I have been using Chickweed Salve and while it has not rid my skin completely of the eczema/psoriasis, the skin most times remains smooth and soft, and the itch disappears on contact as soon as I rub it in. Never even got that with cortisone.

I used to have psoriasis on both elbows. The doctors told me that there is no cure for it, but I found some indications that the saffron tea might work. It did work, and now, instead of having my skin like sandpaper on the elbows, now it is rather like a baby skin.

Plus, for many skin problems the element zinc is very helpful. More precisely I am taking the pills containing zinc (50 milligrams) plus Vitamin C for two weeks daily every 3 months. Any pharmacy has it!

My solution to all those on this website seeking natural cure is try their very own "Kombucha tea". To make it you will need a scoby which can be bought through a friend or one of the internet sites. It is dirty cheap around 5 to 8 dollars. Make your own Kombucha tea (instructions are on youtube videos) and mix a few drops each day with water or any drink. You will be rid of your skin problems for good. There is also Yoga Praynayam (youtube video) and Prayer. This is all natural remedies that does not involve a lot of money or any drugs.

Dear Man from Sojourning,

I am wondering if you are using anything on your hands that is irritating them? From this post, you mention the skin getting thinner and more sensitive...in another recent post of yours, you mention some cuts on your hands that are not healing...I have a few thoughts/questions...

Do you use anything on your hands that might have a steroid in it? (I believe topical steroids can cause the skin to thin.)

Do you use anti-bacterial soap on your hands or hand sanitizer?

Do you work with any type of chemicals or anything that could be irritating your hands?

My husband used to have something similar happen to him each winter. He would get splits in the skin on his fingers. Oddly, that was back when he had a desk job. Now he works with his hands all the time, often outdoors and this doesn't happen to him any more. It makes me think it could be related to his diet. I would have expected the desk job to be easier on his hands and that if he were going to have problems, he would have them now. But I am just starting to think about this and am just in the speculation stage.

You mention using coconut oil and cocoa butter oil, I am assuming you mean on your hands? I would consider using coconut oil in your diet, if you are not already. I have found Borage Oil, taken internally to help with skin problems that are not healing. Turmeric, also, 4 capsules a couple of times a day helps my skin to heal much more quickly.

By the way, I am appreciating your thoughts and experiments on DMSO. Thanks for sharing!

~Mama to Many~

Lorna: This seems to be directly related to antioxidant deficiency. If you have liver or thyroid problems your body may not properly metabolize beta carotene to vit-A which is the #1 protector of skin. If you haven't this problem supplement beta carotene or a full spectrum caritinoid complex to "toughen up" the skin. Full spectrim vit-E also protects the skin.

Susan, try coconut oil. The stuff that smells like coconut!

For elderly thin skin that tends to tear I use colostrum serum. It's very expensive from Amazon.com but a little goes a long ways and it seems to be effective. I've also used coconut oil and manuka honey at different times in conjunction with the colostrum serum depending on how severe the tear might be.

For the red blotches I have used coconut oil, manuka honey and iodex. I'm wondering if msm cream would help and/or vitamin c serum.

Let us know what works for you and wishing your precious elderly parent all the best.

My daughter had these bumps on her elbows that kept getting better and now they're virtually gone from applying virgin coconut oil! It's like a miracle cure for practically anything! I have become a believer in coconut oil. Also, I started using it instead of butter so we love it on toast or even a piece of bread, which my daughter loves and it's a great way for her to add the coconut oil in her diet.

Shingles is derived from a Latin word meaning 'belt' rather than say a roof shingle of some sort. This is important as the first sign of shingles is often on one side of the body only where a belt [to hold up the pants] might indeed rest [back of the waist, in other words.] The areas the individual described do not seem to fit with shingles, per se. Shingles is also accompanied by low grade or higher fever. I cured mine with Nascent Iodine and coconut oil. An Aussie on here recommended the coconut oil. I felt like I was on my last legs and came to this site to look for something to add to my arsenal in my fight to beat the shingles. I took 3T coconut oil and was better by half when I awoke. I continued to take and was 90% better in a week. I'm now completely cured. Low grade fever persisted for weeks so be patient.

My mother (aged 56), is on diuretics which causes bumps, brusing and bleeding very easily. It usually takes my mom months to heal from these. I had been researching organic coconut oil for a while and had finally decided to try some on her. I had her rub a thin layer of coconut oil on her arms and hands (this is where her wounds were), three times a day. It surprised both of us when it only took four days to clear her skin up! This was a year ago, but she is still averaging four days in the healing process. This beats months of healing time!

I don't even have to remind her to use it. She's so happy about it that as soon as she bumps her arm/hand, causing a bruise or bump, she goes right for the coconut oil. We absolutely love coconut oil now.

For specifics, the coconut oil is: organic, extra-virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed, non-deodorized, non-bleached, made without pesticides, GMOs, or hexane.

Please help! My daughter has pilomatrixoma on her cheek. Doctor recommended surgery to remove it. There is not much information online as to how to handle this in a more natural way. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Tara