Causes of Skin Irritation
Skin irritation may occur due to a variety of reasons. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may render the skin extremely dry and cause a burning, itching sensation. Exposure to smoke, dust and particulate pollutants present in air and water may also cause irritation to the skin. Contact with allergens present in the immediate surroundings, such as pollen and dander, may also cause your skin to get inflamed and break into rashes. The facial skin is most vulnerable to irritation since it is remains exposed all the time.
You should remember a few basic rules to prevent skin irritation. Always apply a moisturizing sunscreen lotion on your skin before stepping out of doors during the day. This protects the skin from the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun and prevents your skin from becoming excessively dry. You should also splash your face with cold water at frequent intervals. This not only produces a soothing effect on the skin and hydrates it naturally, but also washes away accumulated sweat, oil and dust particles, thereby minimizing the chances of skin irritation. Avoid using too many cosmetic products on the face, as they often contain harsh chemicals that may irritate the skin. Decrease your consumption of coffee, alcohol and cigarettes, as they tend to make the skin more vulnerable to irritation and allergic reactions.
Home Remedies to Treat Facial Skin Irritation
Besides these general precautionary measures, you may also follow a few simple home remedies to treat facial skin irritation. A simple way of reducing the irritation is to massage your face with the juice of aloe vera leaves or commercially available aloe extract. This produces an instant cooling effect on inflamed skin and makes your skin feel soft and smooth. You may also apply some cucumber juice on your face and allow it to dry naturally in the air before washing it off with cold water. For better results, you should rub your face very gently with frozen cubes of cucumber juice for a few minutes. Application of honey is also useful in treating skin irritations as honey has the natural ability to trap moisture and helps treat minor skin allergies. You may also massage your face with half a cup of yogurt and wash it off with lukewarm water 15 minutes later. The lactic acid present in yogurt soothes irritated skin effectively. If you face the problem of skin irritations regularly, wash your face with a mixture of equal portions of milk and water once every day.