It’s all over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – Malaysians who were at Urbanscapes over the weekend cannot stop scratching their hands and feet. Having been at the event ourselves, we know what it’s like to have the agonizing itch all over our arms, shoulders and chest. None of us were able to decipher what actually caused these skin reactions. Based on the comments on social media platforms, some say sandflies or caterpillars were the culprits, but others also mentioned that it could be caused by insecticides used to ward off pesky mosquitos.
In an effort to give ourselves some relief from the rash, we’ve created a gentle exfoliant filled with microbial ingredients that will probably ease the itchiness. One cannot go about letting a rash heal without at least scratching it a little, so it appeared that a gentle scrub would help. But since we can’t tell if the rash is caused by insects or insecticides, your exfoliant will need to have lots of natural cleansing properties!
Most of the ingredients needed for this exfoliant are readily available in your local supermarket. This recipe will include Epsom salts, a great exfoliator that will also help cleanse your body inside out. Assuming that there might be toxins from either the insect bites or insecticides, the magnesium sulfate in Epsom salts help eliminate toxins that may or may not be causing the rashes. Honey comes with rich, cleansing microbial properties that can rid any bacteria on the top layer of the skin. You’ll also want to grab a banana peel and use a spoon to scoop up the flesh hanging on the peel as it is said to moisturize and neutralize the itching.
Here’s a rundown on what you need:
1/4 cup of Epsom Salt
3 tbsp of brown sugar
2 tbsp of honey
1-2 tbsp of lemon juice/apple cider vinegar
3 drops of tea tree oil
Flesh of a banana peel
In a ceramic bowl, combine all the ingredients until it forms a thick paste. Apply it over the affected areas and massage very gently. Leave it on for several minutes on your skin and rinse under cool water. Massage aloe vera gel over the affected areas for its anti-inflammatory properties that will soothe your skin from the rashes.
Other remedies:
If you don’t have time to reach out for these ingredients, you can still give yourself relief by creating a paste made out of baking soda and water to neutralize the toxins that’s causing the rash. Just combine a few tablespoons of baking soda with water, mix well and apply it on the affected areas for 15 minutes before washing off. You can also do this with aspirin.
[Disclaimer: If you have an extremely sensitive skin, we recommend that you consult your dermatologist instead]
