19 Home Remedies To Treat Pityriasis Rosea Naturally

If you or someone you know is suffering from pityriasis rosea, a skin condition caused by a strain of herpes virus, then you know how annoying and uncomfortable the condition can get. Everywhere you look, your stomach, neck, arms, torso, or thighs, you are greeted by unsightly, red rashes. To make matters worse, they are accompanied by uncontrollable itching that just doesn’t go seem to go away. Though pityriasis rosea will get better on its own, leaving it untreated will lead to extreme discomfort. It cannot be healed in an instant, but you can try natural remedies to get some relief from its bothersome symptoms.¹

Topical Remedies For Pityriasis Rosea

1. Soothe Your Skin With Aloe Vera

The cool, hydrating gel of aloe vera works well in providing you some relief from the itchy rashes.² It has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that will get rid of germs on your skin to prevent infection, making it heal quicker.³

How To:

• Break an aloe vera leaf.
• Scoop the gel out with a spoon.
• Apply the gel on the affected areas thrice a day.

2. Bathe In Some Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a gentle exfoliator, cleanser, and moisturizer.⁴ Sit back, relax, and soak yourself in an oatmeal bath to remove the dirt and dead cells from your skin without irritating it. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties will provide soothe your skin as you soak up the goodness.⁵

How To:

• Grind large flake oats in a blender until you get a fine powder.
• Add warm water to a tub.
• Add 1 cup of oatmeal powder to the water.
• Mix it well and allow the oatmeal to soak up the water and cool.
• Soak yourself in the bath for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse with cool water and pat dry.

3. Gives Yourself Much-Needed Relief With Coconut Oil

If your skin gets dry, it may itch more. You can use coconut oil to reduce the itch and breathe a sigh of relief. Coconut oil not only moisturizes your skin but also gets rid of the microbes due to its anti-microbial properties.⁶ Take a few drops of pure coconut oil in your palms and rub it on the affected areas twice a day.

4.  Destroy Those Microbes With Neem

The neem leaf has antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties due to which it has been used to treat many skin conditions including pityriasis rosea.⁷ It will ease the itching and will annihilate the microbes to allow your skin to heal.

How To:

• Boil a bucket of hot water.
• Add a handful of neem leaves to it.
• Let it boil for 7 to 10 minutes.
• Allow the water to cool and bathe with it once a day.

[expert_opinion expertname=’drkedar’ opinion=”Aloe vera, being a smoothening and cooling agent and neem, being an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent are some the best medicines which can be used in Pityriasis Rosea.”]

5. Soothe The Unbearable Itch With Lavender Oil

Although the rashes of pityriasis rosea are definitely not a sight for sore eyes, the itch that accompanies them is much worse. If the itching becomes unbearable, then applying a few drops of lavender oil will do the trick. Lavender oil is known for its soothing and relaxing properties, and it accelerates the healing of your rashes.⁸

[Also Read: Health Benefits Of Lavender Oil For The Skin And Hair]

6. Moisturize Your Skin With Safflower Oil

Safflower oil contains omega 3 fatty acids that will moisturize and improve the condition of your skin.⁹ You can mix it with a few drops of lavender oil and apply it on your skin 3 times a day until your skin condition heals.

7. Dab Some Calamine Lotion For A Cooling Effect

Calamine lotion is antipruritic in nature, which means it relieves itching. You should dip a cotton in it and dab it on the affected areas.¹⁰You will feel a soothing and cooling sensation as it evaporates from your skin, giving you a much-needed relief. It contains zinc oxide which acts as a barrier that protects your skin and allows it to heal.¹¹

8. Reduce Skin Inflammation With Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil heals your skin by reducing inflammation of your rashes, thus, reducing the itching as well.¹² You can mix it with almond oil or coconut oil and apply it on your skin 3 times a day.

Dietary Remedies For Pityriasis Rosea

1. Chew On Some Raw Garlic Cloves

Chewing on raw garlic cloves does not sound pleasant at all, but it is an effective remedy during your time of suffering. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, so it reduces inflammation and treats the infection.¹³ Chew a few garlic cloves in the morning on an empty stomach and wash it down with a glass of water.

2. Eat Flaxseeds For Some Omega 3 Fatty Acids

When you have pityriasis rosea, grind a tablespoon of flaxseeds and have it in the mornings until your skin heals. flaxseeds are rich in omega 3 fatty acids that reduce itching and redness of the skin.¹⁴

Herbal Remedies For Pityriasis Rosea

1. Use Calendula Flower To Reduce Your Itch

Calendula has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that will suppress the itching and reduce the redness of your skin. It significantly increases the rate at which your skin heals by encouraging the top layer of your skin to grow.¹⁵ You can make an oil infusion with calendula flowers and use it twice a day on the rashes until they heal.

How To:

• Let fresh calendula flowers wilt for 12 hours to remove excess moisture.
• Place the flowers in a clean jar.
• Add olive oil to the jar until the flowers are fully submerged.
• Warm the oil at 100°F in an oven for 3 to 5 hours.
• Make sure the check the temperature so that the oil does not get too hot.
• Let it cool and strain the flowers using a cheesecloth.
• Store the oil in a jar and use it within a couple of days.

2. Use Plantain Leaves To Leave Your Skin Feeling Smooth And Soft

The plantain leaf is an astringent and an emollient makes skin smooth and soft. It also has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties that work well in treating your skin when you have pityriasis rosea.¹⁶

How To:

• Blend fresh plantain leaves using a blender.
• Use the paste on the affected areas of your skin as soon as possible.
• Leave it on your skin for 30 minutes.
• Wash it off with cool water.
• Pat your skin dry with a soft towel.

[Also Read: Health Benefits Of Plantain]

3. Get Rid Of Viruses With Mullein

Mullein is a herb that has antiviral properties. It has been known to work directly against herpes simplex virus, so it can be used on your skin to eradicate the microbes infecting it and help it heal.¹⁷ It will soothe your skin and relieve itching.

How To:

• Blend mullein leaves in a blender.
• Apply the paste on the affected areas of your skin.
• Leave it on your skin for 30 minutes.
• Rinse it off with cool water.
• Pat your skin dry with a clean, soft towel.

4. Use Chickweed Salve On Your Rashes

Chickweed can be used externally to relieve the itching of your skin. It also has emollient properties that make you skin soft and smooth.¹⁸ You can make a salve that you can store and use whenever you need to.

How To:

• Chop a handful of chickweed and spread it out evenly on the chopping board.
• Let it wilt overnight.
• Add the wilted chickweed to a jar of olive oil (in a 1:1 ratio).
• Blend the mixture in a blender.
• Pour it in a bowl that can be heated.
• Add water to a pan (about half the height) and bring it to a boil.
• Place the bowl with the mixture over the pan.
• Let the mixture become warm but do not let it become hot.
• Stir the mixture occasionally.
• Turn the heat off and let it cool.
• Repeat the process of heating and cooling for about 24 to 48 hours.
• Strain chickweed using a double cheesecloth.
• Add 100 g of beeswax to a cup of the infused oil obtained after straining.
• Melt the beeswax on very low heat using the same method you used to heat the chickweed and olive oil.
• Stir the mixture well.
• Pour it into a clean jar.
• Let the mixture cool and harden.
• Store it in a cool place (It can be stored for up to a year).
• Use it generously on your rashes.

5. Heal Your Skin With Comfrey Leaves And Roots

Comfrey is a herb that contains a substance called allantoin that can be used topically to speed up the healing process of your skin. Its leaves and roots have astringent and emollient properties to make your skin feel soft and smooth.¹⁹

How To:

• Take some comfrey root and clean it thoroughly with water.
• Add the comfrey root to a jar and add an equal volume of olive oil.
• Blend the mixture until it is fine.
• Pour it into a bowl.
• Place the bowl over a pan of heated water.
• Make sure the mixture does not get too hot.
• Let the mixture cool and reheat.
• Repeat the process for 3 to 5 hours.
• Strain the mixture using a cheesecloth.
• Use the comfrey-infused oil as a compress or poultice over your rashes.

Best Practices To Treat Pityriasis Rosea

1. Bathe Regularly To Avoid Infection

If you bathe regularly when you have pityriasis rosea, you wash off the microbes present on your skin. It will prevent the rashes from getting infected. Make sure the water is cool and do not use harsh soaps as they will aggravate your itching.

2. Step Out And Soak Up Some Sunlight

Though you may want to stay indoors and hide your rashes, you should step out into the sun for a while whenever you can. The ultraviolet rays of the sun will kill the microbes on your skin and make your rashes heal faster. Go inside if it gets too hot.

3. Keep Yourself Cool With The Right Clothes

When suffering from pityriasis rosea, what you wear will have a great effect on how you feel. Tight clothes made of synthetic material will trap sweat and make your skin condition worse. Instead, wear loose-fitting cotton clothes that allow your skin to breathe and keep you cool. Doing so will lessen the itch and will make your skin heal faster.

4. Avoid Scratching The Itchy Rashes

However tempting it might be to scratch your itchy rashes with your nails, avoid doing so. Keep in mind that the relief is only temporary. Scratching your rashes will damage your skin and will increase the chances of infection, causing further itching. It is better to stay away from this vicious cycle.

When Should You See A Doctor?

You should visit a doctor if your skin does not show signs of improvement even after a month of the appearance of the first set of rashes. You should be careful if you develop rashes on the palms of your hand and the soles of your feet, as it might be some disease more serious than pityriasis rosea.