Peppermint oil has a cooling effect which soothes irritation and inflammation which makes Peppermint Oil for Itchy Skin a great option. There are so many uses for peppermint oil, relieving skin irritations is a big one.
Peppermint Oil for Itchy Skin
Have you ever had an uncomfortable urge to scratch a part of your body? I bet most people will answer yes. The itch might be something small like an itch on your back where you can’t reach or a skin condition such as eczema. Read ahead and get to know how you can ease the discomfort by using a natural method.
What is Peppermint Oil?
Peppermint oil is extracted from the peppermint plant. It’s a cross between the water mint and spearmint plant. The plant has a strong, unique minty smell. The oil is obtained from the leaves and flowering parts of the peppermint plant that grows in Europe and North America.
The essential oil is taken as a supplement orally or can be applied to the skin for various skin conditions. It has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties hence, fit for health and cleaning. Peppermint contains a compound known as menthol. Menthol gives peppermint oil its scent, taste, and cooling effect. Menthol is responsible for the various benefits on skin and health.
Is Peppermint Oil Good for Itchy Skin?
Peppermint has been used for centuries in treating skin conditions and for hair care. It has a pleasant scent, and you can find it added to soap, shampoo, and lotions. Peppermint oil has several benefits making it good for itchy skin. The benefits include;
- It has anti-inflammatory properties. Meaning you can use it to reduce redness, swelling, and pain. This is important for skin conditions such as eczema.
- The antiseptic and antibacterial properties help to cleanse the skin from harmful bacteria. Apart from relieving itchiness, your skin will be free from harmful bacteria.
- Peppermint oil has a sharp fragrance, and it’s used to make soap and lotions.
- The oil acts as a pain reliever. Having itchy skin is quite uncomfortable. The irritation can lead to pain from the constant itching. Peppermint oil may help relieve that pain.
- Peppermint oil has a cooling effect. This is effective in relieving itchiness caused by hives and bug bites. The cooling effect works in a way that helps soothe skin inflammation.
Other benefits of peppermint oil include:
- It helps to relieve digestive upset.
- It’s favorable for pregnant women in reducing nausea.
- It promotes blood circulation.
- Relieves nasal congestion
- It helps to relieve mild headaches and migraines.
- It helps to grow healthy hair.
What causes itchy skin?
Itchy skin is having a distressing feeling and urge to scratch. Another name for Itchy skin is pruritus. Pruritus symptoms include an uncomfortable constant itching that might be painful. The open wounds left can become infected from constant itching of irritated skin. All this may lead to infected wounds that may leave you with scars.
There several causes of itchy skin that include bug bites, dry skin, and skin conditions. Some people develop severe itch from ailments such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, and irritation caused by fabric.
However, there are natural ways of dealing with itchy skin to give you relief. That includes the use of essential oils. A good example is the use of peppermint oil that we will get to discuss as you read ahead.
A study conducted in 2016 revealed that topical application of peppermint oil on chronic pruritus caused by kidney or diabetes relieved the condition. The research was conducted among 50 participants. 25 participants were instructed to hydrate the skin and apply peppermint oil while the other group applied petroleum jelly.
There were significant changes with the group that used peppermint essential oil. A gum gel hydrogel mixed with peppermint oil and menthol showed remarkable improvement. The participants had serious pruritus caused by severe burn-induced hypertrophic scars.
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Rocky Mountain Oils’ essential oils are verified by a third-party, independent lab. GC/MS tests verify purity and quality of the oils sold so you can look at the bottom of the bottle to find your individual batch code and then input that number into our website to pull up the GC/MS test results.
Rocky Mountain Products can be returned for any reason, even if opened, for up to 90 days. RMO also pays for our customers’ return shipping expenses to make our ordering process completely risk-free.
RMO includes three different icons for recommended use on each bottle for easy reference: Diffuse, Topical Application and Household. So you can look at the bottle and know in what way it’s intended for use.
How to Apply Peppermint Oil to the Skin?
Before using essential oils, it’s best to understand that pure essential oils are not to be ingested. They are highly concentrated and may end up being lethal. You should not use it on an infant or child. It’s not safe for them.
To use peppermint oil on your skin, it’s best to dilute it with a carrier oil. A good carrier oil would be olive oil or jojoba oil this will help to prevent any further irritation on your skin.
Do not apply essential oils near your eyes. You can do a patch test on your hand and check whether there is any reaction before applying to the affected areas.
Steps on how to Apply the Peppermint Oil to your Skin.
- Mix 2 drops of peppermint oil with 3 drops of carrier oil of your choice. Massage the affected area 3 times a day daily.
- If you have sensitive skin, you can add 1 drop of coconut oil to 1 drop of peppermint oil and apply it to your skin.
- After a long tiresome day, why don’t you soak yourself in a bath that has peppermint oil. This is helpful when you feel like your whole body is uncomfortable. Feeling itchy on your whole body can make anyone restless. Add 4 drops of peppermint oil to your bath this will help you feel relaxed and calm at the same time relieve your pain.
Peppermint essential oil when used correctly is safe and easy to use. However, further research is needed to prove that it indeed cures itchy skin. The information out there so far is proof that it does work, and this is promising.
Before using peppermint oil, make sure it’s diluted. This will prevent any further irritation to the already irritated skin. Some skin conditions might not be solved by using essential oils. In such a case, it’s wise to consult your doctor before using any natural remedy.
For people who react negatively to medicine and would prefer a natural way. Peppermint oil would be ideal for them. It won’t hurt to try it on your skin and see if it works for you. Besides, if it doesn’t work, you might end up getting other benefits from it.
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References
Elsaie, L. T., El Mohsen, A. M., Ibrahim, I. M., Mohey-Eddin, M. H., & Elsaie, M. L. (2016). Effectiveness of topical peppermint oil on symptomatic treatment of chronic pruritus. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 9, 333–338. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S116995
Wu, J., Xu, R., Zhan, R., Luo, G., Niu, X., Liu, Y., Lee, B. T., Flury, M., Wong, C. H., Fok, M., & Lau, J. Y. (2016). Effective symptomatic treatment for severe and intractable pruritus associated with severe burn-induced hypertrophic scars: A prospective, multicenter, controlled trial. Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries, 42(5), 1059–1066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2015.09.021