Home remedies for summertime skin ailments

Summer’s awesome, no doubt about it. But when the great El Sol is at its full force, sometimes our bodies suffer from it.

Unlike heat stroke that we always seem prepared for, skin ailments take us by surprise. 

Thankfully, medication doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. “Good News” listed a few remedies to summer ailments that we all have at home.

Vinegar and coconut oil: for persistent lice and cooties

According to Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan, a natural remedy advocate, coconut oils have anti-parasitic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties while vinegar is fermented and has probiotics that lice and cooties hate.

Mix equal parts of vinegar and coconut oil and spread on the scalp and the hair and let it sit for an hour. Wash off with shampoo. Says Dr Galvez-Tan, by doing this once a day, it will often just take three days before the problem is solved.

Green mangoes: for prickly heat rash aka bungang araw

Bungang araw or prickly heat rash is a common reaction of our skin to the heat. “Mangoes have a lot of anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals, but the most important property is the volatile oil,” Dr. Galvez-Tan said.

Peel the mango, slice thinly, and mince until its juice is extracted. When you have the green mango extract, apply on skin; three times a day when it’s the entire body and twice a day when there are only specific spots.

Gumamela: boils aka pigsa

“Bulaklak ng gumamela at maganda kung hindi pa siya bumubuka kasi mas marami siyang medisina,” advises Dr. Galvez-Tan.    

Cut the gumamela bud thinly before mincing. Place it on top of the boil and cover it. Do this three times a day.

As always, remember to see a doctor to make sure you're not allergic to any of these. — LA, GMA News