4 homemade skin essentials for the great outdoors

When you're enjoying the great outdoors, the best way to treat bites and rashes is to avoid them in the first place. Should you ever find yourself affected, these homemade remedies can potentially help relieve the symptoms.

Keep in mind that if you're in an area with a high rate of mosquito-transmitted diseases, such as West Nile disease, you'll need stronger protection.

Ingredients

• 15 to 20 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 15 to 20 drops lemon essential oil
• 15 to 20 drops lemongrass essential oil
• 15 to 20 drops citronella essential oil
• 30 ml (2 tbsp) carrier oil (olive oil or any massage oil)

Instructions

1. In a small pitcher, mix the essential oils with the carrier oil.
2. Put into a spray bottle and use it as needed.
3. Do not use on small children or infants.

Once you've been bitten, you need something to soothe the itch. This easy, inexpensive mixture has been known to help.

Ingredients

• Use 10 to 20 drops of a combination of lavender, tea tree, chamomile, cedar wood and/or eucalyptus essential oils
• 30 ml (2 tbsp.) aloe vera gel, chamomile or calendula cream

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, mix essential oils into the gel or cream.
2. Smooth over the itchy or painful area.
3. If you make more than you need store the excess in a clean jar in a cool, dark place for up to a week.

The key to healing poison ivy is to dry it up. To make it less annoying and itchy, a coating of a heavy lotion keeps it from itching. This may be just as messy as calamine lotion, but is a lot cheaper.

Ingredients

• 2 ml (1/2 tsp.) salt
• 125 ml (1/2 c.) water
• Bentonite clay
• 12 drops lavender essential oil
• 12 drops peppermint essential oil

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the salt in the water and add enough bentonite clay to make a creamy mixture.
2. Stir in the lavender and peppermint essential oils.
3. Spread over the affected area.

This easily made, inexpensive paste may coat and stick to the skin better than a lotion.

Ingredients

• 15 ml (1 tbsp.) bentonite clay or finely ground oatmeal
• 10 drops lavender, chamomile, cypress and/or geranium essential oil
• Water

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, put enough bentonite clay or finely ground oatmeal to cover the affected area.
2. For each 15 millilitres (one tablespoon) of powder, stir in 10 drops of one or more of the essential oils.
3. Moisten the mixture with water to allow for easy application and spread over the affected area.
4. Cover loosely and allow to dry. Rinse off and reapply as needed.

Here is an incredibly easy itch reliever that costs just pennies.

• In a small bowl, mix one millilitre (1/4 teaspoon) baking soda (or meat tenderizer) with a little ice water to make a paste.
• Spread the paste over the bite area. Repeat as necessary.

Although home remedies are a way to help reduce the symptoms of insect bites or rashes from poison ivy, always seek advice from a qualified healthcare provider to ensure that you are properly treating your condition in a way that doesn't put you at risk of harm.