While you’re out traveling the country in your RV during the summer, chances are good that you’ll run into at least one annoying skin ailment. Whether you’re exploring the backwoods, going on a hike, or enjoying the sunset, you’ll come into contact with skin hazards such as poison ivy and poison oak, mosquitoes, and even an occasional sunburn. Because you might be far away from a doctor’s office and you don’t want to load up your limited RV space with ointments and salves, these tips for natural remedies with items you likely already have on hand will help you get through any sort of summertime skin ailment.
Mosquito Bites
Sitting outside of your RV in the evenings lends itself to an enjoyable time, and, unfortunately, mosquito bites. Damp teabags applied to the itchy area make for an excellent poultice. An ice cube also cools the area and reduces the release of histamines that cause itchiness. If there’s a white willow tree nearby, break off a small branch and separate the fibers. Chop up the fibers with an army knife and add them to boiling water over the camp fire. Let the liquid cool and then apply it to your skin with a cotton ball or cloth.
Poison Ivy
While RVs don’t have a bathtub for soaking, you can still treat poison ivy rashes naturally while on the road. Mix up a paste of either baking soda and water or cooked oatmeal and water and apply it to the itchy areas. Rubbing the inside of a banana peel, watermelon rind, or slices of organic cucumbers over the itchy areas may also provide some relief. Aloe vera gel applied to your skin also works, and the gel can be used to treat other skin problems such as burns.
Sunburns
Cold water or even an ice pack applied to your skin through a cotton cloth can cool the burn. Dabbing witch hazel on your skin every few hours can also help. A paste of cornstarch or cooled cooked oatmeal also provides some relief. If your face and eye areas are burned, damp tea bags offer anti-inflammatory properties. Cooled boiled lettuce leaves applied to the skin can reduce inflammation as well. If your feet are burned, mix one cup of fat free milk into four cups of water. Add a few ice cubes and soak your feet.
Leave a Reply