Baking soda has long been used for skin and oral care. It can exfoliate the skin, reduce its acidity, reduce its oil content and provide relief from a variety of skin irritations. Use baking soda in home remedies for burning or itchy skin on the scalp, feet or anywhere else; sunburn and other minor burns; eczema and other skin disorders; insect bites or stings; mouth sores; and a variety of other basic irritations. You can effectively incorporate baking soda into skin care and first aid remedies in several ways.
Step 1
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to a lukewarm bath. Soak the affected skin in the bath for about 15 minutes for relief from burning or itchiness. Submerge your scalp in the bath water and let it soak to remedy irritation from dandruff, eczema, psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions, recommends Columbia University. Sit in this mixture one to three times a day, 10 minutes at a time, for relief from irritated vulvar skin, advises the University of Iowa.
Step 2
Sprinkle a few pinches of baking soda onto your shampoo once you've poured it into your hand. Massage the shampoo into your scalp and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse it out and you should notice relief from irritated scalp skin; it also helps remove styling product residue more completely from your hair.
Step 3
Mix three parts baking soda with one part water to make a baking soda paste. Rub the paste on rough skin to exfoliate dead skin cells, or as part of a regular facial skin care routine. Apply it as needed to insect bites and stings to soothe the irritation as an alternative to hydrocortisone creams or calamine lotion, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Substitute vinegar for water for particularly painful stings or bites.
Step 4
Put 3 tsp. of baking soda into a warm foot bath for relief from burning or itchy skin from fungal infections or to soothe discomfort from blisters or corns, rough skin, and other sources of irritation.
Step 5
Stir 1 tsp. of baking soda into half a glass of cold water to make a mouth rinse. Swish the rinse around for one minute for relief from irritated skin in the mouth and for fresher breath as well.
