The largest organ in your body is your skin, and every day it is assaulted by pollution, harsh soaps, dry air and more. Overly sensitive skin may break out easily or become red and itchy, leaving you feeling miserable. You can clean and heal sensitive skin naturally with topical treatments that contain herbs. Create a toner or wash by steeping herbs into a strong tea infusion, using 1/2 cup or more of dried herb for each cup of water. Make your own lotions and salves by melting beeswax with olive oil or almond oil and adding herbal infusion, dried herbs or essential oils made from medicinal herbs; more beeswax will yield a thicker salve, while using more oil or tea results in thinner lotions. Before beginning any treatment, talk to your doctor or naturopath about any questions or concerns you have about your sensitive skin.
Chamomile
Known more as a calming tea, chamomile (Matricaria recutita) also soothes inflamed skin and acts as a gentle cleanser for oily skin. Use chamomile to treat itchy scalps, too. Brew an infusion to splash on your skin or to add to your bath water.
Calendula
Calm sunburns and help heal wounds with lotions and salves made with calendula (Calendula officinalis). Calendula may be used on oily, normal or dry skin.
Lavender
Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) is naturally antiseptic and helps heal sensitive, irritated skin. Apply lavender oil to wounds or use lavender lotion on red, painful skin. Dry-to-normal skin benefits most from lavender.
Rose Petals
Rose petals (Rosa spp.) are more than just pretty and fragrant, they also have antiseptic and astringent qualities. Make your own rosewater by brewing rose petals as a strong tea, or purchase rosewater in a natural health food stores. Use rosewater to tone and cleanse sensitive skin that is oily or normal.
Evening Primrose
The oil from the evening primrose flower (Oenothera biennis) is rich in essential fatty acids. It may be used internally or externally to hydrate and rejuvenate skin.
Lemon Balm
Enjoy the light citrus scent of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) while using this herb as a toner or in a steam bath. Lemon balm works as an astringent to cleanse open pores.
Nettle
Although fresh nettle may cause your skin to itch and sting, dried nettle (Urtica dioica) may be used medicinally to cleanse and clarify sensitive skin. Brew a nettle tea infusion to use as a toner or wash. Nettles will benefit all types of skin.
Plantain
Plantain (Plantago spp.) has powerful healing capabilities. Apply a poultice made with fresh plantain leaves to insect bites, scrapes and minor cuts and burns. Plantain draws toxins from the skin, and may even be used to coax out splinters.
St. John's Wort
While it is more commonly known as a natural antidepressant, St. John's Wort (Hypercium perforatum) also helps calm inflamed or irritated skin when used in a lotion of salve. However, using St. John's Wort both internally or externally will increase your sensitivity to sunlight and may cause you to burn more easily. Apply St. John's Wort to your skin at night.
Comfrey
Both the leaves and the roots of comfrey (Symphytum spp.) work to rejuvenate skin that is dry, rough or cracked. Make a thick salve with comfrey to moisturize damaged skin. Comfrey also helps sensitive skin become stronger and more resilient. Do not use comfrey internally.
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