Can I use baking soda for sunburns? Well, you will be surprised to learn that this substance can come in handy in your effort to deal with sunburns, chickenpox, and the associated itchiness.
Hereunder, I outline the steps to follow if you hope to achieve effective remedies for your itchy sunburns on the skin and also chickenpox among children.
How to Use Baking Soda Bath for Sunburns
There are many ways or forms you can use baking soda baths to remedy sunburns. As you know, many people get surprised particularly after spending some time swimming in a pool or at the beach only to find that they have sunburns.
To treat the symptoms of sunburn using baking soda, you simply need to add in a tepid bath, 2 oz. of this household product. There you are! A perfect recipe to help you relieve the pain associated with sunburn.
If the condition worsens, please seek medical help as soon as possible. This includes if experiences fever exceeding 102 degrees Fahrenheit, weakness, fatigue, vomiting, or chills due to excessive dehydration.
The doctor should then determine if you are infected and if it would be wise to prescribe oral antibiotics.
Baking Soda for Itching on The Skin
If you have itching skin, you can use baking soda as your best natural remedy. Although you may get some help from over-the-counter anti-itch creams, you can’t rely on such products because some of them have ingredients that can worsen the problem.
This leaves you with baking soda as your best organic way to stop itchiness. You need to whip up a baking soda paste or bath. You can use this product on many parts of your body, including your underarms, face, and feet.
There are about six steps you can use this natural method to remedy your itching skin. The stages include the following:
Stage 1
- Add between 1/2 and 1 teacup of baking soda to warm bathwater.
- Let the mixture stay for a few minutes until baking soda completely gets dissolved.
- Soothe all areas with itchiness by immersing them in the water for time enough to relieve the pain.
Stage 2
- In a proportion or ratio of 3:1, mix water and baking soda and stir the combination well.
- Drop the resultant cream on your itchy areas and let it dry up.
- Use lukewarm water to rinse off the paste.
Stage 3
- Using your routine cleanser and water, wash your face.
- Mix 1 teaspoonful of baking soda with 1 teaspoonful of lemon juice or water and then gently massage the cream onto your face to help reduce acne and soothe itching.
- Do this 2 to 3 times weekly.
Stage 4
- Put 1 quart of water in a basin or bowl before adding 1 tablespoonful of baking soda.
- In about 15 minutes, immerse your feet in the water or mixture to get rid of odor-causing bacteria.
- Using dry baking soda, lightly dust your feet.
- Keep the odor, sweat, and itching at bay by putting on your closed shoes.
Stage 5
- On your clean underarms, rub a cotton ball dipped in baking soda for a natural deodorant.
- Try the same if your skin is irritated by your regular antiperspirant.
Stage 6
- In a ratio of 3:1, combine water with baking soda.
- Clean your head with the mixture to soothe an irritated scalp.
- On your hair and scalp, rub the baking soda deep into the skin and leave it to stay for about 3 minutes.
- Use lukewarm water to rinse the concoction.
Requirements:
- Basin or Bowl
- Baking soda
- Cotton balls
- Lemon juice (non-compulsory)
Baking Soda Bath Bombs – Simple Recipes
There are several simple recipes at your disposal for making baking soda bath Bombs. Here is the natural version of baking soda bath bombs. Making great beauty recipes for kids at home is simple.
Homemade soap and other beauty recipes for kids are simple because you don’t need to handle and precisely measure harsh chemicals such as lye which is dangerous to kids during preparation.
On the contrary, you have versatile child-friendly, and simple ingredients you can use to make natural bath bombs at home. Let the job of mixing up customizations such as colors and scents be left to the kids.
Requirements:
Before you start making bath bombs, you must have all ingredients measured and on hand because the process takes seconds.
They include:
Liquid, Salt, and Oil: All these components are very versatile, and any available combination can do. You shall require some kind of:
- Liquid: You can work with basic water. However, for extra skin soothing, use organic witch hazel.
- Oil: A simple oil such as coconut oil, almond oil, and olive oil can do. However, you can be fancier if you use apricot oil, argan oil, or sea buckthorn oil.
- Salt: Preferably use your basic kitchen salt, but you can make it more luxurious with any other favorite salt including Epsom salt.
Baking Soda: The recipe’s backbone is the alkalizing baking soda. You need this constituent because it is essential to balancing the acidic citric acid as well as the fizzing reaction. You can buy food-grade aluminum-free baking soda for this purpose.
Arrowroot or Corn Starch: The silky feel of bath bombs comes from arrowroot or cornstarch. In your recipe, you are recommended to use organic cornstarch powder. Although you can use arrowroot, it does not include a silky finished product.
Colors and Scents: Here, you can any of your routine essential oils and make them free of scent or add dried herbs. If you wish, change the color by adding small quantities of natural dyes.
Citric Acid: It’s one of the recipe’s obscure ingredients that is not easily found in your kitchen and is essential for the fizzing reaction. This is what makes bath bombs good for soaking in champagne. You should buy natural citric acid.
Other Tools
A digital scale: For accurate and precise measurement.
Molds: Other than making balls using your hand, you can use this easiest version of molding bath bombs.
Ingredients for Bath Bomb
- 1 teaspoonful of vanilla extract
- 4 ounces or ½ cup of Epsom Salt or Sea Salt
- 8 ounces or 1 cup of baking soda
- ¾ or 4 ounces of Cornstarch
- 4 ounces or ½ cup of Citric Acid
- Powdered dried herbs or 30 to 40 drops of your favorite Essential oils like ginger
- 2 teaspoons of water or witch hazel
- 2 tablespoons of any oil
Directions:
- Mix dry cornstarch, salt, citric acid, and baking soda in a sizeable bowl and combine the mixture well.
- Mix the vanilla extract, witch hazel, and oil in a small bowl and stir well before adding your favorite essential oils.
- Pouring a few drops at a time, mix the dry and liquid ingredients, and combine well using your hands with gloves for people with sensitive skin. If you want, you can add powdered dried herbs.
- Make a good mixture that can hold together well.
- Push the mixture quickly into greased container or molds and firmly press the content. Let it stay for between 24 hours and 48 hours until it becomes hard.
- Remove the mold and store it in a bag or airtight container. Use it before the end of two weeks.
Side Effects of Baking Soda Bath
Although baking soda bath has many advantages including those mentioned above, it also has some surprising side effects including these:
Vein Inflammation: If you ingest excess Baking Soda, you may develop Phlebitis, also known as vein inflammation. This condition is injurious because it decreases the flow of blood in your veins resulting in deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Your limb can be amputated if no immediate remedy is sought.
Metabolic Alkalosis: The use of large amounts of sodium bicarbonate beyond the Kidney’s capacity to excrete excess bicarbonate may lead to a condition known as metabolic alkalosis. As a result, you may encounter problems such as Muscle Spasms, hand tremors, seizures, and numbness.
Irritability and Headache: Excess of baking soda in any food consumed or drink taken can lead to irritability, nausea, or headaches. It’s an indication of low laying condition contributing to the rejection of the Sodium Chloride.
Constipation: If used above the recommended dose, baking soda can lead to constipation in young children and infants. The product’s neutralization process releases Carbon Dioxide known to block the gastric channel of stool thereby contributing to Constipation.
How to Use Baking Soda for Chicken Pox in Children
If your child has painful, itchy chickenpox, you can use baking soda to ease the pain. This is how you can quell the pains and aches associated with chickenpox on your little one:
- Blend 2 cups of oatmeal with warm bath water to reduce itching in the affected area.
- Add 1 cup or 1½ cup of baking soda also to halt the pain and aches as well.
How to Soothe Eczema Using Baking Soda
Do you know that you can use your ordinary kitchen ingredient, baking soda to soothe your eczema? Baking soda, just like your common household salt, is naturally cleansing and antiseptic.
Comparable to salt that was traditionally used to sterilize and dress wounds, this job can be done much gentler using baking soda.
It can be used in many ways to treat or calm flare-ups associated with eczema but here are the widely employed methods of administering this product:
Paste
- Mix warm, clean water with baking soda to make a mud-like paste.
- Use the ratio of making a thick cream that can be directly be applied to a flare-up.
- This way, you will have an easy, great remedy to protect and cleanse areas affected by Eczema.
- Let the paste stay for about 5 minutes before rinsing off.
- Apply your favorite ointment to prevent further hydration.
Bathing
- Fill your bathtub with warm, clean water before adding ¼ cup of baking soda to form a diluted mixture that is good for all including small children.
- You can add your other favorite bath oils such as oatmeal baths if you are using baking soda to get a perfect formula for itchy flare-ups.
Sources on Baking Soda Bath for Sunburns
- Our Everyday Life: Natural Bath for Relief of Sunburn
- Wellness Mama: Homemade bath bombs
- Beaty Epic: Top 6 surprising side effects of Baking Soda
READ MORE: Multani mitti face pack for fairness for dry skin.
