When it comes to skincare for people with eczema, psoriasis, acne and other skin disorders, doctors often prescribe a cream called Hydrocortisone.

What is Hydrocortisone?

Hydrocortisone is a steroid cream that is often used by medical professionals to treat various skin issues, especially those resulting in inflammation. Unfortunately, Hydrocortisone has many known side-effects, including: stinging; burning; irritation, dryness or redness at the application site; Acne; unusual hair growth; "hair bumps" (folliculitis); skin thinning/discoloration; stretch marks, and more.[1] Once people learn through personal experience or by doing their own research on the drug, they usually ask, “Is it worth the risk?” or “There must be a better alternative?”

Through additional research, those interested will find that there are natural remedies that are better and less damaging than Hydrocortisone. Natural remedies are gentler on the skin and work with the skin to achieve the best results. We believe steroid creams, like Hydrocortisone, can harm the skin and, in my experience, leave you feeling dissatisfied.

Here some natural ingredient suggestions you should consider:

Chamomile

There was a study done on Chamomile that showed it was just as effective as 0.25% Hydrocortisone cream.[2] Think about that? A medical cream that can cause many adverse reactions, which doctors are prescribing rather than suggesting, “Hey, go find a good, skin cream with Chamomile, one that isn’t full of wax and glycerine.” However, they do not give such advice and it is unfortunate. Studies show that Chamomile helps with the itching and burning due to its anti-inflammatory properties.  In addition, Chamomile keeps skin moist and studies show that when applied to wounds, it prevents scabs from becoming dry and brittle. It has been applied for centuries as a wound treatment.[3]

Calendula

Calendula is also an anti-inflammatory. As an anti-inflammatory, it helps reduce inflammation that is characterized by redness, itchiness, and rashes on the skin. This ingredient has been the subject of multiple studies and one such study was conducted on radiation patients and researchers found that Calendula helped prevent severe dermatitis.  Other studies show that when applied to cuts and burns, Calendula speeds up the healing process.[4]

Honey

Honey can be used as a substitute for Hydrocortisone as it is both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Additionally, studies show that honey can help speed up healing![5] Honey, is a natural exfoliator, helping to remove dead skin as well as killing bacteria present on the skin. Honey leaves you with fantastically-soft and hydrated skin. Honey is gentle and does not remove skin oil, but rather, hydrates and moisturizes the skin. Skin oil is essential to keeping your skin healthy and protected. When it comes to honey, many studies suggest it has great potential for use in healthcare because of its antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.[6]

Aloe

Aloe Vera is antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. It contains a powerful antioxidant from the family of polyphenols. These antioxidants prevent the growth of certain bacteria that can cause human infection.[7]  People claim that Aloe Vera can prevent and fight infection. A study, conducted in 2012, explored the use of Aloe Vera to fight multi-drug resistant bacteria. The study identified that Aloe Vera was an effective and cheaper way to treat or dress wounds, especially when dealing with drug-resistant organisms. The best part is, it does not have

any nasty side-effects and does not lead to drug resistance. This helps reduce the threat of what are becoming multi-drug resistant bugs or superbugs. 

Conclusion

When it comes to skincare, there is no easy solution. Medical treatments that rely on steroid creams are not the only option. Today, there are so many studies being conducted on natural remedies and they are showing encouraging results, with none of the side-effects of drugs like Hydrocortisone. This means that it is worth spending a little time finding a product with a natural ingredient or ingredients that work best for you and your skin. There is no quick and easy fix so take the time to find a skincare product that is right for you, a product that utilizes one, two or all of the aforementioned ingredients … products like Thentix A Touch of Honey Skin Conditioner! It is full of natural ingredients that will help make your skin feel soft and hydrated. As well, customers tell us, through testimonials and reviews, how well Thentix Skin Conditioner works on a wide variety of skin conditions and how Thentix has improved their lives!

REFERENCES

[1] “Hydrocortisone Topical: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-10402-859/hydrocortisone-topical/hydrocortisone-topical/details

[2] Srivastava, Janmejai K et al. “Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future.” Molecular medicine reports vol. 3,6 (2010): 895-901. doi:10.3892/mmr.2010.377

[3] IBID

[4] Preethi, Korengath C, and Ramadasan Kuttan. “Wound Healing Activity of Flower Extract of Calendula Officinalis.” Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19601397

[5] Samarghandian, Saeed et al. “Honey and Health: A Review of Recent Clinical Research.” Pharmacognosy research vol. 9,2 (2017): 121-127. doi:10.4103/0974-8490.204647

[6] Ibid

[7] Leech, Joe. “Aloe Vera: Eight Health Benefits.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 28 May 2017, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318591.php.