TL;DR: Witch hazel is a plant extract commonly used in skincare. It’s great for taking the heat out of the itch/scratch cycle when used in an anti-itch lotion. That’s thanks to its many soothing properties, meaning wherever you are, you can stop irritation in its tracks.
Witch hazel is one of those things that never even enters your mind until you need some. Sitting at the back of a bathroom cabinet, it gets all dusty until you get that urge to itch that builds and builds until you can no longer ignore it. What does witch hazel do for skin? Well, without giving too much away, it soothes while stopping the urge to scratch and make things worse.
When you hear witch hazel being spoken about, it has that old school feel to it, not least because it’s been used for centuries by people in North America, dating back to native American times. The thing is, it’s still being used today, which tells you an awful lot.
At its core, witch hazel is a plant-based extract that turns up a lot in skincare aimed at sensitive or reactive skin. In this article, we look at five real-world situations where it can come in really handy.
What Does Witch Hazel Do for Skin? 5 Real-World Ways It Can Help
If you’ve ever had a bout of intensely itchy skin, you’ll know that it often happens when you least want it to. It can be at work, on a date or just while you’re sitting at home, relaxing in the evening. What does witch hazel do for skin? It lets you get a grip of what’s happening, calm things down and get on with your day.
A good anti-itch lotion with witch hazel inside is one of the best ways to enjoy the benefits of witch hazel, and it can help you in a range of different ways.
Scenario #1 – After An Insect Bite You Can’t Stop Scratching
Imagine you’re outside in the garden or park, walking the dog, doing something completely normal, and while you’re doing that, a mosquito bites you – unbeknown to you. You’re completely unaware of it, until you find it with your fingers. Before you know it, you’ve scratched it so much, it won’t quit itching.
Rather than climbing the walls or relying solely on your willpower, you can slap on some anti-itch lotion and get relief in minutes. The witch hazel in the lotion helps to take out the heat, while the numbing agent (1% pramoxine hydrochloride) stops you wanting to scratch.
Scenario #2 – Your Kid Touches Some Poison Ivy
How about if your son or daughter got home from school and told you they’ve got an itchy arm because of touching some poison ivy? Most often, it’s not a serious issue, but it is one that you need to try and fix, so that it doesn’t get any worse.
A good witch hazel lotion is just what you need here, as it will stop any tears and prevent them from clawing at the problem. Not only will it stop the itch, but you’ll stop them from spreading the inflammation to other parts of their body.
Scenario #3 – When You’ve Got Razor Burn
You’re getting ready for work in the morning and everything feels great. However, you get to work, look in the mirror and see the unmistakable redness of razor burn appearing on your legs. Again, it’s not serious, but it could mean you’re going to be irritated by it all day.
Witch hazel lets you do a quick reset step before putting on moisturizer, helping take that heat and tightness down so your skin can recover.
Scenario #4 – When You Get a Skin ‘Flare Up’
Sometimes there’s no clear reason why your skin has a flare up. It could be that your skin doesn’t like that new clothes detergent you’re using or that it’s just too hot and humid for your liking. It can be frustrating when it’s nagging at you to be itched, but an anti-itch lotion can again come to the rescue.
Rather than being an issue that rumbles for hours or even days, you can get a nice cooling feeling, particularly if your anti-itch lotion also has menthol in it.
Scenario #5 – You Get A Rash On Your Beltline
Working all day can certainly make you sweat, even if you’re wearing your regular work clothes. For men in particular, this can mean you get home at the end of a long, tiring day to find you’ve got blotchiness along your belt line. You’ve only just noticed, but now it’s starting to complain.
A quick application of a witch hazel anti-itch lotion can help take the edge off the irritation, calming it down, so you can ignore it and allow it to settle down.
What Does Witch Hazel Do For Skin? Plenty When It’s Irritated
Witch hazel isn’t something you build a skincare routine around. Instead, it’s one of those “useful when you need it” products that can stop you from going crazy because of unrelenting itchiness. It’s all about taking the sting out of the situation, so that you don’t end up making the problem worse by not being able to leave well alone.
So, if you’ve not yet got an anti-itch lotion with witch hazel in your bathroom cabinet, maybe now’s the time to think about getting some. Summer is only just around the corner.
