For those that have reached their wits end with dry skin, searching for alternative healing techniques can be tiring and even dangerous. There are companies out there willing to sell you just about anything claiming it can cure dry skin, and you can be sure the snake oil they are selling hasn’t been approved by the FDA. But there are all natural solutions out there that you can try to help relieve some of the symptoms associated with dry skin. There is no absolute cure for dry skin. The best thing you can do is to treat each flare up as quickly and naturally as possible.

The first and most well known herb and natural remedy for dry skin is aloe vera. This magical plant has been used for its medicinal value for centuries. You can buy everything from hand lotion and creams to adhesive bandages that are infused with aloe vera.

Many people who suffer from extreme dry skin actually keep several aloe plants in their home so when they are having a particularly bad dry hand day, they simply snap open a cactus-like leaf and squeeze the fatty substance inside on their hands. It can also be very effective on small, non-major burns. Keeping an aloe plant in your home is very easy, even if you do not have a green thumb.

You simply use sandy-style soil and keep it out of direct sunlight. Water the aloe plant infrequently and let the soil completely dry out before you water it again. In the winter, the plant needs even less care as it essentially “hibernates.” Keeping your own aloe plants is not only a fun hobby, it can be the most natural way possible to deal with dry skin problems. It is also a great way to keep your skin care costs down, too.

A second herb that is often used to treat skin ailments is from the marigold family of flowers. The ointment made from marigolds is much like aloe vera in the sense that it is widely used to treat not only dry skin but also minor burns. It can speed in healing and also relieve pain. The herb is renowned for its ability to soothe skin problems and it is an excellent choice when it comes to all natural skin treatment.

Going hand in hand with the marigold flower is the comfrey. While the Western world may not be that familiar with the comfrey flower, it has been a staple of Russian and Asian medicine for millennia. This beautiful and delicate flower contains a substance known as allantonin which specializes in speeding up cell growth and when made into an all natural ointment or cream, it does wonders for dry skin. The comfrey flower is also rich in vitamins and proteins which are good for the skin.

A final herbal dry skin treatment is using what are known as herbal saunas. You don’t need a big oak room for these kinds of saunas, however. You simply take water, essential oils like peppermint, almond or lavender, and a series of natural herbs that you enjoy and add them to a bowl. Boil a few cups of water and then add it to the bowl mixture.

Lean over the bowl and place a towel over your head, trapping the steam and moisture that is now rising from the bowl. Not only will this help the dry skin on your face and neck, it does wonders for clearing up your sinuses and making a cold or flu feel infinitely better. You can repeat this process as frequently as you like to treat your dry skin.