Why is witch hazel good for your skin

Similarly, another small study found that a topical preparation containing witch hazel was able to provide relief for sensitive or irritated facial skin 8. Hemorrhoids are caused by the swelling and inflammation of the veins in your rectum and anus, resulting in symptoms, such as itchiness and bleeding. Witch hazel is often used as a natural remedy to provide relief from the discomfort and pain caused by hemorrhoids.

Though research is limited, witch hazel is believed to help treat the itching, redness, pain and swelling associated with hemorrhoids due to its anti-inflammatory effects 9. However, more studies in humans are needed to examine the effectiveness of witch hazel on hemorrhoids. Witch hazel is often used to reduce the itching, redness, pain, bleeding and swelling associated with hemorrhoids. More studies are needed to evaluate its effectiveness. Thanks to its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, some research suggests that witch hazel could be useful in the treatment of acne.

It acts as an astringent, causing your tissues to contract to help shrink pores, while also soothing your skin and relieving inflammation 5. This may prevent acne-causing bacteria from infecting your skin. For this reason, witch hazel is commonly added to many over-the-counter acne products and is especially useful for individuals with oily skin.

Still, studies on the effects of witch hazel on acne are limited and further research is needed to determine its efficacy.

Witch hazel acts as an astringent to help shrink your pores, soothe your skin and reduce inflammation. More research is needed to determine the effects of witch hazel itself on acne. Scalp sensitivity can be caused by a number of factors, ranging from cosmetic hair treatments to dermatological conditions, such as psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis.

Applying a bit of witch hazel to your scalp before washing your hair may help treat scalp sensitivity and provide relief from symptoms, such as itching and tenderness. According to one study in 1, people, using a shampoo containing witch hazel extract was effective in reducing scalp irritation Witch hazel may also help relieve inflammation, which could be useful in reducing scalp sensitivity caused by conditions like psoriasis or eczema. However, additional research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of witch hazel in the treatment of these conditions.

Witch hazel may help reduce scalp irritation and inflammation. Because of its ability to decrease inflammation and act as an astringent, witch hazel is sometimes used to treat sore throats. Boiling one teaspoon 5 ml of witch hazel in one cup ml of water for about 10 minutes, then gargling with the mixture, may provide relief. This is believed to help reduce swelling, decrease pain and dry excess mucus caused by a sore throat.

Just be sure to moisturize after using to make sure you don't overcorrect and dry out your skin completely. Whether you're pregnant and thus can't use regular acne-fighting products like retinoids and salicylic acid or you're just more of a natural beauty girl, you should consider trying witch hazel. Because of its ability to remove oil and calm inflammation, witch hazel is a great option, says Engelman.

Use as a spot treatment or as a toner. Witch hazel's anti-inflammatory properties might be a blessing for your bikini line. It works well at preventing bumps from forming around your hair follicles and can help heal any you already have, too.

After shaving, swipe a witch hazel-soaked cotton ball over freshly shaved skin to keep skin calm and bump-free. Obvi, you should always wear SPF, but you might miss a spot sometimes. For those hopefully rare occasions, witch hazel works wonders to ease sunburn pain thanks to its anti-inflammatory powers.

It also has a cooling effect, says Engelman, so it will feel great going on. Since witch hazel helps with bug-bite itching, it makes sense that it does the same for poison ivy , too. Along with cool compresses and hydrocortisone cream, applying a little witch hazel can help reduce itching and swelling.

But if your poison ivy rash doesn't improve after a week or has blisters , see a doctor for treatment. If your T-zone looks more like a pumice stone than skin, reach for the witch hazel. It's an astringent, which Engleman says can help tighten up pores making them temporarily look smaller. Another witch hazel use: banishing pesky redness. Engelman says witch hazel is a vasoconstrictor, meaning that it helps tighten up blood vessels to reduce redness.

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No, thanks I hate pretty things. Witch hazel has been a staple in beauty aisles for years—the name being synonymous with products from Thayers and T. However, the OG ingredient has been met with controversy. So, we tapped a dermatologist and esthetician to answer the question: Is witch hazel bad for your skin? What is witch hazel? Hadley King , a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology. The whole plant Hamamelis virginiana is processed to create the clear liquid we regularly see in popular products.

The plant can be found primarily in North America, dating back to the Native Americans who used it as a remedy for reducing inflammation and irritation.

Now, the ingredient can be found in just about every drugstore or beauty aisle. And why is it called witch hazel? No, it has nothing to do with magic. The more you know. The ingredient has anti-inflammatory, antioxidants and astringent properties. Aside from the key substance tannins , many witch hazel products contain alcohol ingredients like ethanol that over-dry the skin and sometimes do more harm than good. Some variations can have up to 15 percent alcohol, which might be irritating to certain skin types like people with dry, acne-prone or sensitive skin.

Again, it depends. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation.

Women's Health. Primary Care. Mental Health. More Button Icon Circle with three vertical dots. It indicates a way to see more nav menu items inside the site menu by triggering the side menu to open and close. Madeline Kennedy. Witch hazel has many benefits for skin, including relieving inflammation, tightening pores, and helping with razor bumps.

It may also help reduce acne, since it can cleanse your skin of excess oil.