Awaiting clinical review. This page is built from sourced entries but has not yet been signed off by a pharmacist or clinician.
Natural remedies for skin
Direct answer
The best-supported skin remedy here is aloe vera gel for minor second-degree burns, rated Moderate: pooled trials found it shortened healing by roughly 4 days, and it is a reasonable soothing gel for mild sunburn (Limited). Everything else on this page is Limited or Traditional, including oatmeal, calendula, propolis and witch hazel, so treat them as things to try on minor problems rather than proven treatments. The caution that matters most is allergy: propolis, calendula (daisy family) and witch hazel can all cause a rash, so stop anything that stings or makes the skin redder.
Compare the options
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| Rated for | Typical form & use | Main caution | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aloe Vera Aloe barbadensis (leaf gel and latex) | Moderate | GEL on skin: second-degree burns | Inner-leaf gel, applied to skin | Never swallow the latex or whole-leaf extract | About a week |
| Calendula Calendula officinalis (flower) | Limited | Minor skin inflammation and wounds | Ointment or cream, 2–10% flower extract | Avoid if allergic to daisy-family plants | About a week |
| Centella (gotu kola) Centella asiatica (aerial parts) | Limited | Preventing or softening scars (topical) | Cream, about 1% extract | Allergy to celery, carrot, parsley-family plants | 4+ weeks |
| Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis (leaf) | Limited | Cold sores (cream applied to skin) | Cream, 1% extract, 4 times daily | Pregnancy and breastfeeding: safety not established | About a week |
| Oats Avena sativa (grain) | Limited | Eczema (atopic dermatitis) itch and severity | Colloidal oatmeal cream, 1% | Under 2s: irritant reactions; stop if it stings | 4+ weeks |
| Propolis Bee propolis (resin from beehives) | Limited | Cold sores (herpes labialis) | Lip cream, 0.5% special extract | A known contact allergen; can cause a rash | 2–3 days |
| Witch hazel Hamamelis virginiana (leaf, bark, twig) | Limited | Minor skin inflammation and irritation | Distillate cream/ointment, 5–30% | Known allergy: contact dermatitis is reported | About a week |
| Slippery elm Ulmus rubra (inner bark) | Traditional | Skin irritation and rash (applied to skin) | Powder or paste applied to skin | No proven dose; safety in pregnancy unknown | About a week |
- Rated for
- GEL on skin: second-degree burns
- Form
- Inner-leaf gel, applied to skin
- Onset
- About a week
- Rated for
- Minor skin inflammation and wounds
- Form
- Ointment or cream, 2–10% flower extract
- Onset
- About a week
- Rated for
- Preventing or softening scars (topical)
- Form
- Cream, about 1% extract
- Onset
- 4+ weeks
- Rated for
- Cold sores (cream applied to skin)
- Form
- Cream, 1% extract, 4 times daily
- Onset
- About a week
- Rated for
- Eczema (atopic dermatitis) itch and severity
- Form
- Colloidal oatmeal cream, 1%
- Onset
- 4+ weeks
- Rated for
- Cold sores (herpes labialis)
- Form
- Lip cream, 0.5% special extract
- Onset
- 2–3 days
- Rated for
- Minor skin inflammation and irritation
- Form
- Distillate cream/ointment, 5–30%
- Onset
- About a week
- Rated for
- Skin irritation and rash (applied to skin)
- Form
- Powder or paste applied to skin
- Onset
- About a week
Quick picks
Aloe gel on the skin is rated Moderate (3) for second-degree burns: a 2024 meta-analysis found healing 3.76 days shorter than with other topical treatments, with no rise in infection. It is Limited (2) for wounds and psoriasis, and the swallowed latex is a different, unsafe-to-take product.
Gentlest optionOatsColloidal oatmeal is a recognised US skin protectant and is rated Limited (2) for dry skin and eczema. In one trial in 90 children it was as good as a prescription barrier cream, not better, and the Cochrane review found no clear advantage over a plain moisturiser, so use it as a moisturiser.
Traditional favouriteCalendulaCalendula ointment is rated Limited (2) for minor skin inflammation and wounds; the EU regulator recognises it on long-standing use alone. A 2019 review found some benefit for acute wounds but mixed results elsewhere, and the radiotherapy result has not held up in pooled analyses.
Talk to a doctor first if…
Who should avoid
Anyone allergic to daisy-family plants should avoid calendula, and anyone with a known allergy or fragrance allergy should avoid propolis. Do not use these on deep, large or blistering burns, infected or worsening wounds, or skin being treated with radiotherapy without asking a clinician first. Pregnancy and breastfeeding: the EU regulator advises against calendula and witch hazel, and we found no safety data for propolis.
Known interactions
None of the ingredients in this hub has a documented interaction when applied to the skin, apart from aloe: the swallowed latex may raise side-effect risk with digoxin and similar heart medicines, and NCCIH says overuse of it is the concern. Aloe gel used on skin is a separate matter.
Before you reach for an ingredient
For common skin problems, ordinary care does more than any herb: regular moisturising for eczema and dry skin, and correct first aid for burns.
- For atopic eczema, the NHS advises applying an emollient at least twice a day (and continuing when the skin improves), washing with an emollient instead of soap, and avoiding triggers such as soap, detergent and heat. It advises against aqueous cream, which can irritate the skin.6
- For a burn or scald, the NHS says to hold it under cool running water for 20 minutes, within 3 hours if possible, and not to put creams, oils or butter on it. Aloe vera gel is none of those: it is a water-based gel, and in trials on second-degree burns it sped healing without raising the infection rate. Large, deep burns, or burns on the face, genitals or bottom, need A&E.7
- For cold sores, the NHS suggests SPF 15 or higher lip balm outdoors, avoiding triggers such as sunbeds, and not touching the sore. Cold sores usually clear within 10 days; see a GP if one has not started to heal by then.8
Questions people ask
Does aloe vera gel really heal burns?
Probably a little faster. A 2024 meta-analysis found second-degree burns healed 3.76 days sooner with aloe gel than with other topical treatments, with no rise in infection, though the trials were small and used different products. Cool the burn under running water for 20 minutes first; for mild sunburn a plain aloe gel is a reasonable way to soothe the skin.
Is oatmeal better than an ordinary moisturiser for eczema?
There is no good evidence that it is. The 2017 Cochrane review of moisturisers found no significant difference in eczema severity for oat products against no treatment or vehicle, though moisturisers in general do help. Stop if it stings or the rash worsens.
Does propolis work for cold sores?
In two large trials a 0.5% propolis cream healed cold sores about a day faster than 5% aciclovir cream, but there was no placebo arm, so the true size of the benefit is uncertain. Propolis is a known contact allergen, so stop if the skin gets redder or itchier.
Can witch hazel treat eczema?
Not reliably. In a 72-patient trial distillate cream did no better than the drug-free base, and 0.5% hydrocortisone cream was clearly better. We rate it Traditional for eczema and Limited for minor irritation.
Sources
- Systematic review Huang YN, Chen KC, Wang JH, Lin YK. Effects of Aloe vera on Burn Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Burn Care Res. 2024.
- Cochrane review van Zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Christensen R, Lavrijsen A, Arents BWM. Emollients and moisturisers for eczema. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017.
- Meta-analysis Niode NJ, Christopher PM, Tallei TE. Superiority of propolis and honey over topical acyclovir for herpes simplex: A meta-analysis. Int J STD AIDS. 2026.
- Systematic review Givol O, Kornhaber R, Visentin D, Cleary M, Haik J, Harats M. A systematic review of Calendula officinalis extract for wound healing. Wound Repair Regen. 2019.
- Randomised controlled trial Korting HC, Schäfer-Korting M, Klövekorn W, Klövekorn G, Martin C, Laux P. Comparative efficacy of hamamelis distillate and hydrocortisone cream in atopic eczema. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1995.
- Clinical guidance NHS. Atopic eczema: treatment and things you can do. nhs.uk.
- Clinical guidance NHS. Burns and scalds. nhs.uk (last reviewed 31 March 2026).
- Clinical guidance NHS. Cold sores. nhs.uk.
Draft, awaiting clinical review