INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Since the area will be sensitive and could be sweaty, it's important to wash the area with a mild, unscented soap. Wash and rinse using warm or cool water, making sure to completely rinse off the soap. Extra residual soap could irritate your skin even more. Consider using a plant-based oil soap. Look for a soap made from a vegetable oil (like olive, palm, or soy), vegetable glycerin, or plant butters (like coconut or shea). Be sure to bathe immediately after sweating a lot. This prevents moisture from becoming trapped in the rash area. Once your skin is clean and dried, you can lightly apply a powder to prevent moisture from accumulating between your skin. Choose an unscented baby powder, but check to see if it contains talcum powder (which you should only use in small amounts). If the baby powder you use contains talcum powder, use it sparingly. Some studies have linked talc to an increased risk of ovarian cancer in women. Avoid applying cornstarch since bacteria and fungi can actually feed off of it, causing skin infection. Keep your legs moisturized so they don't chafe against each other. Use a natural lubricant like almond oil, castor oil, lanolin, or calendula oil. Make sure your skin is clean and dry before you apply the lubricant. Consider placing clean gauze over the rash to protect the skin. Apply lubricant at least twice a day or more often if you notice the rash is still rubbing on your clothing or skin. While lubricating your skin is important, you can also apply herbal essential oils that have healing properties. You can also add medicinal honey for its antibacterial and antifungal properties. To use the herbs, add 1 to 2 drops of any of the following oils to 4 tablespoons of your lubricant: Calendula oil: the oil from this flower can heal skin wounds and acts as an anti-inflammatory. St John's wort: is usually used to treat depression and anxiety, but it is traditionally used to heal skin irritation. Children or women who are pregnant or nursing shouldn't use St John's wort. Arnica oil: More studies are needed to understand the healing properties of this herbal oil that's made from flowerheads. Children or women who are pregnant or nursing shouldn't use arnica oil. Yarrow oil: this essential oil from the yarrow plant has anti-inflammatory properties and supports healing. Neem oil: has anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. It's also been used with success in children with burns. Since your skin is already sensitive, you should determine if the herbal oil mixture will cause an allergic reaction. Dip a cotton ball in your mixture and dab a small amount on the inside of your elbow. Place a bandage over it and wait 10 to 15 minutes. If you don't notice a reaction (like a rash, stinging, or itching), you can safely use the mixture throughout the day. Try to apply it at least 3 or 4 times to ensure that the rash is always being treated. These herbal mixtures should not be used in children under 5 years old. Pour 1 to 2 cups of rolled, steel cut oats into a nylon knee-high stocking. Knot the stocking so that no oats can spill out and tie it to the bathtub's tap. Run lukewarm water so that the water runs through the oats as it fills the tub. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes and pat your skin dry. Do this once a day. A soothing bath is especially helpful if the area of chafing is large.

SUMMARY: Clean the rash area. Apply a drying powder. Lubricate your skin. Add an essential oil to lubricant. Test the mixture on your skin. Take an oat bath.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Corticosteroids are drugs that reduce inflammation. They can also decrease joint pain, inflammation from rashes and headaches. Low doses of oral or topical corticosteroids are often offered as a means of managing lupus cases that do not involve major organ systems. Your physician can prescribe the right corticosteroid and dosage to treat your case of lupus. Ask your physician about potential side effects of the corticosteroid that he or she recommends, and how to manage them. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium can help with the pain felt during lupus flares. However, lupus patients are more susceptible to complications caused by taking NSAIDs (including hypertension and renal dysfunction), so discuss this method of treatment with your physician before beginning it. For serious lupus flares, immunosuppressants can be used. In lupus, it has been established that the body's own immune system attacks the body's cells. Immunosuppressant medications can decrease this immune response of the body, lessening its effects. In some cases of lupus, antimalarial drugs can be used to treat joint pain, rashes, fatigue, and other symptoms of flares. Your physician can determine if anti-malarial medications such as hydroxychloroquine sulfate and chloroquine phosphate may provide you some relief. He or she can also discuss potential side effects, which include: Digestive problems such as stomach, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea Headache and/or dizziness Blurred vision Trouble sleeping Itchiness

SUMMARY: Take corticosteroids. Use NSAIDs. Try immunosuppressants. Take anti-malarial drugs.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The largest study of herbal remedies showed that Indian chrysanthemum cream, also called chrysanthemum indicum, was effective in treating moderate rosacea. While not entirely an herbal treatment, another study showed that milk thistle mixed with a type of sulfur (methylsulfonylmethane) was also an effective rosacea remedy. Niacinamide, a type of vitamin B, helps the skin heal itself. It's been shown to reduce the redness and inflammation associated with rosacea outbreaks. This study was much smaller, but it did demonstrate that green tea cream could also alleviate rosacea symptoms. However, it's best to wait for a larger study to confirm these findings. Licorice root is currently the only oral herbal treatment that's shown success for treating rosacea systemically. Follow all of the dosing instructions to avoid an upset stomach.

SUMMARY:
Apply a cream derived from Indian chrysanthemum to your face. Use milk thistle combined with sulfur extract. Reduce inflammation with a topical niacinamide cream. Try a cream derived from green tea. Swallow licorice root extract for a systemic rosacea treatment.