If you are allergic to something and you get into contact with it, you’ll notice your skin gets red, itchy, and swollen—that’s the wheal and flare reaction! It is a combination of the skin’s reactions that happens when your body comes into contact an allergen. This could be anything that can cause hypersensitivity, an exaggerated reaction of the immune system which treats the allergen as an invader. It’s called the wheal and flare because it causes a raised, red bump (the wheal) and a surrounding area of redness (the flare) on the skin.
The wheal and flare response is not dangerous, but it can be uncomfortable. It can cause severe itching and discomfort, which may result in impaired daily functioning. This is especially annoying if it happens often or in response to something to encounter frequently. Histamine is the culprit behind this condition, and the good news is that it’s easy to reduce the inflammation it causes using natural compounds like tea tree, cinnamon, and lemongrass essential oils!
Battling wheal & flare with essential oils
Let’s imagine the body of an allergic person is a city, the allergen the most wanted villain, and IgE the police force. The allergen really isn’t evil, but the city just doesn’t like it. An allergen enters the city (the body), and it appears to be harmless. However, the IgE senses that it is not harmless—it recognizes a potential threat. In response, IgE gathers its forces of mast cells and basophils, preparing for the battle. As it begins, mast cells and basophils, armed with histamine bombs, release their arsenal. Histamine makes the blood vessels widen, allowing more blood and fluids into the area, causing chaos in the form of swelling, itching, and redness. Luckily, we have heroes to restore the city back to its original state: essential oils.
Tea tree oil is a renowned and versatile fighter. This ally wields its antihistamine properties to counter the overactive response of the IgE police, calming down the misguided immune system and reducing the chaos. This hero also has other abilities, like fighting off microbes, which, let’s say, are criminals always lurking.
Another hero is lemongrass essential oil, a powerful force against inflammation. This hero is highly effective in lessening the swelling and discomfort resulting from the battle. And there’s one more hero: cinnamon essential oil. This hero is a fiery and passionate warrior that brings its own unique strengths to the fight against hypersensitivity. Its strong antibacterial and antifungal actions provide and additional protection, guarding the body against opportunistic infections. Not only that, but cinnamon essential oil’s ability to boost blood circulation, helping hasten the process of resolution.
Use Waters Mist—a Salve with Tea Tree Oil
The wheal and flare response can be bothersome and may affect daily life by causing discomfort. The itching can distract you from things you need to get done at work, school, or even from sleep! A fantastic way to use tea tree, lemongrass, and cinnamon essential oils to soothe your skin is with CANhaveTODAY’s Waters Mist salve. It contains a high concentration of tea tree oil, making it an effective option for reducing the wheal and flare response. Simply apply the salve to the affected area after a successful patch test. It can calm the reaction, providing relief from itching and discomfort!
Read this table to know more about the properties of the main ingredients of Waters Mist.
| Waters Mist | ||||
| Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) | Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) | Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) | ||
| Antibacterial | Mild to Strong [1,2] | Strong [25] | Strong [42] | |
| – Acne | Mild to Moderate [3] | Strong [26] | Strong [42] | |
| – Cellulitis | Mild to Strong [1,2,4] | – | Strong [42] | |
| – Itch | Mild to Strong [1,2,3] | – | Strong [42] | |
| – Skin infections | Mild to Strong [1,2,3] | Mild to Strong [27] | Strong [42] | |
| Anti-inflammatory | Strong [5] | Strong [28] | Moderate to Strong [43] | |
| – Acne | Mild to Moderate [3] | Strong [26] | Strong [42] | |
| – Swelling | Strong [5] | Strong [28] | Strong [44] | |
| Antifungal | Strong [5,6] | Mild to Strong [29] | Moderate to Strong [45] | |
| – Athlete’s foot (Foot itch) | Strong [7,8] | Strong [29] | Moderate to Strong [46] | |
| – Itch | Strong [9,10] | – | Moderate to Strong [42] | |
| Antimicrobial | Mild to Strong [1,2] | Strong [30,25,31] | Strong [42] | |
| Antioxidant (fights skin damage and aging) | Strong [11,2] | Strong [32,33,25] | Moderate to Strong [47] | |
| Antiparasitic | Strong [12,13] | Mild to Moderate [34] | Strong [48] | |
| Antispasmodic (relieves muscle spasms) | Strong [14] | Mild to Moderate [35] | – | |
| Insecticidal (Kills insects) | Strong [15] | Strong [36] | Strong [49] | |
| Moisturizing (for dry and/or cracked skin) | Moderate to Strong [16] | – | Moderate to Strong [50] | |
| Reduces bruising | Moderate to Strong [17] | Strong | Strong [51] | |
| Reduces cellulite | Strong [18] | – | – | |
| nReduces hyperpigmentation | Moderate to Strong [19] | Mild to Moderate [37] | Strong [52] | |
| Reduces or relieves pain | Strong [20] | Strong [28,38] | – | |
| Repels Insects | Strong [21,22,23] | Moderate to Strong [39,40] | Strong [49] | |
| Treats cramps | – | – | – | |
| Wound Healing | Strong [24] | Strong [41] | Moderate to Strong [53] | |
FAQ
A wheal is a raised, round or oval-shaped itchy area of skin that typically appears as part of an allergic reaction. It often comes with a flare, a redness that surrounds a wheal that is caused by the widening of blood vessels under the skin.
Wheal and flare reactions are usually caused by the release of histamines as part of an allergic reaction. This can result from exposure to allergens such as pollen and certain foods.
Wheal and flare reactions, common in conditions like hives or allergy tests, often get better on their own without treatment. However, you can manage its symptoms with the use of antihistamines or topical anti-inflammatory products.
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