15 Uses for Witch Hazel Extract

Witch hazel is a plant that’s been used for centuries for its medicinal and cosmetic properties. This unassuming shrub, with its delicate yellow flowers that bloom in the fall, has a long history of traditional uses in Native American and folk medicine.

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While witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) may not be as well-known today as some other natural remedies, it’s is a primary ingredient in many skin care products and cosmetics because it has cleansing, hypoallergenic and soothing effects. It’s also a vasoconstrictor, which means it helps reduce swelling. It’s most often sold with the aromatic oil distilled in alcohol.

Who Should Use Witch Hazel?

What it’s mostly known for is doing an excellent job at removing excess sebum without stripping all the natural oil from your skin. It contains tannins, which are astringent but also anti-inflammatory.

This ingredient can help to heal wounds. It prevents infection by fighting bacteria. It also reduces inflammation to speed healing.

But that said, it can dry skin out, and you may need to avoid using too much. If it’s in your toner, for example, you might want to make sure it’s not in any other product you use daily.

This becomes even more true if you buy a plain bottle of it, because it will also contain isopropyl alcohol – possibly a lot. And that ingredient is very drying to skin, which is why most people only use it to clean cuts and scrapes.

In fact, some experts recommend using it only on acne prone oily skin. On this type of skin, it gently dries acne while easing the inflammation around spots.

If you have dry or sensitive skin, you might not want to use it at all. At least not all over your face. But you might try using it on acne spots if you get them despite having dry skin.

In fact witch hazel comes in some acne spot treatment creams. It’s not a bad idea to keep several witch hazel products in your medicine cabinet.

How to Use Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is widely available in pharmacies, health food stores, and online retailers in many forms.

• Witch hazel water or toner: This is the most common and versatile form of witch hazel, made by distilling the leaves and bark of the plant. It can be used as a facial toner, spot treatment, or applied to the skin with cotton pads.
• Witch hazel extract: This concentrated form of witch hazel is often used in skincare products and natural remedies. It can be diluted with water or used as a more potent treatment.
• Witch hazel wipes or pads: These pre-moistened pads are convenient for on-the-go use, such as treating hemorrhoids or soothing skin irritations.
• Witch hazel ointments or creams: Witch hazel is sometimes combined with other soothing ingredients like aloe vera in topical ointments or creams.

Uses for Witch Hazel

There are a lot of other uses people make of witch hazel – all of these are uses either I have tried or people I know have tried. Feel free to share your uses for it in the comments!

1. Acne

Some people use witch hazel to treat acne prone oily skin. The idea is that it can shrink pores, prevent infection and reduce inflammation. all of which can help with acne.

You’ll find it in some acne treatments, such as St. Ives Blackhead Clearing Scrub. It can also work well as a spot treatment, like Thayer’s Blemish Stick.

While there are only limited studies suggesting it works, it’s a safe ingredient that seems to get good results for many.

2. Soothe or prevent razor burn

Witch hazel’s anti-inflammatory properties stop itchy bumps from sprouting up around irritated hair follicles. You can’t beat Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Toner for this use. The alcohol-free formula won’t sting your just-shaved skin. And it includes aloe, which is so soothing to upset skin.

You can apply it with a cotton ball or round.

3. Toner

It also makes a good toner, especially if you choose the right formula. If you have sensitive skin, go for the Thayers toner with aloe to sooth and no alcohol to irritate.

If your skin is very oily and you want something more astringent, try Dickinsons Pore Perfecting Primer. It has grain alcohol instead of isopropyl, so it’s a little more drying than Thayers, but not harsh.

4. External hemorrhoids

Combine witch hazel with aloe, glycerine and/or petroleum jelly and rub it on external hemorrhoids. It reduces itching significantly and helps dry up any bleeding. If you don’t want to make your own, you can buy a hemorrhoid salve with witch hazel.

Expect the effects to be temporary, but some people report their “˜rhoids improving over time and going away.

5. Put it on cuts and abrasions

It’s nature’s answer to Neosporin: it cleanses the cut, protects against infection, and encourages quicker healing of minor skin breaks. Use it on small cuts and abrasions, not large or deep wounds.

6. Cold sores

There are studies suggesting it has virus inhibiting properties, which can make it effective when applied to a cold sore. The easiest way to do this is to grab a blemish stick or acne spot treatment and apply it to the sore two or three times per day.

7. Soothe a sunburn

Sunburns are a type of inflammation even though they don’t look swollen. Witch hazel can reduce the swelling and speed your skin’s healing.

8. Heal bruises faster, prevent stretch marks

Believe it or not, some people claim putting witch hazel on a bruise helps it heal faster. It’s also said to prevent stretch marks, although there isn’t any solid proof.

The idea is that the tannins in the witch hazel help to tighten stretched skin and restore blood vessel tone, which should in theory help with both bruises and stretch marks.

9. Poison ivy, oak and insect bites

Got a terrible itch from a bug bite or plant? Witch hazel reduces the itching and inflammation in your skin. It may not give you complete relief, but you can safely combine it with cortizone cream or any other remedies that help.

10. Shrink bags under (or around) your eyes

Witch hazel is found in many under-eye products. Why pay for those when you can just use it straight up under your moisturizer and/or aloe (another common ingredient in under-eye cosmetics)?

Simply soak a cotton pad or cloth in witch hazel and apply it to the eye area (not the actual eye!) for 5-10 minutes. Do NOT place it directly on your eye opening. Just on your lids or under your eye, and make sure it doesn’t get into your eye.

11. Soothe a sore throat

Some people boil witch hazel with water and gargle the mixture. There are no studies to show this works, but the idea is that the anti-inflammatory properties in the witch hazel would soothe any swelling.

Be careful not to swallow it, however. With the amount of tannins in witch hazel, it would likely upset your stomach.

12. Reduce scalp sensitivity

You can apply witch hazel to your scalp before washing your hair. This may reduce tenderness and itch, according to at least one study. If you have an inflammatory skin condition, it may also help with that.

Surprisingly, some people believe it also reduces dandruff and dry scalp. There have not been enough studies to prove it’s good for this use, but you might want to try it.

13. Treating Hemorrhoids

This is one of its most long-standing traditional uses is for treating hemorrhoids. Its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties of make it effective for shrinking swollen blood vessels and providing relief from the pain and itching associated with hemorrhoids.

Witch hazel pads or wipes can be applied directly to the affected area to soothe symptoms. Some people also find relief by soaking in a warm bath infused with witch hazel. Using witch hazel regularly can help to prevent hemorrhoids from worsening and speed up the healing process.

14. On Varicose Veins and Spider Veins

Applying witch hazel directly to varicose veins and spider veins can help to temporarily tighten and shrink the swollen, visible veins, providing a cosmetic improvement. While witch hazel won’t permanently eliminate varicose or spider veins, regular use can help to alleviate symptoms like swelling, itching, and discoloration.

Many people find that using witch hazel in combination with other natural remedies like horse chestnut or butcher’s broom can provide more significant and lasting results.

15. Treating Diaper Rash in Babies

The astringent tannins in witch hazel can help to dry out and heal irritated, inflamed skin, while its anti-inflammatory effects can provide relief from discomfort. Some parents find that applying a thin layer of witch hazel-based ointment or toner to the affected area during diaper changes can help to clear up diaper rash quickly.