Can You Clean Cuts with Witch Hazel?

In your medicine cabinet, next to the hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol, you may have a bottle of witch hazel. Thanks to its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties, it has a number of holistic health and beauty uses—everything from soothing itchy mosquito bites to cleaning minor cuts and scrapes.

Does witch hazel help heal wounds?

Witch hazel can also be used topically to decrease inflammation and to stop bleeding. Native Americans used poultices of witch hazel leaves and bark to treat wounds, insect bites, and ulcers. Horsetail can be used both internally and topically to decrease inflammation and promote wound healing.

Can witch hazel be used on broken skin?

Some research suggests that applying witch hazel topically to sensitive skin may be beneficial in the treatment of inflamed, irritated or broken skin. In fact, witch hazel has been shown to suppress erythema — a reddening of the skin caused by injury or irritation — by up to 27% ( 7 ).