Olive oil for rainscald?

[sonjafoers]

Hi, I've posted recently re problems with rainscald & I seem to finally have cleared it up. However I am now left with a horse with pink bald patches on her and the threat of rain yet again.

I left her in this morning as it's too warm for a rain sheet ( don't want her to sweat under it & start it all off again ) but my YO has told me that an old school remedy is to put olive oil on the patches before turning her out. Not only does it help the hair to grow back but it acts as a waterproof barrier if it does rain, and it is good for the new skin.

Has anyone tried this or heard of it before?

 

[VioletStripe]

No idea but will be very interested to know, so *bump* xx

 

[Tickles]

Not sure abut it for horses but it is one of the few things that helps my OH's sensitive hands when they're cracked/blistered from too much hard, wet work or heat rash. We use pure olive oil soap too. So far, so good. Hope it helps your horse too!

 

[Simsar]

Cornucresine (SP) is the best remedy I think. The hair will grow back.

 

[GeorgieLee]

we have always used baby oil, we have rescued horses with really bad rain scald and it works perfectly they didnt even loose their hair, im using it at the moment because both my babies necks are covered from the rain, hope this helps

 

[huntley]

We used to put lard on the horses before they went out for the winter and it seems to work - cheaper than olive oil!

 

[Simsar]

Lard good idea, I think anything oil based will work.

 

[sonjafoers]

Ok thanks everybody, I will try it as it sounds like anything oily will do the trick. I've worked really hard to clear the scabs so just don't want them back again

 

[Dolcé]

Sounds like it may work BUT please be careful if it is sunny. A couple of ours have burned this week on pink muzzles, totally unexpected as it didn't seem to have been sunny or hot enough, if you are putting oil on pink patches then it may be something to think about.

 

[hayinamanger]

I would use Sudocrem, it will waterproof the skin and also has a high zinc oxide content which will prevent sunburn.

 

[Tickles]

Very good point hch4971! Perhaps try a baby-friendly waterproof sunscreen as they should be good for sensitive skin but still quite oily?

 

[Cobbysmum]

witch hazel is good for promoting hair growth, we used to use it on the hunters who had girth galls

 

[Honey08]

In winter I would use either olive oil or baby oil for both rain scald and mud rash, however if there is any chance of even moderately warm sun inbetween rain showers, like this weekend, I would avoid both as they will fry the skin and cause just as much damage due to sunburn - especially on pink skin... I would use a high factor waterproof sunscreen - a sport one or one for toddlers during the summer...

 

[sonjafoers]

I would use a high factor waterproof sunscreen - a sport one or one for toddlers during the summer...

That's a great idea, thank you. Should solve both problems in one go!

 

[BubbleDog]

Rosemary oil is good for promoting hair growth as well.