Itchy skin is an uncomfortable, irritating
sensation that makes you want to scratch. Also known as pruritus, itchy skin
may be the result of a rash or another condition, such as psoriasis or
dermatitis. Or itchy skin may be a symptom of a disease, such as liver disease
or kidney failure.
Depending on the cause of your itchy skin, it
may appear normal. Or it may be red or rough or have bumps or blisters.
Long-term relief requires identifying and
treating the cause of itchy skin. Itchy skin treatments include medications,
wet dressings and light therapy. Self-care measures, including using anti-itch
products and taking cool baths, also can help.
Symptoms
You may have itchy skin over certain small
areas, such as on an arm or leg, or your whole body may itch. Itchy skin can
occur without any other noticeable changes on the skin. Or it may be associated
with:
- Redness
- Bumps, spots or blisters
- Dry, cracked skin
- Leathery or scaly texture to the skin
Sometimes itchiness lasts a long time and can
be intense. As you rub or scratch the area, it gets itchier. And the more it
itches, the more you scratch. Breaking this itch-scratch cycle can be
difficult, but continued scratching can damage your skin or cause infection.
Causes of
itchy skin
- Dry skin. If you don't see a crop of bright,
red bumps or some other dramatic change in the itchy area, dry skin
(xerosis) is a likely cause. Dry skin usually results from environmental
factors such as hot or cold weather with low humidity, long-term use of
air conditioning or central heating, and washing or bathing too much.
- Skin conditions and rashes. Many skin conditions itch,
including eczema (dermatitis), psoriasis, scabies, lice, chickenpox and
hives. The itching usually affects specific areas and is accompanied by
other signs, such as red, irritated skin or bumps and blisters.
- Internal diseases. These include liver disease,
malabsorption of wheat (celiac disease), kidney failure, iron deficiency
anemia, thyroid problems and cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma. The
itching usually affects the whole body. The skin may look otherwise normal
except for the repeatedly scratched areas.
- Nerve disorders. Conditions that affect the nervous
system — such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus, pinched nerves and
shingles (herpes zoster) — can cause itching.
- Irritation and allergic reactions. Wool, chemicals, soaps and other
substances can irritate the skin and cause itching. Sometimes the
substance, such as poison ivy or cosmetics, causes an allergic reaction.
Food allergies also may cause skin to itch.
- Drugs. Reactions to drugs, such as antibiotics, antifungal drugs or
narcotic pain medications, can cause widespread rashes and itching.
- Pregnancy. During pregnancy, some women
experience itchy skin, especially on the abdomen, thighs, breasts and
arms. Also, itchy skin conditions, such as dermatitis, can worsen during
pregnancy.
Remedies
for Itchy Skin
1. Baking
Soda
Baking soda
is the most common home remedy for itchy skin as well as skin rashes. Baking
soda has a soothing effect due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Plus,
it acts as a natural acid neutralizer that helps relieve itching.
- Add one cup of baking soda to a
bathtub filled with cool water. Stir it well to distribute the baking soda
thoroughly. Soak in this water for about half an hour. Pat yourself dry
instead of rubbing the skin with a towel. Do this once daily.
- For more localized itching, prepare a
paste by mixing three tablespoons of baking soda with one tablespoon of
water. Apply the paste on the affected areas and leave it on for about 10
minutes. Do this once daily.
Note: Never
use baking soda on broken skin or open wounds.
2.
Colloidal Oatmeal
Colloidal
oatmeal (oats ground into an extremely fine powder) helps soothe and comfort
itchy skin. It contains anti-irritating, anti-inflammatory and soothing
properties that provide instant relief from itching.
- Add one to two cups of colloidal
oatmeal to a bathtub filled with lukewarm water. Soak in this water for at
least 15 to 20 minutes. Never use hot water as it may irritate your skin
more. You can take an oatmeal bath up to three times a day, depending on
the severity of your condition.
- Add a little water to one cup of
colloidal oatmeal and leave it until it thickens to a paste-like
consistency. Apply this mixture on the itchy skin, cover it with a cloth
and leave it on for half an hour. Follow this remedy once daily.
If colloidal
oatmeal is not available, you can use unprocessed oat flour or whole oats that
have been ground in a food processor.
3. Cool
Water
The
sensations of both cold and itching travel along the same nerve fibers in the
body, so applying cool water on the affected skin can bring instant relief
from itchiness. There are many ways to use cool water for itchy skin.
- Run cool tap water over the affected
skin for as long as necessary.
- Rub an ice cube wrapped in a cloth
over the affected area.
- Take a cool shower or bath.
- Apply a cold compress or cloth wet
with cool water to the affected area.
4. Lemon
People have
used lemon to treat itchy skin for ages. Lemon contains citric and acetic
acids, which have great antiseptic, anesthetic, anti-inflammatory and
anti-irritating properties.
- Extract the juice from one to two
fresh lemons.
- Apply the juice on the affected skin
area using a cotton ball.
- Let it dry on its own and then wash
the area with lukewarm water.
- Repeat twice daily until the condition
improves.
Note: This
remedy is not suitable for those who have sensitive skin.
5. Apple
Cider Vinegar
Apple cider
vinegar has antiseptic, anti-itching, antifungal and antibacterial properties
that help get rid of itching.
- Add two to three cups of apple cider
vinegar to lukewarm bath water. Soak in this water for 15 to 30 minutes.
Then pat dry your skin and apply a light moisturizer. Do this daily.
- To treat more localized itching, apply
apple cider vinegar on the affected areas using a cotton ball. Leave it on
for half an hour and then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Do this once
or twice daily for a few days.
6.
Juniper Berries and Cloves
Juniper
berries and cloves used together make an excellent home remedy for itchy skin.
Juniper berries have great anti-inflammatory properties, and cloves contain a
powerful essential oil that helps numb the nerve endings to reduce itching
sensations.
- Melt six tablespoons of unsalted
butter in a saucepan.
- In another saucepan, melt two
tablespoons of beeswax.
- Add the melted butter to the melted
beeswax and stir well.
- Stir in five tablespoons of ground
juniper berries and three tablespoons of ground cloves.
- Allow the mixture to cool.
- Apply the mixture on affected skin and
leave it on overnight.
- In the morning, take a cool shower or
bath.
- Do this daily.
7. Aloe
Vera
Aloe vera
contains excellent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Plus, it contains vitamin E that helps keep the skin moisturized and
in turn reduces itching.
- Extract the gel from one aloe vera
leaf. Apply the gel on the affected area. Leave it on for 15 minutes and
then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Follow this simple remedy once
daily.
- Alternatively, make a paste by adding
one tablespoon of aloe vera gel to two tablespoons of green clay. Apply
the paste on the affected area and allow it to dry on its own. Rinse it
off with lukewarm water. Do this once daily.
REMEMBER
See your
doctor or a skin disease specialist (dermatologist) if the itching:
- Lasts more than two weeks and doesn't
improve with self-care measures
- Is severe and distracts you from your
daily routines or prevents you from sleeping
- Can't be easily explained
- Affects your whole body
- Is accompanied by other symptoms, such as extreme tiredness, weight loss, changes in bowel habits or urinary frequency, fever, or redness of the skin.