Home Remedies for Itchy Skin

Itchy skin can be rather annoying and can also be an indication of serious conditions that should be evaluated and treated by a medical professional.
However, there are many easy ways to get relief for itching skin and to even cure itching skin completely, depending on the underlying cause.

Assuming that your itchy skin isn’t being caused by some very serious conditions (see this link for a list of things that can cause itchy skin), you can get relief by:

• Cleaning the affected portions of your skin with warm water – use soap if available; some recommend herbal soap or antibacterial soap depending upon the cause.

•  Take a bath in “oatmeal water” – such a bath can be created by adding about two cups of oatmeal (colloidal oatmeal is sometimes recommended) into your bathtub and soaking in the mixture. You can also use oatmeal soap to soothe the skin.

• Take a bath in “cornstarch water” – this is just like the “oatmeal water” bath except you substitute the oatmeal with cornstarch.

• Apply ice to the affected area – be careful to avoid direct contact with skin – the idea here is to cool the affected area. One way to do this is to put ice into a plastic bag, seal it and then wrap the bag (with ice) in a towel. Be careful not to leave the ice on too long.

• Aloe vera-based oils, lotions and body scrubs are also excellent ways to relieve itchy skin.

• Some people recommend using vitamin E oil, wheat germ oil, cod liver oil and even tea bags to relieve itchy skin.

• Keep your skin well moisturized. This doesn’t mean frequent bathing as over exposure to water can cause itchy skin. Rather, keep it moisturized by using various lotions available on the market. Having moisturized skin is important because dry skin can also cause itchy skin.

• There are hundreds of over-the-counter products that can be purchased for itchy skin that are also extremely effective.

Note that some of the above substances may not be right for you. You may be allergic to some or all of the above substances, and we therefore recommend that you seek professional medical advice if you are uncertain about the applicability of any of the above information. As always, the information that you find on the internet should not be construed as professional medical advice.