Your skin can feel itchy for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, there are several ways to help calm the itch, including using over-the-counter products for itch relief.
What Causes Itchy Skin?
Your skin may feel itchy for various reasons, including dryness or allergies. Some systemic conditions will also involve pruritus or the feeling of itchy skin and the need to scratch. Sometimes, the itching might be caused by contact with a toxic plant, bug bites, or a bacterial or fungal infection.
In general, the itching is usually tied to inflammation which, ironically, is made worse when you scratch. Yes, scratching an itch might feel good for a few moments, but then the itch will quickly return with greater intensity.
What Creams Stop Itching Fast
You can find several creams that can stop the itch quickly. First, if you have dry skin, consider applying a moisturizing body lotion to see if that will bring relief. If you’re dealing with an insect bite or an area of skin that’s obviously inflamed, cold packs can help reduce the sensation. If the lotion and cold packs aren’t helping, consider one of the following:
- Calamine Lotion: Calamine lotion is an old but good remedy for itchy skin. Calamine is a combination of zinc oxide and ferrous oxide. Together, these two compounds are great at quickly reducing the itch and drying out blisters. You would generally use calamine lotion on insect bites and rashes from poison ivy or other plants that can trigger dermatitis or skin inflammation.
- Cortisone Creams: One of the fastest ways to stop itching is with cortisone creams. Cortisone is a corticosteroid medication, and while it is excellent at reducing itching, you should use it with caution. You may find some cortisone creams over the counter, but you may also be able to get a prescription for a stronger cortisone cream from your doctor.
- Menthol: Like an ice pack, menthol provides itch relief by cooling the itchy area and calming the associated inflammation. Plus, the cool sensation will distract you from the itch. You can find menthol in certain anti-itch creams and sprays.
- Diphenhydramine: Diphenhydramine is basically Benadryl that you can use on your skin. Many popular itch creams, gels, and sprays have diphenhydramine as an active ingredient because it works to stop inflammation by blocking histamine receptors to temporarily calm an allergic reaction. Because bug bites also have an inflammatory component, you can use diphenhydramine to help alleviate the itch on those as well.
When to See a Doctor
In many cases, itchy skin will resolve on its own over several days. If you have itchy skin that is not improving over a couple of days or have a new area of itchiness but do not know the cause, you should see your doctor. You should also see a doctor if the itchy area is swollen, red, leaking discharge, or is part of an old wound.
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