Itchy skin is a common concern among individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, and geography. Even animals feel itchy due to certain conditions.
It is a sign that something bad is happening in a specific area of the skin. It could be due to an underlying condition or outside issues like insect bites, allergens, or wounds. Depending on the cause of the itching, the controlling process changes.
For disease-specific itching, the treatment will be different. For dry skin, the approach to relief is different. So, it is better to address what causes itching on your skin and then take appropriate measures to control it.
What causes itchy skin?
There are plenty of possibilities that might induce itchy skin. Dryness is considered the main culprit in many cases. Now, this condition can also be a result of an underlying skin disease. Dry skin could be due to various skin conditions.
For example, Keratosis Pilaris often causes bumps under eyes, legs, and other body parts and makes the skin dry. Similarly, eczema, dandruff, acne, hives, rash, and many more skin conditions can lead to dryness and itchy skin.
So, it is better to address the underlying disease to get the right treatment. However, if the itching is due to dry skin or common skin concerns, see the below ways to get relief.
How to relieve itchy skin?
1. Avoid high temperature and hot water
Heat and sun are some of the most common culprits behind various skin issues. The same goes for itching. Hot environments cause irritation and itching.
If your skin is itchy and exposed to heat or a hot environment, the itching will increase. Heat causes sweating, which can further increase itching. Tight and dark clothing also traps heat, increasing the urge to scratch.
So, avoid living in hot areas, and choose breathable fabrics. These tips may or may not completely remove itching, but they can help make the skin feel good. Also, avoid direct exposure to sunlight. If it is important to go outside during the day time, use sunscreen.
2. Keep the skin clean
As we mentioned in the previous paragraph, heat increases sweat (which is impure). The sweat, if not cleaned and trapped for a long time, will increase itching and the risk of developing a bacterial infection.
If there are bruises or wounds on the skin, you must do something to clean the skin before it comes in contact with sweat.
The best and recommended way is to take a bath or wash the affected area only. Washing will be easy and remove sweat. If available, use a good shampoo for proper cleaning.
You may engage in physical work, which causes excess sweating. In that case, use a cloth to clean your sweat instead of taking frequent baths.
3. Use moisturizers and creams
For individuals with dry skin, taking excessive baths can be dangerous because bathing dries out the skin.
But you must also keep the skin clean to avoid any issues and further itching. Then what should you do?
Well, an eczema cream is the best option for bumps under eyesand address itching associated with common skin concerns and dry skin. This is also necessary to recover lost moisture due to baths.
- First, clean the skin from sweat and dust and then pat dry.
- Apply the cream where the skin itches and massage gently.
- Use this cream two times a day for better results.
Itching often disturbs during the night. So, we recommend using this cream before going to bed to improve sleep quality.
4. Try some home remedies
Well, home remedies are very helpful and proven for relieving itching. The only thing that stops you from using them is to know about the right remedies.
We recommend using a cold compressor. Apply a cold compressor for 15 minutes on the itchy skin. This will suppress the itching for a while. However, it can temporarily soothe the skin, and it is not the proper way to relieve itching.
For a more effective remedy, try aloe vera gel. Pure gel can be applied directly on the skin. This will significantly help reduce:
- Itching
- Pain
- Inflammation
You can also take oatmeal baths, which is recommended by skin experts. These home and natural remedies can be cost-effective and reliable ways to make your itchy skin feel better.
5. Seek professional treatment
If nothing works for you or the described ways make your condition worse, it could be due to an underlying skin condition.
In this scenario, consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and get the right treatment. If itching is due to specific skin concerns, get the treatment, and itching will go away along with the other symptoms.
Conclusions
We have mentioned possible causes of itching and the right ways to get relief from it. What you have to do is follow these guidelines and avoid triggers like heat, allergens, and sunlight.
Keep the skin clean and use lukewarm water during baths. Resist the urge to scratch to avoid damaging skin. We hope this information helped you a lot.