If your skin itches and you just can't stop scratching, there may be no need to go to the drugstore or grocery store. In some cases, itchy skin, known medically as pruritus, can be caused by a severe underlying condition, and requires a doctor's care. If it's okay with your doctor, however, you can use free home remedies to reduce discomfort and keep from scratching while your skin is healing.
Cool Bath
Taking a cool or lukewarm bath may help cool down the skin, hydrate it and make itchiness more bearable, says Hillard H. Pearlstein, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. To hydrate your skin and keep itching at bay, soak for 15 minutes in a tub of lukewarm or cool water, but don't add any bubble bath or bath salts. Bath products can dry out the skin and make itching worse.
Wet Dressing
Place a wet dressing over the itchiest areas of the skin to help soothe it, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Rinse a clean washcloth in cold water, then wring it out and apply it to the itchy skin. Leave the dressing on as long as necessary, rinsing the washcloth periodically to keep it cold. A wet dressing will help the skin absorb water and draw the heat out of the skin, soothing itchiness.
Use Less Soap
Showering daily with soap will dry out the skin, making it even more itchy and irritated. When skin is itchy and uncomfortable, shower only a few times a week at the most and use soap only when necessary. Showering infrequently and without soap will help the skin maintain its natural oils and keep moisture in the skin, which prevents itching, says Dr. Pearlstein. When you must use soap, use a soap without harsh fragrances or detergents to prevent irritation.
Wear Cotton
Polyester and other itchy, synthetic fibers may cause irritation on the skin that makes itching worse. To soothe your skin and prevent itchiness, wear loose clothing that is made of soft cotton. Eliminate any tight-fitting clothing from your wardrobe until skin itchiness subsides. Even if the tight clothing is not causing the itchiness, it may make itchiness worse by rubbing against the skin as you move. Wash clothing in unscented detergent, when possible, to help prevent further irritation, suggests the Mayo Clinic.
