Conditions such as allergies, irritation, skin diseases and internal diseases can cause severely itchy skin. However, itchiness is most often associated with dryness, particularly if the itch covers your whole body or a large area of skin, according to Health Services at Columbia University. You may not need to see a doctor about your itchy skin if you follow some simple skin care techniques from home. However, some signs and symptoms may point to conditions that require medical treatment.
Home Care
Use a series of skin care steps to ensure that your skin is as moisturized as possible. Only take one bath or shower per day and cut it off at 10 minutes, recommends the University of Iowa Health Care. Turn down the heat in the shower, use limited amounts of soap or a gentle cleanser and only pat your skin dry rather than rubbing it to reduce the amount of natural oils that get stripped from your skin. Investing in a home humidifier should also help prevent skin dryness by keeping your environment moist. If the itching persists, sprinkle about one cup of dry, ground oatmeal into a tub of cool water and soak in it.
Moisturizers
Apply a moisturizer at least three times per day, especially after you dab your skin dry from shower water, to seal moisture into your skin. Body moisturizers -- in order of most moisturizing to least moisturizing -- include ointments, oils, creams and lotions, according to the University of Iowa Health Care. The greasier a moisturizer feels, the more effective it should be in keeping your skin moisturized.
Specialized Creams
Your doctor or dermatologist may recommend that you use a nonprescription cream with urea and lactic acid or lactic acid by itself if your itchy skin is extremely dry and scaly, according to the Mayo Clinic. He may also recommend using a steroid cream or ointment if your itchy skin is red and inflamed. An over-the-counter version such as 1-percent hydrocortisone cream may do the trick if you apply it for about 5 to 15 days.
Prescription Treatments
Your doctor may prescribe a stronger corticosteroid cream or an immunomodulator if your skin is still severely itchy, red and inflamed after you try over-the-counter creams, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. If your skin develops cracks, she may also prescribe wet dressings with medicated cream to reduce your risk of infection. Other possible prescribed treatments may include oral antihistamines to reduce allergies, medications to treat an underlying health problem such as kidney or liver disease and light therapy to cut down the itch.
Warning
Many over-the-counter anti-itch and anti-inflammatory creams contain chemicals that may irritate or cause an allergic reaction in skin that is dry, warns the University of Iowa Health Care. Stop using a product if it causes you to you feel burning or more itching than you had before. Anti-itch creams that contain pramoxine or menthol and camphor tend to help reduce itching without causing extra problems.
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