Get Rid of That Itching

Is there a part of your skin that is tingling and prickling and though you want to ignore it you know that scratching it will give you a sense of relief? Everybody, as far as I know, has experienced an itch before. An itch can be bothersome to many. Some itches can be relieved by just one scratch (although scratching is not really a recommended cure), but other itches grows itchier by the minute.

Once you start scratching, the itchy part will want to be scratched some more - until your skin gets scaly, red, swollen and painful due to the scratching. Not a good sight at all! But why do we itch? It can be due to different factors such as poor hygiene practices, stings, skin diseases, allergic reaction to pets or plants or even food, insect bites and so on. Thus, itching is a sensation due to an irritation in the skin that makes one want to scratch the affected region.

You know that one is suffering from an itch when the person has one, two or all these signs: blisters, scaly areas on the surface of the skin, red spots, thick and scarred skin or, at times, scraped skin due to continued scratching, skin redness, and the urge to constantly and continuously scratch the affected area to relieve the itch.

Common Causes of Itchiness

Why do we itch? One is if you have a kind of skin disease that causes your skin to itch like Pityriasis rosea, Urticaria, Seborrheic dermatitis, or Psoriasis. Another reason could be because you are pregnant. During the latter part of pregnancy, your skin stretches especially the lower abdominal part, and this stretching of the skin can be itchy for some.

Another reason could be that a topical medicine is not suited for your skin or your skin is exposed to corrosive chemicals. These can cause an irritating reaction to your skin, making you itch. A change in the weather can also make you itch because your skin dries up. The dryness is caused by dehydration of the skin of the necessary fluids that make it elastic. This is also the reason why old people often feel itchy. Their skin is dryer than younger people.

Hot baths and soaking for long periods of time can also dry up your skin and thus cause itchiness. Pets, plants or food can also make you itch if you are allergic to one of them. Lice on the head, body or pubic region, as well as stings and insect bites, will also make you itch. Chicken pox and other communicable diseases can cause an itch. Also, overexposure to the heat of the sun will give you sunburn and this can cause itchiness.

Effective Home Remedies for Itching

Except for worse cases, itching can be attended to using simple, non-prescription ointments and creams. However, why buy them when you have lots of Home Remedies For Itching? Make use of these simple tips to relieve you of your itching.

Itching remedy - Bathe or sponge yourself using evaporated milk; most of the time a can of milk would be enough. Mix in oatmeal, baking soda and other combinations to the formula for better results. Milk can do wonders to your skin and ease the itching.

Drink yellow dock, chickweed, plantain, goldenseal, or burdock in capsule form. Burdock root oil, however, can be used as a topical medication. Apply it on the irritated region. Furthermore, fresh chickweed poultice can be used as well. You can make this by soaking 2 large handfuls of chickweed in water. Generously massage the poultice to affected part once the grains soften. This is an another effective itching treatment.

Other home remedies for itching are cod liver oil, witch hazel tea, aloe vera, lemon juice, wheat germ oil, or vitamin E oil that can be applied to the affected area.

Natural remedy for itching - Add small quantities of yellow dock or some peppermint to your bath to relieve the itching. If you do not have yellow dock or peppermint, use apple cider vinegar instead. Just add two teaspoons of it to your bath water and you will be relieved.

Pour some cornstarch into your bath water or powder yourself with it. Cornstarch is known to be good home remedy for itching.

Use a pumice stone to scrub the itchy area lightly. Afterwards, rinse the area with soap, sanitize with rubbing alcohol. Then, top it with a generous amount of Vaseline.

Rub a weak solution of carbolic acid or sodium bicarbonate (a.k.a. baking soda) on the irritated area. You can also add baking soda to your cool bath to ease the itchiness due to insect bites, bee stings, and prickly heat as natural remedy for itching.

Cold compress can be used to relieve the itching. This is one of the effective itching treatment.

Home remedy for itching - A dd nettle tea to your regimen. Use one teaspoon of dried leaves per one cup of boiling water. Let the leaves steep for around 15 minutes then take a sip. Drink at least 2 cups per day. Nettle oil, on the other hand, can also be used. Apply it on the affected part. This is one of the effective itching.

It would be best to also look after your diet as well because diet has great impact on our skin. You wouldn’t want to itch all day just because you forgot that you are allergic to shrimps, would you? If you know what is best for you, then stay away from foods that you know will cause you to itch afterwards. Also, add more foods rich in vitamins C and E, as well as beta-carotene and zinc. This is one of the useful itching cure.

Itching remedy - One of the worse parts of itchiness is the urge to scratch the itchy area. Please, avoid rubbing or scratching them because these actions only worsen the irritation on the skin. By rubbing and scratching, you are damaging the surface of your skin. Keep the affected area clean all the time. And, don’t let your nail grow long.

In terms of clothing, do not wear tight clothes especially at night. Avoid wearing rough and thick clothing as it rubs the affected area, making it worse. Have a lukewarm bath then put on some lotion. Lastly, do not stay in hot, humid places because moisture and sweat can make you itch more.