Home Remedies For Itching Skin

Itching also is known as ‘pruritus’ can be more than a small annoyance. It can cause a lot of discomfort and may even become a distraction Depending on the severity, it can be mildly annoying to intensely aggravating, disrupting daily activities, and sleep.

While scratching gives momentary relief, it can also lead to injuries and infections. Many effective home remedies can give you relief from itchy skin and prevent complications caused by excessive scratching..

What Is An Itch (Pruritus)?

An itch is a sensation that arises from the irritation of the skin or nerve cells. It is medically known as pruritus. This skin condition could be a result of various factors, a few of which are discussed below.

Itching can have varied causes like allergic reactions, insect bites, skin infections, dry weather, soaps and detergents, and even some medications.

Pruritus is accompanied by the following symptoms:

You may experience itching in certain body parts, like your arms or legs, or all over your body. This sensation is accompanied by other noticeable changes like:

1. Redness and spots
2. Bumps or blisters
3. Dry and peeling skin
4. Scaly skin

Itchy skin can occur over a long period and even interfere with your daily activities. Thus, treating it before it turns into a rash and becomes infected is necessary. If you are among those suffering from itchy skin or pruritus, you can try out the following remedies to help solve your problem

Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of itchy skin. Unless otherwise noted, use these remedies as long as needed for your particular condition.

Baking Soda Bath:

Baking soda is one of the best remedies for relieving itches. It exhibits anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing the inflammation and itchiness on your skin the alkaline nature of baking soda also acts as a natural acid neutralizer, which can help soothe your skin

Soaking in a bath of baking soda for 30-60 minutes can make all the difference. 

1. Add one cup of baking soda to a tub of warm water.
2. After the bath, it is important to gently pat your skin dry with a towel (or air-dry). 
3. For more localized itching you can make a paste of 1 part water to 3 parts baking soda.

   Oatmeal Bath:

Oatmeal has soothing effects that can help in relieving itchy skin. These effects are due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

 Mixing oatmeal in water and spreading it on irritated skin can also be cooling and soothing. 

1. Add 2 cups of colloidal oatmeal to a lukewarm bath and soak to soothe itchy skin. 
2. Avoid using very hot water, as it can irritate the skin and cause it to itch more.

Cool Water Bath:

The sensations of both cold and itching travel along the same nerve fibers in the body, so applying cool water on the affected skin can bring instant relief from itchiness. There are many ways to use cool water for itchy skin.

1. Run cool tap water over the affected skin for as long as necessary.
2. Rub an ice cube wrapped in a cloth over the affected area.
3. Take a cool shower or bath.
4. Apply a cold compress or cloth wet with cool water to the affected area.    

Apple Cider Vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar contains certain enzymes that can help restore the pH balance of your skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce the itchy symptoms, while its antimicrobial properties prevent infections

1. Add two cups of apple cider vinegar to your bathwater and soak in it for 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Towel dries your skin.

For relieving localized itchiness, you can dilute a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with half a cup of water and apply it to the affected areas using a cotton ball.    

Lemon:

        

People have used lemon to treat itchy skin for ages. Lemon contains citric and acetic acids, which have great antiseptic, anesthetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-irritating properties.

Extract the juice from one to two fresh lemons.

1. Apply the juice on the affected skin area using a cotton ball.
2. Let it dry on its own and then wash the area with lukewarm water.
3. Repeat twice daily until the condition improves.

Note: This remedy is not suitable for those who have sensitive skin.

Milk and Honey:

Milk and honey is a good mixture that causes itching when it itches due to dryness of the skin.

 Milk has anti-inflammatory properties that often remove the itch from dry skin. Milk is very soothing to inflamed, dry, itchy skin. A milk bath once in a month can also help

Honey helps lock in moisture, has antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, which is why it’s found in so many over-the-counter skincare products.

1. Dip a clean white washcloth into the milk and apply it to the dry itchy skin patch for 5 minutes.
2. Lightly heat 2 teaspoons of honey and apply it to the skin while warm. Leave it on for 15 minutes, and then wash it off.

Juniper Berries and Cloves:

Juniper berries and cloves used together to make an excellent home remedy for itchy skin. Juniper berries have great anti-inflammatory properties and cloves contain a powerful essential oil that helps numb the nerve endings to reduce itching sensations.

1. Melt six tablespoons of unsalted butter in a saucepan.
2. In another saucepan, melt two tablespoons of beeswax.
3. Add the melted butter to the melted beeswax and stir well.
4. Stir in five tablespoons of ground juniper berries and three tablespoons of ground cloves.
5. Allow the mixture to cool.
6. Apply the mixture on the affected skin and leave it on overnight.
7. In the morning, take a cool shower or bath.
8. Do this daily.

Neem:

Neem, also known as Indian lilac, is another a therapeutic herb that can fight itching skin. It is a strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent, which enables it to combat pruritus

1. Put a bunch of neem leaves in steaming hot water.
2. Allow them to steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Once the water turns lukewarm, go ahead and take a bath with it.
4. You can do this every alternate day

Basil:

Basil is a rich source of eugenol, thymol, and camphor, which help reduce the inflammation and itchiness with their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties

1. Place 1/2 ounce dried basil leaves in a 1-pint jar of boiling water.
2. Keep it covered to prevent the escape of the aromatic eugenol from the tea.
3. Allow cooling. Dip a clean cloth into the tea and apply to itchy skin as often as necessary.

Almond oil:

Almond oil keeps your skin well hydrated and also helps in reducing the symptoms of itchy skin. This is because it possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties that can speed the healing of itching and inflamed skin

1. Take some almond oil and apply it all over your body or the itchy areas after a shower.
2. You can do this daily