Itchy Skin - Topical Remedies
Published by Campbell M Gold in Alternative · Friday 12 Jul 2024 · 6:30
Tags: Itchy, skin, pruritus, alternative, remedies, topical, treatments, dry, skin, allergies, insect, bites, eczema
Tags: Itchy, skin, pruritus, alternative, remedies, topical, treatments, dry, skin, allergies, insect, bites, eczema
Itchy Skin - Alternative Topical Remedies
Itchy skin, or pruritus, is a common condition characterised by a bothersome sensation that prompts the urge to scratch the skin. It can be caused by various factors such as dry skin, allergies, insect bites, and skin conditions like eczema. If you are dealing with itchy skin, you can try alternative topical remedies to help ease your discomfort.
These may include natural ingredients such as aloe vera, colloidal oatmeal, calendula, chamomile, or essential oils like lavender or tea tree oil.
Always do a patch test before using any new topical remedy to ensure you are not allergic to any ingredients.
Approach
First, it's essential to thoroughly assess and identify the potential root cause of your itchy skin condition. Consider factors such as changes in your diet, newly introduced medications, any recent activities or habits, places you have visited, and any other significant changes or differences that have coincided with the onset of the itchy skin.
Common Causes of itchy skin (pruritus):
- Skin Conditions: These include dry skin (xerosis), eczema (dermatitis), psoriasis, scabies, parasites, burns, scars, insect bites, and hives.
- Irritation and Allergic Reaction: Toxins, food, wool, fabrics, pets, animals, dust, mites, chemicals, soaps, and other substances can irritate the skin and cause rashes and itching. Sometimes, a common item, such as plants or cosmetics, causes an allergic reaction.
- Medication Reaction: Prescription drugs can cause itchy skin.
- Internal pathology: Itching on the whole body might be a symptom of an underlying illness, such as certain cancers, liver disease, kidney disease, anaemia, diabetes, thyroid problems, multiple myeloma, or lymphoma.
- Nerve Disorder: Examples include multiple sclerosis, pinched nerves, and shingles (herpes zoster).
- Psychiatric Conditions: Examples include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression.
- Stress.
Sometimes, the specific cause of the itching can't be determined.
Remedies
Natural topical remedies for itchy skin include:
Aloe Vera: This can help moisturise and relieve pain and itching. Refrigerate and apply cold to the affected areas.
Antihistamine: Histamines are chemicals in the body that cause allergy symptoms, including itching. An over-the-counter antihistamine is a standard treatment for allergic reactions. However, antihistamine products can cause drowsiness, so they are best taken before bed.
Apple Cider Vinegar: This contains acetic acid, a natural skin/wound disinfectant and antiseptic.
- Dilute the Apple Cider Vinegar in water in a 1-to-1 ratio.
- Apply the solution to the skin and let it dry before rinsing gently with lukewarm water.
Baking soda: This has anti-fungal properties and is an effective treatment for various fungal skin conditions, many of which can cause itching.
- Baking Soda Bath: Add 1/4 cup of baking soda to a warm bath.
- Baking Soda Paste: Mix baking soda with water to form a paste, then apply it directly to itchy areas.
Coconut Oil: This is a good skin moisturiser and itch reliever. It is high in saturated fats and has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Coconut oil is popular as it is readily available at supermarkets, health stores, and pharmacies.
Colloidal Oatmeal: Finely ground oatmeal can be dissolved in water. The resulting solution forms a protective barrier on the skin's surface, helping seal moisture.
Thus, colloidal oatmeal can help relieve dryness and itching. It can also be applied as a wet wrap. Colloidal oatmeal has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce skin irritation.
Colloidal oatmeal is available in creams and lotions. However, the finely ground powder can be directly added to bath water for a good soak. Cooling—To relieve itchy skin, apply a cold, wet cloth or ice pack to the affected area for 5-10 minutes.
Epsom Salts (or Dead Sea salts): Soaking in Epsom salts or magnesium and mineral-rich Dead Sea salts can help relieve itching and scaling.
Essential Oils
The following aromatherapy oils can used to help with itchy skin conditions:
- Basil: This has chemical compounds that can relieve itchy skin. Blend with a carrier oil and apply to the affected areas.
- Chamomile: This can be used topically, with a carrier oil, to reduce itching caused by eczema, psoriasis, haemorrhoids, and other conditions.
- Lavender: This has anti-fungal properties that are effective for conditions such as itching skin, athlete’s foot, and ringworm. It can also diminish the stinging and itching of insect bites. Apply lavender essential oil and carrier oil directly on the affected areas to dampen the skin immediately after a shower or bath.
- Menthol and Peppermint: These are essential oils found in the mint family plants, which have a cooling effect and can help relieve pain and itching.
- Rose Geranium: This has anti-fungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It can alleviate itching caused by eczema and dry skin. Rose geranium can be used with a carrier oil or mixed with other essential oils, such as lavender or chamomile.
- Tea Tree: This has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to alleviate itchy conditions.
Carrier Oil Usage
When using essential oils to massage the skin, they must be diluted with a carrier such as sweet almond, coconut, olive, jojoba, or argan oil.
A rule of thumb for dilution is 1 x tsp of carrier oil to 4 x drops of essential oil (up to 3 different essential oils can be blended into the same tsp amount).
Refrigerate
Keep skin creams and lotions in the refrigerator, ensuring they will have a direct cooling effect when applied.
Other Remedies
Honey (Manuka Recommended): Dab onto the affected areas. Alternatively, apply to gauze and wrap.
Moisturise: Moisturisers, such as creams and lotions, can help hydrate the outermost layer of the skin. They are often essential for managing skin conditions that cause itching and dryness.
A good moisturiser will contain humectants and emollients. Humectants draw water into the skin, while emollients form a protective film over the skin’s surface, which helps to lock in the moisture.
Coconut Oil: This is a good skin moisturizer. It's high in saturated fats and has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Over-the-Counter Skin Calming Products: Discuss your condition with your local pharmacist and see what products could be of use - i.e., Topical corticosteroids, eczema (dermatitis), and psoriasis creams/lotions
Probiotic Dairy Products: These, when topically applied, can help calm inflamed and itchy skin.
Stress Reduction: Psychological stress can trigger itching. Use stress-reduction techniques, such as relaxation, meditation, visualisation, hypnosis, and subliminal programs.
Tea bags: Green and black tea have anti-swelling, anti-inflammatory, and itch-relieving properties, especially for insect bites:
- Soak the tea bag in water.
- Put it in the fridge to cool down.
- Apply the cold tea bag over the bite/affected area to ease the itchiness.
- A Chamomile tea bag can be substituted.
Wet Wrap Therapy (WWT): This involves applying water-soaked fabric wraps made of gauze or surgical netting to areas of itchy skin. The wraps rehydrate and soothe the skin while providing a physical barrier that protects against scratching. This approach can be efficient for children.
Applying Wet Wraps:
- Moisten a section of gauze in warm water until it becomes damp.
- Wrap the gauze around the itchy area of the skin.
- Wrap a dry piece of gauze over the top of the damp one.
- Carefully put on soft, cotton pajamas, not disturbing the bandages.
- Leave the bandages on for several hours or overnight.
- A person can use Wet Wrap Therapy for a few days to control an intense flare-up of itching.
- Alternatively, substitute an appropriate oil for the water.
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