How to help relieve itchy skin

An itch to go shopping might lead to an enjoyable Saturday. But a real itch — especially one that sticks around — isn’t fun at all. That tingly, twitchy sensation in the skin can be maddening. And itching can lead to scratching, which can cause real damage.

“Itching is one of the few sensations that causes us to harm ourselves and damage our skin for relief,” says Steve Daveluy, MD, FAAD, associate professor and program director of Wayne State Dermatology in Dearborn, Michigan.

When fingernails scratch and inflame the skin, the itch can get even worse. That pattern is sometimes called the itch-scratch cycle. What breaks it? The following products and tips may bring peace of mind — and less of an urge to scratch, scratch, scratch.

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What causes itchy skin?

“There has been some incredible research looking into exactly what drives itch, and it turns out to be very complicated,” says Dr. Daveluy. “There are many different ways itch can come about.” 

Itchy skin (also called pruritus) can happen as the result of injury, skin conditions or other diseases. Dermatologists sometimes look at the nuts and bolts of how people feel itchy — that is, which nerve systems are used. That breaks itching into four main categories: 

• Neurogenic itch. Sometimes itchiness comes from the activation of the central nervous system rather than peripheral neurons in the skin. Causes include kidney failure, opioid medication and renal disease.
• Neuropathic itch. This chronic condition is brought on by nerve damage or pinching. The nerves can send itch signals to the brain even when there’s no problem with the skin itself. 
• Pruriceptive itch. This is the most common type of itch. It happens when nerve cells in the skin are triggered. A pruriceptive itch might happen because of allergies, bug bites, hives or an inflammatory condition, such as eczema.
• Psychogenic itch. Itch can also originate entirely within the brain. Some psychiatric or brain diseases create an itchy feeling that drives people to scratch otherwise healthy skin.

OTC products that can help soothe itchy skin

Many over-the-counter (OTC) products can help relieve itchy skin. But it’s always good to see a dermatologist before treating the condition at home, explains Ronda Farah, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. “It’s important to get down to what is making the patient itchy, because there’s a host of things you can use,” she says. 

OTC products may include: 

• Antihistamines. Histamine blockers can work well for itchiness caused by allergies or hives, explains Dr. Daveluy. 

For help with allergies, Benadryl antihistamine Ultratabs and Zyrtec 24 hour allergy relief support antihistamine capsules may help alleviate this sort of itch. 

• Fragrance-free moisturizers. “A staple is always making sure the skin is not dry,” says Dr. Farah. “If the skin is dry, no matter what’s making the skin itchy — eczema, allergies, etc. — that’s always going to make it worse.” She recommends starting with an ointment. 

Aquaphor Advanced Protection healing ointment and CeraVe Healing Ointment skin protectant are both fragrance-free ointments developed for sensitive or irritated skin. In addition, it’s possible to first layer on a gentle cream, such as Gold Bond Healing hydrating cream with aloe, to help hydrate the skin before adding the ointment.

• Hydrocortisone. For itches caused by bug bites, eczema and psoriasis and rashes, hydrocortisone can be beneficial. Itch relief support products in this vein include CVS Health® maximum-strength cortisone anti-itch cream, Aveeno 1% hydrocortisone anti-itch cream and CVS Health instant cooling itch relief spray. 
• Menthol. “The nerves that send itch signals also sense temperature. The cooling sensation from menthol can activate those nerves, which can reduce the itch sensation,” says Dr. Daveluy. 

Products that contain this cooling ingredient include CVS Health steroid-free anti-itch lotion. 

• Pramoxine. This OTC anesthetic medication can help to stop nerves from sending signals. It is recommended for temporary relief support from itchiness due to skin irritations from insect bites, poison ivy, poison oak, minor irritation and some rashes. Julia Tzu, MD, FAAD, founder and director of Wall Street Dermatology, recommends a cream such as Sarna sensitive anti-itch lotion, which contains pramoxine.

Soothe itchy skin

You should always talk to your dermatologist first, but these OTC products may help with relief.

At-home support for itchy skin

It may be possible to make itchy skin feel better with products already in the home. In fact, one form of itch relief support lives in the human mind. “Distracting yourself can be super helpful,” says Dr. Farah. 

Another option for do-it-yourself (DIY) itch relief is cold therapy. “Apply a cold or wet cloth to the skin for just a few minutes,” says Dr. Farah. Chilling the skin activates nerves in a similar way to menthol, while also providing a mild anti-inflammatory effect. She recommends placing lotion in the fridge before applying it to the skin. 

For products to help with this approach, Roscoe medical hot & cold reusable gel pack or Thera-Med ice + gel cryo pack may work as well.

A bath can also be helpful under the right circumstances. But Dr. Daveluy cautions to watch the temperature. “Most people love the feeling of hot water, but it’s damaging. It causes the skin to become dry and irritated,” he says. 

Aveeno soothing bath treatment can be added to the bath, leaning into the benefits of oatmeal to help calm the skin.

The National Eczema Association also suggests adding just one of the following to a full tub of water: a quarter cup of baking soda, gentle bath oil, one cup of table salt or one or two cups of apple cider vinegar to help with eczema symptoms. Be careful about the amounts, as it’s easy to overdo it, and don’t soak for more than 10 minutes. According to Dr. Daveluy, one of the most common mistakes patients make is to use aggravating substances that can further damage the skin. “Please, don’t put bleach or alcohol directly on your skin for itch or rashes,” he says.

Prescriptions for itchy skin

So, what are the go-to prescriptions for itchy skin? “This is not a simple answer. Itch is quite a complex topic,” says Dr. Tzu. “Treatment of itchy skin depends on the cause of the itchiness.” If it’s coming from a medication or an underlying physical or psychological disorder, that problem also needs to be addressed.

Dr. Daveluy explains that the most common cause of itch is typically inflammation. In that case, topical steroids may be prescribed. These might work even if OTC topical steroids don’t provide relief, he adds. “Sometimes people are afraid of the side effects of topical steroids, especially with all the misinformation on social media,” he says. “But when used correctly, topical steroids are very safe.” Steroids may also be prescribed orally.

Antihistamines can also be prescribed to address itchy skin.

How to prevent itchy skin

While it’s impossible to have one rule that prevents any itch, one good practice is to treat skin gently and keep it hydrated. “Ample moisturization of the skin can strengthen the skin barrier to prevent itchiness due to dry skin,” says Dr. Tzu. 

Dr. Farah recommends paying close attention to a daily hygiene routine. Shower in water that isn’t too hot and use gentle soap, focusing on the “smelly areas” like armpits and groin folds and not overdoing it on the rest of the body. After getting out of the shower or bath, people should moisturize with a nourishing ointment within 10 minutes, she says. Avoid perfumes and fragrances, which can be irritating.

Dr. Daveluy also notes, “Dryer sheets and fabric softener leave chemicals on your clothes that can cause irritation and itch. So, it’s best to use products made for sensitive skin or to avoid them altogether.”

Medical conditions that can cause itchy skin

If there’s no immediate reason for an itch (like a bug bite), it might make sense to consult a medical provider. Skin itchiness can happen for a lot of reasons, including neurological conditions. Some of those causes include: 

• Allergies and hives (also called urticaria) 
• Cancer or cancer treatments 
• Dry skin 
• Irritating chemicals 
• Liver or kidney issues 
• Nerve conditions 
• Opioid use 
• Parasites
• Psychological disorders, including anxiety and depression 
• Skin conditions, like eczema and psoriasis 

A health care provider can help find the cause and the products most likely to bring relief support. “If you’re super itchy, you have to go in to see a board-certified dermatologist,” says Dr. Farah.