Burt's Bees Aloe & Witch Hazel Hand Sanitizer Price: 4.49

All Terrain Ditch The Itch Bar Price: 5.19

Quantum Itch Nix Gel Price: 5.48

derma e Itch Relief Lotion with Tea Tree, E, and Chamomile Price: 9.89

Itchy Skin

HOME  |  More Free Health Tips

ALSO SEE: Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, Rosacea, Diaper Rash, Poison Ivy & Oak

Your best defense is to prevent itching in the first place. Keep itching from occurring by taking the following advice into consideration:

A) Skin is more likely to be dry & itchy in the winter. If you can bear it, turn your heater down since it contributes to itchy skin. One winter solution is to buy a humidifier or two, and keep them near where you spend most of your time indoors (such as your bedroom). If you live in the north and have chronic unbearable itching, consider going to the extreme and moving to a year-round warm climate.

B) Keep your skin moisturized with an all-natural moisturizer, especially after a bath. This helps prevent drying of the skin.

C) If bouts of itching have been due to an allergic reaction to food, obviously eliminate the particular food(s) in question. If you're not sure which food is responsible, make a notebook and record all foods you eat & how your skin reacts afterwards. If you notice a pattern of itching after eating a certain food or foods, eliminate one food at a time until you identify the culprit(s).

D) If you have sensitive skin, replacing common chemical-based household goods with natural ones may help. Soap, shampoo and laundry detergents are 3 big culprits of itchy skin for sensitive individuals. Soaps and shampoos can dry your skin & scalp, while standard laundry detergent can leave residue on your clothing, which eventually comes in contact with your skin. Consider switching to an all-natural shampoo, conditioner, bar soap, shower gel, or laundry detergent.

E) Don't wear abrasive clothing such as polyester or wool. These scratch inducing fabrics may make a person with sensitive skin more 'aware' of itchiness. Wear all cotton if you can, at least during the cool months (when skin is usually the driest) or when itchiness flares up. Also consider wearing more loose fitting clothing.

When itching strikes. The following tips may help soothe itch discomfort:

A) Avoid scratching the itch. Any resulting break in the skin leaves you open for infection. If you do scratch, do so gently with a glove to help prevent excess fingernail abrasion.

B) Make your itch feel better by applying an ice pack or ice wrap to the affected area.

C) Topical applications & other supplements. Applying Vicks vapor rub, lemon juice, or wheat germ oil will also help. These may not cure the itch but certainly will provide soothing relief. Other topical supplements may also provide natural relief. When itch strikes, apply Vitamin-E oil (or cream) or cod liver oil (liquid form) directly on the area. Taking a sulfur mineral supplement is also said to speed healing.

D) Cut down or reduce salt from your diet when severe itch strikes. If you desire, resume salt intake to normal when you become itch-free. However cutting down on salt for good may also be a good preventative measure.

E) Itchy skin can be soothed by pouring 16 ounces of colloidal oatmeal into a lukewarm bath. Then bathe as long as normal. Another simple folk remedy to reduce itching is to squeeze fresh pure lemon juice on the area in question. Let it dry.

Natural herbal remedies & folk remedies.

A) Use natural herbs to help your itch. When itch occurs, clean the area often with an herbal soap (avoid regular soaps because they usually contain chemicals that may promote further itching).

B) Topical herbal applications. Use the clear gel from a broken aloe vera plant leaf (or buy aloe vera gel) and apply it on the area of itching. Tea tree oil can also be applied topically to soothe itch discomfort.

Keep stress down and try to avoid being irritated. It may be subconscious or even conscious but it appears that people who are irritated also tend to be 'tuned in' to other irritants, such as itchy skin. Take any necessary steps to correct excess stress in your life and your 'itchy' problem may magically disappear.

H. Mikael Nisula

Disclaimer: All statements provided on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and may contain errors. The information contained herein is not intended to replace or contradict any advice or recommendations provided by a licensed medical professional or clinical practitioner.