4 Products That Will Bring Relief To Itchy Skin
4 Products That Will Bring Relief To Itchy Skin
Dr. Singhal’s Tips On How To Bring Relief To Irritated And Itchy Skin
Itchy skin, or what is medically called pruritus, can be uncomfortable and frustrating. Fortunately, many natural and home remedies can help provide relief.
What Causes Itchy Skin
According to the National Eczema Association (NEA), people who frequently experience itchy skin may have difficulty sleeping and may become depressed or anxious. They may also scratch their skin, causing small tears, which are prone to infection.
Common causes of itchy skin include insect bites, allergies, stress, and skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis. Some cancer treatments can cause it too, and even cancer itself.
Itching can be more than a small annoyance. It can cause a lot of discomfort and may even become a distraction. You may be wondering when itching is serious and how you can cure your itchiness at home.
Itching Can Be Acute Or Chronic
Your skin can itch for a variety of reasons. For example, you may have touched a certain type of plants, such as ragweed or poison ivy. Psoriasis is a condition that causes scaly, dry skin because of skin cell buildup, as well as itching around the patches of dry skin.
Illneplantsss, an insect bite, or healing from a burn or cut can also cause you to feel itchy.
Everyone gets an itch once in a while. However, if an itch lasts for more than six weeks, it is considered a chronic itch and is more likely to disrupt your life.Dr. Singhal advises patients to seek professional help in case the itch lasts more than a couple of days.
Itching can occur suddenly (acute), or over a period of time (chronic). It may occur alone or in combination with other symptoms and may be localized or generalized. Itching may be associated with various types of cancers such as Hodgkin's disease, Lymphoma, Leukemia, Kaposi's sarcoma, AIDs, liver metastases, renal failure, and may be associated with some antibiotics.
Chemotherapy Can Hypersensitize The Skin
Acute itching, during the infusion of chemotherapy, could be an early sign of a hypersensitivity reaction. Chemotherapy medications commonly associated with risk of allergic reactions include L-asparaginase, paclitaxel, docetaxel, teniposide, procarbazine, and cytarabine.
Itching can occur as a chronic side effect of anti-cancer treatments. Cancers that involve the skin or have spread to the skin, such as malignant melanoma, leukemia, and lymphoma, commonly cause itching. Itching may also be caused by the body’s inability to clear certain toxins due to kidney or liver problems. You should notify your doctor if you have any unusual itching. Acute itching that occurs when certain chemotherapy drugs are administered may be a sign that you are having an allergic reaction to that drug. To ease these symptoms, Dr. Singhal recommends using Hope & Beauty’s Emu Oil to calm and soothe sensitive or reddened skin. Emu Oil will ease irritation and restore the skin while preventing redness. It brings relief from very dry skin under most conditions, including while receiving chemo or radiation therapy for cancer treatment.
Remedies For Itchy Skin
The first step to managing itchy skin is to reduce the risk of it happening in the first place. This can be done through a daily bathing and moisturizing routine and using prescription medications as prescribed. Wet wrap therapy also helps control itch. Outside of bathing, Dr. Shyamali Singhal recommends applying moisturizers that replenish the skin barrier consistently and liberally throughout the day. Try out our Relief Bio-Powder to act fast to save irritated skin from redness and itchiness. It also acts as a concealer, to cover the redness. By adding some water, Relief Bio-Powder can make a paste for a soothing mask.
Natural remedies for itch relief include soaking in a bath with oatmeal or baking soda. These can also be applied directly to the skin in the form of a paste.
While antihistamines do not stop the itch sensation, they may be recommended to help people with eczema fall asleep. Cotton gloves or cutting fingernails short can help protect the skin from night-time scratching. OTC corticosteroids can also help with mild itch.
Topical and immunosuppressant medications reduce symptoms of itch as does phototherapy. In severe cases, health care providers may prescribe mirtazapine, an antidepressant that is effective at relieving itch at night; pramoxine, a topical anesthetic; or certain oral antibiotics used for skin infections. Dry Skin Relief Bar® will soothe and improve dry skin concerns including psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis with this cleansing bar formulated with 3% salicylic acid and antioxidants.
As much as possible, try not to excessively scratch the skin affected by an eczema flare. Too much scratching can lead to more rashes, thickened skin and infections if the surface of the skin is broken. Scratching also can trigger the “itch-scratch cycle” where the scratching leads to more itchiness.
Home Remedies For Itchy Skin
The best itchy skin treatment could be hiding in your kitchen pantry. “Olive oil and coconut oil are great for hydration and gentle on the skin,” says Dr. Singhal. Simply slather it on to any dry and itchy areas. See how homemade skincare can save more than just your budget. Another kitchen staple—oatmeal—could help soothe itchy skin. Simply put colloidal oats (that’s finely powdered oats) into your bath. “Colloidal oatmeal baths supply anti-inflammatories and a soothing coating for the skin,” says Dr. Singhal. “They are great to throw in a warm bath to soothe irritated or sunburned skin.”
But, sometimes not everybody can find the time needed to make and use these remedies. For more professional help, use CliniCalm™ 1%. Relieve redness, itching, inflammation and irritation due to topical allergens, dermatitis, professional treatments or waxing with this 1% hydrocortisone cream.
If you have dry skin, you already know that your age, the environment, and even the time of year can take its toll on your skin. But coconut oil - which contains EFAs -- essential fatty acids -- can help keep your skin hydrated by protecting it from the damaging effects of the environment. Dr. Singhal advises patients to ask their health care provider about adding coconut oil to your diet to help keep your skin moisturized. It also can be applied directly to your skin as a great moisturizer.