Home remedies for itchy skin

Follow These Soothing Home Remedies for Itchy Skin for a Fast Relief

Has the itch caused you to compromise on your moral values in public? When confronted with an itch do you rise above it and avoid scratching, or do you scratch to your heart’s content? Despite the momentary satisfaction that comes from giving in to the demands of an itch, excessive scratching can leave your skin injured, luring in an infection in some cases.

Medically,  itching is known as pruritus which is caused by a certain stimulus that happens to cause irritation to some parts of the skin. An average adult has roughly 2 square meters of skin which means that the target areas are widespread. When an irritant bothers the skin, it is the body’s impulse to itch in order to eliminate the problem. But scratching way too much might lead to more itchiness, which can never be a good thing. Before we learn the home remedies for itchy skin, here is what you should know about the condition:

Causes of Itchy Skin

The causes of an itch are widespread including the likes of:

  • Allergic reactions
  • Sunburns
  • Insect bites
  • Certain medication
  • Dry weather
  • Poison ivy
  • Reaction to certain soaps and detergents
  • Psoriasis
Home remedies for itchy skin
Home remedies for itchy skin

Your kitchen cupboards are brewing some really effective home remedies for itchy skin, so why don’t we open them up to sneak a peek at a few?

Easy Home Remedies for Itchy Skin for Fast Relief

1. Baking Soda

Baking soda is one of the most common home remedies for itchy skin as well as rashes. This is mainly due to the anti-inflammatory properties that baking soda seems to be packed with. It also behaves like a natural acid neutralizer which provides relief from itchiness.

Here are a few ways in which you can leverage baking soda:

Remedy I

  • To a bathtub filled with cool water, add a cup of baking soda.
  • Stir it well so as to distribute the baking soda thoroughly.
  • Soak in this water for roughly about half an hour.
  • Pat yourself dry and make sure that you repeat this process once every day.

Remedy II

  • Make a paste of three tablespoons of baking soda in a tablespoon of water.
  • Apply this on the affected areas and leave on for about ten minutes.
  • Repeat this process once daily.
  • This remedy is more effective in treating localized itches.

Make sure that you do not use baking soda on open wounds or broken skin.

Related: How to get rid of dark spots on skin?

2. Lemon

Lemon is a sure-fire winner to get rid of itching and has been used to treat many skin conditions for ages now. Lemon is rich in acetic acid and citric acid which as we all know, are antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anesthetic and anti-irritating in nature. Note: If you have a sensitive skin, then it’s best you skip this remedy and move on to the next.

For this remedy:

  • Extract the juice of two fresh lemons.
  • With the help of a cotton swab or ball, apply this on the affected areas.
  • Allow this to dry by itself before washing the areas with lukewarm water.
  • Repeat this process twice every day before your condition improves.

Related: Home remedies for skin tag removal

3. Oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal which is essentially oats ground into a fine powder is better suited for this remedy, but if this is not at your disposition, then regular oats work just fine. The thing with colloidal oatmeal is that it helps to soothe and comfort itchy skin. This is due to the anti-irritating, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that it possesses.

There are two remedies that you can benefit from:

Remedy I

  • Add two cups of oatmeal (colloidal or normal) to a bathtub with lukewarm water.
  • Soak in this for about fifteen minutes.
  • Take this bath three times a day for best results.
  • Ensure that the bath isn’t too hot as this can irritate your skin further.

Remedy II

  • To a cup of oatmeal, add some water till it’s just enough to form a paste.
  • Apply this on the itchy skin and cover it with a cloth.
  • Leave this on for half an hour.
  • Follow this remedy once a day.

Related: How to get rid of keratosis pilaris? 

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is yet another in our list of home remedies for itchy skin as it hosts antiseptic, antifungal, antibacterial and anti-itching properties.

Remedy I

  • Add two or three cups of apple cider vinegar to a lukewarm bath.
  • Soak in this for about fifteen minutes.
  • Pat your skin dry and apply a light moisturizer.
  • Ensure that you do this daily.

Remedy II

  • This remedy works for a more localized itching.
  • To the affected areas, apply apple cider vinegar with the help of a cotton ball.
  • Leave this on for about half an hour.
  • Rinse off with lukewarm water.
  • Repeat this process once or twice every day for best results.

Related: Home remedies for rashes on skin

5. Essential Oils

Many of the essential oils made available to us are anti-inflammatory in nature with soothing properties that comes with the ability to give relief to itchy skin. They also help to alleviate skin irritations and inflammation. A few essential oils that have proven beneficial in the past include Basil oil, Chamomile oil, Clove oil, Calendula oil, Bay leaf oil, Agrimony oil, Lavender oil, Neem oil, Peppermint oil, Rosemary oil, Thyme oil and Nettle oil.

For this remedy:

  • Add a few drops of any essential oil to a bath.
  • Soak in this for about thirty minutes.
  • Soon after pat dry.

You could also directly apply the oil to your skin, make sure that you follow the dosage recommendations.

Related: How to get rid of moles on skin?

6. Cool Water

Cool water provides instant relief from itchiness. The nerve fibers in the body are responsible for the sensation of itchiness and coolness, so cold water can just be the respite you seek.

There are multiple ways in which you can use cold water such as the following:

  • Run an ice cube wrapped in a cloth over the affected areas.
  • Take a cold water shower or bath.
  • Run tap water over the affected areas for as long as you need.
  • Apply a cold compress to the affected areas.

The itchiness is bound to subside if you follow up on these home remedies for itchy skin. Make sure that you are patient enough to see the results. It may take time to show, but when it does, your itchy woes just fly out of the window. So, fellow netizens, to itch or not to itch? That is the question.


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