12 Effective Home Remedies for Itchy Skin – Natural Healing for Irritation and Scratchiness

Does your skin feel itchy and do you feel like scratching all the time? Well, itchy skin or itching can occur due to both serious and minor ailments. Scratching may give you some relief but constant scratching can bruise the skin and may even lead to skin infections. Therefore, you must take measures to stop this annoying problem. Itching usually subsides if you take measures to stop it. In this post, we discuss some effective home remedies that may help in reducing your itching woes. Read on to know more about how you can make and use home remedies for itchy skin. Additionally, learn the answers to some frequently asked queries about itchy skin and its remedies.

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Itching Skin Naturally

Itching, which is medically known as pruritus, occurs when the skin or the nerve cells get irritated. This condition may arise due to many factors. However, if you are thinking how to cure itchy skin naturally, well, take a look at some of the following home remedies:

1. Holy Basil

Holy basil has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties because of the presence of camphor, eugenol and thymol.

What You Will Need

• Few fresh basil leaves.
• A few drops of water

Method

• Take the leaves and grind them into a fine paste by adding water.
• Apply this paste all over the affected area to get relief.
• Alternatively, you may take the leaves and boil them in some water. Apply the decoction on the affected area, with the help of a cotton ball.
• You may also rub the leaves directly on your itchy skin.

You can use this treatment on a daily basis until you feel better.

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is very good for the skin, and it helps in curing itching too. The oil is a rich source of medium chain fatty acids that contain anti-inflammatory and antihistamines. Both these components help in soothing skin itching. This is one of the most effective home remedies for itchy skin on the face.

What You Will Need

• Organic coconut oil (quantity, as required)

Method

• After taking a bath in warm water, apply coconut oil on your itchy skin.
• You may also apply coconut oil all over your body.

This remedy can be safely applied on a regular or daily basis.

3. Oatmeal

Oatmeal can be added to your bath water to relieve the symptoms of itching. This remedy works because oatmeal contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is a great remedy for itchy skin due to an allergic reaction.

What You Will Need

• 2 to 3 cups of oatmeal

Method

• Mix oatmeal in your bath water.
• Keep your body soaked in the water for 15 to 20 minutes. You may gently scrub the itchy area with oatmeal too.

You may follow this remedy once a day.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a great home remedy to soothe itchy skin. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties help in preventing infections and also reduce itching. The presence of certain enzymes also helps in maintaining the normal pH balance of the skin.

What You Will Need

• 2-3 cups apple cider vinegar

Method

• Pour apple cider vinegar in your bath water and soak yourself for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Alternatively, you can take one part apple cider vinegar and two parts vinegar and apply this blend with a cotton ball on the affected area.

Use this treatment once a day for speedy recovery.

5. Baking Soda

Baking soda is alkaline in nature, and thus it is a great way to neutralise the skin acids and relieve itching. The anti-inflammatory properties also help in reducing skin inflammation.

What You Will Need

• 1 cup baking soda

Method

• Mix baking soda in your bath water and let it dissolve completely.
• Soak your body in this bath water for 10 to 15 minutes.

Doing this once a day may help in reducing the itching bouts.

6. Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek seeds offer relief from itching and skin inflammation because these tiny seeds contain anti-inflammatory properties. The chances of occurrence of rashes or skin infection also reduce considerably.

What You Will Need

• 1 cup of fenugreek seeds
• Water as required

Method

• Soak fenugreek (methi) seeds in warm water for an hour.
• Grind the soaked seeds into a fine paste by adding some water.
• Apply this paste on itchy skin and leave it until it dries.
• Wash the skin with warm water and pat dry.

Use this home remedy at least three times a week.

7. Lemon

Lemons contain acetic and citric acid, which lends them astringent, anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory properties. All these properties are beneficial in reducing itching and inflammation.

What You Will Need

• 2 big lemons
• A few cotton balls or pads

Method

• Take the lemons and squeeze out the juice.
• Dip the cotton balls in the juice and apply on the affected area.
• If your skin is very sensitive, you can dilute lemon juice by adding some water.
• Let it dry; rinse your skin with cold water.

Use lemon juice two times a day to reduce itching.

8. Mint

Apart from lending a dewy fresh breath, mint leaves are great for itchy skin too. Mint is anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory in nature and is loaded with menthol. Mint is one of the most effective remedies for itchy skin in summer or winter months.

What You Will Need

• 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• 3 cups of water
• A few cotton balls

Method

• Boil mint leaves in water for a few minutes; keep the water covered while boiling.
• Let the water cool down and strain it.
• Soak a cotton ball in the water and apply to the affected area.

Apply this water once or twice a day to get relief from itching.

9. Sesame Seeds Oil

Itchy skin is usually accompanied by redness. Sesame seeds are great for reducing the redness that arises along with itching. This happens because sesame seeds contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. If you have itchy skin after shaving, sesame oil is a great way to help soothe your skin.

What You Will Need

• Organic sesame oil, as required
• Cotton balls

Method

• Take sesame oil in a bowl.
• Dip cotton balls into the oil and apply on your itchy skin.
• Alternatively, you can massage your whole body with the oil.
• Allow the sesame oil to stay on your skin for some time, take a bath with warm water.

You may apply sesame oil daily or on alternate days to reduce itching.

10. Neem Leaves

Neem is one of the most used ingredients for curing many kinds of skin ailments, and itchy skin is one of them. This is because neem is loaded with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help in combating the symptoms of many skin conditions including itching.

What You Will Need

• Few handfuls of fresh neem leaves

Method

• Take boiling hot water and let the neem leaves soak in it for half an hour or until the water becomes lukewarm.
• Take a bath with this water.
• You can even make a paste of neem leaves by adding some water and apply this paste directly on the affected area.
• Wash with tepid water after drying.

You may use this remedy every alternate day.

11. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera does wonders in keeping our skin healthy, and it also helps in curing various kinds of skin troubles, which includes itchy skin too. Vitamin E in it helps in moisturizing the skin and thus prevents drying, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties help in reducing the signs of itching.

What You Will Need

• Half an aloe vera leaf

Method

• Take the aloe vera leaf and slit it from the centre. Scoop out the gel with the help of a spoon.
• Apply this gel on the affected area of the skin. Keep it for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Rinse with cold water.

We suggest that you use this remedy once a day.

12. Honey

Honey is an effective home remedy to moisturise dry skin, for preventing skin infections and also removing any signs of itching because it is loaded with humectants, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

What You Will Need

• Honey as required
• A few cotton pads

Method

• Warm up honey in the microwave for a few seconds.
• Dip cotton balls in the warm honey and apply on the itchy area.
• Let the honey stay on the affected area for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
• Wash with warm water.

How Can You Prevent Itching?

By using any of the measures mentioned above, you may easily get rid of itching. However, prevention is always better than cure. Here are the methods you can use to prevent itching:

• Make sure you take a bath once or twice a day to maintain good hygiene.
• Opt for cotton and loose-fitted clothes.
• Trim your nails regularly.
• Make sure you are not stressed and if you are, you must take measures to reduce your stress levels.
• Consume ample amounts of water in a day to prevent dehydration, which may make your skin dry.
• Reduce your caffeine and alcohol intake.
• Use a good moisturiser to keep your skin moisturised.
• Keep a tab on things that you may be allergic to, for example, eggs, peanuts, nuts etc.
• Make use of a humidifier if you stay in a place where the weather is dry.

FAQs

Below are the answers to some frequently asked queries about itchy skin:

1. Why Does My Skin Itch?

Itchy skin is a very common occurrence and may happen due to many reasons. Some of the common reasons include dryness, rashes, old age, pregnancy, allergic reaction, reaction to certain drugs, certain nervous system disorders, kidney diseases, environmental factors etc.

2. What are the Signs of Itchy Skin Allergy?

Itching can be experienced in various parts of your body, which may include the face, arms, legs and sometimes it may occur on the whole body. The itching is also accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Spots and redness on the skin
• Blisters or bumps on the skin
• Scaly skin
• Extremely dry skin
• Peeling of the skin

3. Can Dry Skin Cause Itching on Body?

Yes, dryness can cause your skin to itch too. In fact, one of the main reasons for itching is dryness. Thus, it is essential to keep your skin moisturised so that you can keep the itching at bay.

4. Can Skin Itching Be a Sign of Cancer?

Itching may usually result from dryness, allergies and other such causes mentioned above but it is seldom indicative of cancer. However, some cancer drugs may cause itchy, dry and scaly skin.

5. When Should I See A Doctor?

Itching can occur because of a number of reasons. However, if you have been experiencing it for three days or more, it is a good idea to see a doctor. Itching in most cases is not because of serious issues or a cause of concern. But if you notice an itching bout with any rash, wound or bites, it is suggested that you seek immediate medical help.

Itching can get annoying if it persists continuously. Therefore, it is crucial to find a remedy for this problem. If these home remedies do not work, you should seek medical assistance right away and make an appointment with your dermatologist.

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