How to Treat Itches

Itches are a nuisance no matter what their cause -- or where they are located. Itching skin, also known as Pruritus, is an inflammatory reaction that ranges from mild to severe. Itching can be due to allergic reactions, infections, insect bites, burns and even internal disease. Depending on the cause, itches require different types of treatment, including topical creams for external use, medication intended to be taken orally and light therapy or injections for severe cases.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda or colloidal oatmeal
• Compresses
• Sterile cloths, dressings and bandages
• Anti-itch lotion or cream
• Oral antihistamine
• Moisturizing cream

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Instructions

• 1

  Take a bath in cool water that is sprinkled with baking soda or colloidal oatmeal -- finely ground oatmeal intended for use in the bathtub.

• 2

  Apply wet and cool compresses to your affected skin to soothe the area and reduce swelling.

• 3

  Dry your skin gently with a clean, soft cloth and apply an anti-itch lotion or cream to the affected area. Hydrocortisone cream that contains at least one percent hydrocortisone, will temporarily relieve your itching. If itching is moderate to severe, consider bandaging the area with sterile dressings or bandages to prevent scratching and keep the anti-itch lotion from coming off.

• 4

  Take an oral antihistamine to further relieve severe itching. An antihistamine that contains diphenhydramine as the active ingredient will reduce your body's inflammatory reaction and decrease itching.

• 5

  Put on cotton clothing that is smooth-textured to avoid further skin irritation.

• 6

  Visit your family physician or dermatologist, if you can't get your itching under control. Your doctor may prescribe prescription creams or antihistamines that are stronger that the over-the-counter varieties. For more severe itching, your doctor may recommend a cortisone injection to suppress inflammation or light therapy for topical treatment, depending on the underlying cause.

• 7

  Follow up treatment with a quality, high-moisturizing cream, once itching is under control. Apply this to your skin once or twice a day, focusing on the areas where the itching is the most severe.