How to Control Itching

Mild to severe itching is often your body's natural reaction to allergens it comes in contact with. Itching from chronic allergies can be managed by avoiding known allergens and using antihistamine medication. For other causes of itching, such as insect bites or exposure to poison ivy, topical creams and cold compresses are suitable for minimizing irritation.

Things You'll Need

• Allergy antihistamine medication
• Air purifier
• Hypoallergenic laundry detergent
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Cold compress

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Instructions

• 1

  Take over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medication once a day, or as directed on the package's instructions. OTC allergy medications such as Allegra, Claritin and Zyrtec are popular antihistamines that provide relief from allergy symptoms, including itching.

• 2

  Switch your skincare products to fragrance-free or hypoallergenic. Scented lotions contain fragrances that are often irritating to the skin, which causes or exacerbates itching.

• 3

  Wash your clothing in hypoallergenic detergent. Dye-free and fragrance-free laundry detergent are mild to the skin, while fragranced detergents that come in contact with your skin are potential irritants.

• 4

  Keep a food journal to determine possible food that causes an allergic reaction. Foods that commonly cause allergic flare-ups include eggs, dairy, gluten, and peanuts.

• 5

  Use an air purifier to remove airborne allergens from your home, and change the filter on a monthly basis to prevent allergens from being redistributed into the air.

• 6

  Clean the affected area with a washcloth and cool water, and apply a thin layer of hydrocortisone cream to the skin two to four times daily.

• 7

  Cover the itchy area with a cold, wet compress for 15 minutes at a time several times a day to reduce itching caused by mosquito bites or poison ivy rashes.