Many
things can make your skin itch. Dry skin, eczema, and
hives can cause itching all over your body. Contact
dermatitis is another cause of all-over itching. You can
get this condition after your skin comes in contact with
something that irritates it, such as a strong laundry
soap or a body lotion.
You
might feel itchy in only a few parts of your body.
Common causes of this kind of itching include insect
bites, infections like ringworm or jock itch, and
allergies to plants or to the metals in costume
jewelry. Most causes of itchy skin are treatable.
Dry air
can cause your skin to become dry and itchy. In your
home, use a humidifier to put moisture in the air during
the winter and in dry weather.
Some
soaps can cause your skin to feel itchy. It's good to
use a soap that is unscented and hypoallergenic. This
kind of soap does not contain dyes or perfumes that can
irritate your skin. In addition, you can use a mild,
unscented, hypoallergenic laundry detergent, avoid
fabric softeners, and try using an extra rinse cycle to
keep your clothes and bed sheets from making your skin
itch.
Choose
clothing made of soft fabrics like cotton or silk. Avoid
wearing clothing made of rough wool, which can irritate
your skin and make it itch.
Moisturizers work well to treat dry skin. Choose a
moisturizer that is hypoallergenic (it should say so on
the label). The best moisturizers are also the thickest
and have a very rich emollient level such as shea
butter.
Put a
moisturizer on your skin three or four times during the
day. Always put the moisturizer on right after you wash
or bathe. If you have very dry hands, put your
therapeutic cream on them before you go to bed at night
and sleep with your hands in cotton-lined gloves.
Changing
your bathing habits also can help. If you bathe too
often, your skin may get dry. Try to take short,
lukewarm baths or showers. Oatmeal baths (example of
brand name: Aveeno) may be soothing to your skin. After
your bath, pat your skin dry and put a moisturizer on
your skin right away. Use a mild soap every day to clean
your genital area and under your arms, but clean other
parts of your body with soap only two or three times a
week.
Some
people use bath oils to help make their skin less dry.
However, these oils can be dangerous because they make
your tub slippery. To avoid slipping and falling, put
the oil on your skin after you get out of the bathtub. .
Dry,
irritated skin is more likely to get infected. Infected
skin is red, warm, and swollen, and it may ooze fluid.
Use an anti-bacterial or anti-fungal cream; an excellent
choice is one which has the organic compound
urea in it.
A
therapeutic moisturizer might be all you need to relieve
itching. If you must resort to using a steroid cream for
itching such as 1 percent hydrocortisone steroid skin
cream, you should not use the
medicine for longer than one to two weeks. Be very
careful when you put a steroid cream on your face or
genital area. Steroid creams may cause your skin to
become very thin
and may cause other skin problems. Be sure to talk with
your doctor if you are using a steroid cream or ointment
to treat your itching.