5 Methods to Get Rid of Itchy Skin Rashes
- Itchy skin rashes can cause problems because of their irritation and because scratching can make you vulnerable to infection
- Keeping your skin moist is important to preventing these rashes
- Traditional treatments like hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, and Aloe Vera are still some of the best available
- Allergy rashes need to be treated with an oral antihistamine
Although most itchy skin rashes aren’t dangerous or caused by some serious disease, they can be extremely annoying to sufferers. Excessive scratching of those rashes can break open the skin and can lead to infections from bacteria and fungi. Plus itching can interfere with your ability to enjoy your life, get plenty of sleep, or even present yourself in a professional way. To help you combat your itchy skin rash, here are five of the most effective ways to alleviate the problem.
5. Moisturizer
One of the main causes of itchy skin rashes is dryness. Your skin gets a bit dry, that causes it to itch, you scratch, and that causes further irritation which leads to more itchiness and scratching, etc. When you first start feeling that itchiness, you should reach for your moisturizing lotion. Now remember that most moisturizers don’t add anything to your skin they only trap the existing moisture so you might want to dampen the area with lukewarm water.
4. Hydrocortisone Cream
People have been using this over-the-counter itchy skin rash treatment for a long time. But that’s because it works well on most types of causes. You can find various strengths – up to about 5% – of the product in any store and affordable generic versions are widely available. For the best results, you want to apply it as soon as you start feeling the itch and you must refrain from scratching. Hydrocortisone cream can actually make it easier for an infection to get started if you scratch so keep those hands busy doing something else.
3. Calamine Lotion
Although it may not get rid of the problem completely, calamine lotion is effective in stopping the itchiness. That’s why it’s a great choice for insect bites and other types of rashes on almost any part of the body. The lotion is also very soothing to your skin and this can help reduce the inflammation caused by the scratching.
2. Oral Antihistamine
If you are suffering from allergy rashes, the best method of treatment is an oral antihistamine. Antihistamines effectively turn off the immune system response which is overreacting to the allergen and treating it like a dangerous invader. This can provide you with relief from the itchy skin rashes. However, avoid using topical antihistamines. Because of the strength of the medications included in them, some can actually cause an allergic reaction on the skin. That seems to defeat the treatment purpose. Instead stick to an oral antihistamine which you buy over-the-counter or with a prescription.
1. Aloe Vera
One of the best treatments for itchy skin rashes is also one of the oldest: Aloe Vera. The gel from the Aloe plant is well-known for its skin soothing properties, particularly as a treatment for sunburns. However, it is also effective against rashes because it fights against the inflammation. It can also help fight bacteria and fungi that might try to get into your skin thanks to the scratching you’ve done. Plus all of the nutrients contained in the gel provided needed and healthy nourishment for your skin.
The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.
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2 Responses to “5 Methods to Get Rid of Itchy Skin Rashes” |
Hi, I'm wondering, what is the best form to buy aloe vera in for skin rashes? I know it comes in a variety of forms, like creams, and then the pure stuff. Is the pure stuff better or are there advantages to cream as well?January 24th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
Hi, I'm wondering, what is the best form to buy aloe vera in for skin rashes? I know it comes in a variety of forms, like creams, and then the pure stuff. Is the pure stuff better or are there advantages to cream as well?January 24th, 2011 at 5:28 pm