Don’t Scratch that Itch: How to Stop Itching Skin Before it Drives You Crazy

Itchy skin usually isn’t a reason to be concerned as most reasons for this happening are benign. However, it’s an annoying problem to have and after a period of time, especially if you can’t contain yourself from scratching it can become painful. Not to mention that it can make things a little awkward in social situations. Here’s some do-it-yourself advice on how to stop itching skin before you go insane:

1. Baking Soda Soothes Itches of All Types

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, fights itches of all types and relieves irritations of all kinds. It is a natural acid neutralizer, which has soothing and anti-inflammatory effects useful in reducing skin rash symptoms and in calming itchiness caused by allergies, insect bites, sunburn, shingles and chicken pox.

Thanks to its calming properties, baking soda alleviates symptoms of chapped skin, preventing further irritation. It restores skin’s natural pH balance, leaving the skin clean, soft and supple.

• Prepare a creamy paste by mixing baking soda with water and spread over the affected area. Do not use on broken skin.
• Add 1 cup of baking soda to your bathwater and immerse the whole body for 30 to 60 minutes. When you get out of the tub, let your skin dry naturally, without using a towel.

2. Oatmeal Contains Powerful Anti-itching Compounds

Natural colloidal oatmeal has many anti-itching and soothing constituents, such as silicon, beta-glucan and its precious avenanthramides.

Avenanthramides are a key compound of oatmeal, as they are responsible for its anti-irritating effects. They have the ability to calm and heal inflamed, dry and itchy skin, and are also antioxidants.

The less processed the oats are, the more avenanthramides they will have. Always use unprocessed oat flour or buy whole oats and grind them yourself. Rolled oats and instant oatmeal are also good, but slightly less effective.

• Add 1 to 2 cups of plain, uncooked oat flower to your bath water and soak for 1 hour to calm the itches. If you like, you may also add a few spoons of baking soda to enhance the soothing effects of the bath.
• Mix oat flower with enough warm water to obtain a thick paste. Apply it on the affected area, cover with a cloth to prevent it from falling off and let stay for 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Vinegar Gives Fast Relief from Itching and Prevents Further Irritation

Vinegar (especially apple cider vinegar) is a natural antiseptic and one of the most efficient remedies to destroy harmful and irritating bacteria and get relief from itching. It contains acetic acid that can regularize skin’s natural acidity and eliminate microorganisms responsible for skin irritation.

Vinegar is used in many topical treatments intended to reduce dryness, acne, rashes and itching. Its antiseptic properties are also very useful in stopping the regeneration of bad bacteria, and thereby in preventing further infections of the affected area.

• Pour some vinegar on a cotton pad and wipe it over itchy skin.
• Add 1 to 3 cups of vinegar to your bathwater and soak for 30 to 40 minutes.

4. Control Nervousness and Take Vitamin B

Our psychological condition often reflects on our skin. Stress, anxiety and excessive nervousness are most of the times main causes of itchiness, as well as of other kinds of skin irritations. Stress and tension can also aggravate itches caused by other factors, making them worse and even more insupportable.

Instead of alleviating only the symptoms of your psychological state, itching, try resolving what causes it. Avoid too much stress and learn to control your nervousness.

To achieve fast relief from itching when it occurs, sit down, breath deeply and relax. Prepare a calming tea or inhale a relaxing essential oil. You will be surprised at how quickly the itching will disappear.

If you are not getting enough vitamin B, start taking it.  Vitamin B has positive and beneficial effects on our nervous system, as well as on our skin. The vitamin B deficiency may, in fact, often manifest in itchy and flaky skin, irritable nerves and sometimes insomnia.

Have these tips helped you stop skin itching and did they give you any relief? Share your favorite remedy with us and let us learn a new trick to prevent those unbearable itching-scratching cycles! Please, write in the comments bellow.