Itchy, sore, and irritated skin is frustrating at best. And unfortunately, as tempting as it is, scratching can aggravate the skin and even cause it to break and even bleed.
The solution? The NHS recommends regularly applying an unscented moisturizer or emollient to relieve symptoms.
But step into a pharmacy and you’ll be confronted with a bewildering array of creams, gels and ointments – from antihistamines and steroids to calamine, aloe vera and antifungals.
And they are not interchangeable. What works for one type of itch may not work for another type of itch – or may even make it worse.
The key is knowing what’s causing the itching and choosing the right treatment for the job.
Persistent itching without a visible rash should be assessed by your GP as this can sometimes be a sign of something more serious, such as type 2 diabetes or liver disease.
But most itching has a much simpler explanation.
So which high street remedies really work – and which should you use for everything from eczema and sunburn to insect bites and fungal infections? We asked the experts…
Itchy, sore, and irritated skin is frustrating at best. And unfortunately, as tempting as it is, scratching can aggravate the skin and even cause it to break and even bleed.
Dry, itchy skin? You need an emollient
Try: Epaderm Deep Hydration 3-in-1 Ointment for Dry Skin 500g, £12.55, Boots
Daily dry skin is one of the most common causes of itching.
‘It can happen when the skin loses moisture, leaving it feeling tight, flaky or irritated,’ says Rachel.
‘Changes in temperature, central heating, hot showers and the use of harsh soaps can all remove moisture from the skin and make itching worse.’
Rachel recommends fragrance-free moisturizing treatments known as emollients, which can help by creating a protective layer over the skin and locking in moisture.
Apply this as often as necessary during the day, especially after showering.
‘If your skin is regularly dry and itchy, try to avoid strongly scented products and very hot showers as these can cause further irritation,’ adds Rachel.
Cocoa butter and colloidal oatmeal are ingredients commonly found in emollients that can help further reduce fluid loss.
Aloe vera cooling gels or calamine cream for itchy sunburn
Try: Care Aqueous Calamine Cream 100g, £4.39, Holland & Barrett, or Bondi Sands Aloe Vera Aftersun Gel 200ml, £9.99, Boots
According to the charity Melanoma Focus, a whopping 49 percent of Brits have at least one case of sunburn every year. Whether it concerns a sunburn from vacation, at home or under the sunbed, it can lead to inflamed, itchy skin. Not to mention the dry, flaky skin that follows as your burn begins to heal, causing more itching.
‘UV damage causes inflammation as the skin repairs itself, causing itching,’ explains Dr Catharine Denning, founder and medical director of Marylebone Skin.
‘Aloe vera or soothing emollient creams cool and rehydrate damaged skin. Calamine can also help soothe irritated, sunburned skin, although it does not reverse the damage caused by UV rays.’
Use hydrocortisone for itching due to eczema… but only in the short term
Try: HC45 Hydrocortisone Cream 15g, £6.37, Lloyds Pharmacy
Eczema affects around 1.5 million people in the UK and causes dry, red and itchy skin, often in skin folds such as the elbows, knees and neck. When an eczema flare-up occurs, it’s impossible to ignore, but Rachel warns that scratching can further damage the skin barrier, the outermost layer of your skin.
While a fragrance-free emollient can help keep your skin hydrated, Rachel says that “topical corticosteroids may be recommended to some people during flare-ups to help reduce inflammation, redness, and itching.”
Corticosteroids, often known as steroids, are anti-inflammatory, so they calm the inflammation that causes the redness and itching.
‘The right treatment will depend on your symptoms and their severity, so it’s important to get professional advice if you’re unsure,’ says Rachel.
However, hydrocortisone should only be used for short periods of time. The NHS recommends not using it for more than seven days unless a doctor or pharmacist tells you to, as long-term or excessive use can cause side effects including thinning of the skin.
Itchy rash around the mouth? You need zinc oxide
Try: Avène Cicalfate and Repairing Protective Cream 40ml, £7.87, Boots
‘Perioral dermatitis usually appears as an inflamed, bumpy rash around the mouth and can sometimes feel itchy, dry or irritated,’ says Rachel. It is most common in women aged 15 to 45.
It’s easy to assume that an itchy rash on the face could be acne or even eczema, but if you’re unsure, talk to your pharmacist or GP as the treatments for eczema and dermatitis differ.
Unlike eczema or psoriasis, steroid creams should not be used for perioral dermatitis as this can make the itching and rashes much worse. Heavy facial creams and thick sunscreens can also worsen perioral dermatitis.
To relieve symptoms, Dr. Denning recommends zinc oxide creams.
‘Zinc oxide forms a physical, occlusive layer over the skin, to retain moisture and protect damaged or inflamed skin from irritants. It has also been shown to help soothe irritated skin without the power of steroids and without the associated risks of thinning skin.
‘It is also well tolerated with long-term or repeated use.’
Prescription creams also help treat perioral dermatitis. A cream containing 0.75 to 1 percent metronidazole, an antibiotic and antiprotozoal medication, can help reduce inflammation and reduce redness and itching. Consult your GP, who may be able to prescribe you a prescription based on the severity of your dermatitis.
Antihistamines for allergic reactions, hives and bites
Try: Boots insect bite and sting treatment 1% cream 10g, £3.89, Boots of Superdrug Fexofenadine Hydrochloride 120mg, 30 tablets, £8.99, Superdrug
Insect bites are not just a problem on holiday and allergic reactions can occur all year round. Both can cause itchy skin and even hives, which are raised, itchy bumps on the skin.
Rachel says: ‘Allergies can also be behind itchy skin. When the body encounters something it perceives as an allergen, it can release histamine, which can cause symptoms such as itchy skin and raised, itchy hives.”
Antihistamines, such as cetirizine, loratadine, or fexofenadine, work by blocking the effects of histamine and can help you manage your allergy symptoms, including intense lifting.
Insect bites can cause local allergic reactions. A mild steroid cream can help reduce swelling and itching, but if you have difficulty breathing or swelling of the mouth or tongue, call 999 for emergency medical help.
Relieve psoriasis with creams containing ceramides
Try: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream Pot with Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides 454g, £17.49, Superdrug
About 1 in 50 people, or 1.3 million people in Britain, have psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory disease where the immune system causes skin cells to be produced too quickly.
Symptoms of psoriasis include red, purple or brown patches on the skin, plaques, blisters, stinging sensations and of course intense itching. It often occurs on the elbows, face, hands, knees, feet and scalp.
‘It often runs in families and can flare up due to stress or infection,’ adds Dr Denning.
‘Ceramides are fats that occur naturally in your skin and make up about half of the outer layer of your skin. Psoriasis can change the amount of ceramides in your skin, so a ceramide-based cream can help repair the damaged outer skin barrier in psoriasis, lock in moisture and reduce dryness and flaking.”
For flaky, itchy patches, you may need an antifungal medication
Try: Canesten 1% Antifungal Cream 50g, £7.76, Lloyds Pharmacy
Fungal infections of the skin, such as athlete’s foot (usually athlete’s foot), which affects the skin between the toes or on the feet, or ringworm, which can occur elsewhere on the body and cause a red, scaly or ring-shaped rash, can cause a lot of itching.
Rachel explains that the fungus causes local inflammation when it penetrates the skin.
‘Look for an anti-fungal cream, rather than a general anti-itch cream. These will kill the mold or prevent it from growing. Common active ingredients are clotrimazole or terbinafine.’
But different rashes can look similar, so speak to your pharmacist who can advise you on the best option.
