Dry Skin? Try This! A Guest Post
Written by Helga
Friday, 8 April 2011 10:41
Today I have Bailey Harris providing a guest post for my readers…
How to Soothe Itchy Skin
If you have ever suffered from itchy skin, you know all too well that it can be annoying and uncomfortable. The constant urge to scratch your skin can be so severe that it interferes with your daily life. There are many causes of itchy skin, ranging from cold weather to chronic skin conditions. Whatever the cause, you will be glad to know there are many ways to soothe itchy skin, using products you may already have on hand.
Moisturizers
If cold, dry weather seems to be the culprit of your itchy skin, be sure to load up on moisturizers during the winter months. High quality lotions and creams will keep skin soft and supple, while preventing moisture loss. It is best to reapply moisturizers throughout the day if your skin is extremely dry, itchy, and cracked. Also, be sure to apply moisturizer after every shower or bath you take, and make sure those showers or baths aren’t too hot. Hot water can be very irritating as well. Look for moisturizers that contain aloe vera, oatmeal, jojoba oil, and shea butter. These ingredients will help soothe and heal itchy skin.
If your hands and feet are extremely itchy and dry, think about applying a thick cream, or even 100% shea butter, at night time. Putting cotton socks and gloves on after applying can really seal in moisture overnight, and you will wake up to skin that is much less itchy and irritated.
Oatmeal
Regardless of the cause of your itchy skin, an oatmeal bath will most likely give you some soothing relief. Oatmeal has long been used as a natural skin soother. You can purchase packs of colloidal oatmeal at the drugstore, which are made especially for use in the bath. Or, if you have normal, food-grade oatmeal at home, you can grind it up and use it the same way. All you need is a grinder or food processor. Place one-two cups of oatmeal in your grinder or food processor, and grind until a fine powder appears.
Whether using a homemade oatmeal bath or packs from a drugstore, add to lukewarm bath water and soak your body for 15 to 20 minutes. An oatmeal bath will be very soothing for your itchy skin and you will feel relief almost instantly. Rinse and follow your bath with a good moisturizer. Repeat oatmeal baths as long as symptoms persist.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is another natural skin soother that will help with the issue of itchy skin. It contains natural anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties that help treat itchy skin, regardless of the cause. It is best to apply fresh aloe vera gel from an aloe plant, which can be obtained by slicing off the tip of a leaf. The gel inside the leaf can be squeezed directly on itchy areas. You should let the gel soak into affected areas. No rinsing is required, and you can reapply aloe vera gel as often as needed.
Baking Soda
If your itchy skin problem is caused by rashes due to allergic reactions or insect bites, baking soda may bring you some soothing relief. It will neutralize and dry out the itchy patches or bites, therefore stopping the itch. All you need to do is mix a little baking soda with warm water until a paste is formed. Apply the paste to the affected areas, and allow it to dry for about 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry. You can repeat this process as needed, until the itch is gone. (Live Green Mom note – I would follow up on that with shea butter or the aloe vera gel)
Hopefully one of these skin soothing options will bring you relief from your itchy skin problem. If one method alone doesn’t seem to work, try using a combination of them. It may take more than one method to fight the itch. Also, don’t give up if your problem isn’t gone right away. You may need to continuously soothe your itchy skin in order to get the issue under control.
(Note from Live Green Mom: I also love using organic coconut oil on my skin. It’s great after shaving my legs! And I smell a bit tropical, too.)
Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes for www.insurancequotes.org, a site that provides quotes for car insurance.
2 Comments
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I agree on the coconut oil! Will have to try aloe vera. Mostly if my skin is that dry I’m not drinking enough water. Same old story! Especially while pregnant and nursing, man oh man!
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