Women who suffer from itchy skin may have reached for every remedy under the sun to keep the incessant itch at bay, with lotions being one of the first. Continue reading to learn more about lotions for itchy skin, including natural, over-the-counter, and homemade options you can consider for ultimate relief.
Varieties of Lotions for Itchy Skin
Depending on a woman's preference, there are a variety of natural, store bought, and homemade options she may want to consider in order to obtain a decent lotion for itchy skin.
Natural
Natural lotions for itchy skin are released by brands such as:
THENA Natural Wellness. THENA Natural Wellness manufactures a popular lotion for itchy skin, which can be found on Amazon. It offers long-lasting relief from inflamed, dry, and red skin.
Honeyskin Organics®. This family-owned company also creates its own natural lotions containing vitamins, amino acids, and minerals to hydrate the skin, thus relieving pain and inflammation.
Over-the-Counter
The following over-the-counter options are widely available as lotions for itchy skin:
Hydrocortisone lotion. Hydrocortisone is a steroid that assists in reducing swelling, redness, and itching. Hydrocortisone anti-itch lotion generally contains 1% of the compound.
Eucerin®. Eucerin® Skin Calming products include a range of lotions that treat dry, itchy skin while keeping the largest organ of the body moisturized and healthy at the same time.
Cetaphil®. Yet another commercial brand, Cetaphil® also has a selection of moisturizers and lotions for itchy skin available for long-lasting hydration.
Homemade
Anti-itch remedies can also be concocted at home. Some of the best ingredients for lotions for itchy skin include:
Colloidal oatmeal. Using a base of coconut oil and shea butter, homemade colloidal oatmeal lotion also contains vitamin E oil and lavender to soothe the continuous itch.
Aloe vera. While best used on its own due to its anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties, aloe vera can also be added to a homemade lotion for itchy skin.
Peppermint oil. Peppermint oil leaves a cooling sensation on the skin, thus relieving itching. Add it to a lotion base with anti-inflammatory coconut oil for extra moisture.
Further Tips to Relieve the Itch
Change bathing habits to help provide relief from itchy skin. These include taking shorter, lukewarm showers; patting skin dry and putting a moisturizer on immediately afterwards; and using mild soap to wash yourself.
Also, if you choose to use bath oils in addition to lotions for itchy skin, it would be wise to apply the oil after getting out of the bathtub as to avoid falls.
However, for permanent relief, it would be best to resolve the underlying cause, which in the case of menopausal women is hormonal imbalance.
Accordingly, itchy skin treatments focus on an optimized diet containing anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, healthy habits including regular exercise to improve blood circulation, and alternative medicine to promote endocrine system health, such as phytoestrogenic herbal supplements - of black cohosh, etc. - or hormone-regulating supplements, like Macafem.
Key Takeaways
All in all, there are a plethora of lotions for itchy skin from which to choose, allowing women a wide selection to treat their irksome symptom. Personal preference will play a large part in whether they will choose from natural, over-the-counter, or homemade options.
Nevertheless, it would be wise for women to take into consideration further tips to relieve the itch, like changing bath habits, using bath oils, and - most importantly - working to fix the root cause of hormonal imbalance. With these measures paired alongside a preferable lotion for itchy skin, your scratching days will be long gone!
Sources
- American Family Physician. (2003). What Can I Do for Dry, Itchy Skin? American Family Physician, 68(6), 1145-1146. Retrieved March 12, 2019, from https://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0915/p1145.html
- Cetaphil. (n.d.). Very Dry and Sensitive Skin. Retrieved March 12, 2019, from https://www.cetaphil.com/body-moisturizers/very-dry-and-sensitive-skin
- Criquet, M. et al. (2012). Safety and efficacy of personal care products containing colloidal oatmeal. Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, 5, 183-193. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S31375
- Eucerin. (n.d.). 4 Products for Itchy Skin. Retrieved March 12, 2019, from https://www.eucerinus.com/products/itchy-skin
- Gerson Institute. (2018). 8 Natural Remedies for Itchy and Irritated Skin. Retrieved March 12, 2019, from https://gerson.org/gerpress/8-natural-remedies-for-itchy-and-irritated-skin/