Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Treating An Itch
Rational treatment of itch depends heavily on establishing the cause and removing or treating the cause. However, this is not always possible.
To alleviate itch the following measures are useful:
Avoid possible irritants like harsh soaps, bubble baths and detergents. Clothes made from wool or synthetic material can cause irritation. Loose, light cotton clothing and beddings are preferable.
Keep cool as much as possible. Heat lowers the itch threshold. Avoid hot baths. Stay under the fan or in an air-conditioned room when feasible. As the air in air-conditioned places tends to be dry, it may be useful to place a large bowl of water in front of the air-conditioner to improve the moisture content.
Dry skin makes itching worse. Moisturisers are useful to keep the skin supple and moist. They should be applied several times a day. Water and soap dry out the skin as they wash away the natural skin oils. Therefore the most important time to use moisturiser is after a bath or shower.
Engage in activities that distract from the itching during the day and make you tired enough to sleep at night.
Keep the nails short to limit any damage done to the skin by scratching. As much as possible, try not to scratch. Scratching gives temporary relief but the damage caused by scratching can make itching worse, leading to an itch-scratch-itch vicious cycle.
Antihistamines taken orally are very useful for some conditions like hives (urticaria). However, they do not help with all types of itch. Avoid topical antihistamines (which are applied on the skin) as they can sensitise the skin and cause allergic dermatitis.
Lotions that contain calamine or menthol may provide some relief.
Topical steroids can be useful if the itch is related to inflammatory conditions like eczema. However, they should be used under medical supervision.
To alleviate itch the following measures are useful:
Avoid possible irritants like harsh soaps, bubble baths and detergents. Clothes made from wool or synthetic material can cause irritation. Loose, light cotton clothing and beddings are preferable.
Keep cool as much as possible. Heat lowers the itch threshold. Avoid hot baths. Stay under the fan or in an air-conditioned room when feasible. As the air in air-conditioned places tends to be dry, it may be useful to place a large bowl of water in front of the air-conditioner to improve the moisture content.
Dry skin makes itching worse. Moisturisers are useful to keep the skin supple and moist. They should be applied several times a day. Water and soap dry out the skin as they wash away the natural skin oils. Therefore the most important time to use moisturiser is after a bath or shower.
Engage in activities that distract from the itching during the day and make you tired enough to sleep at night.
Keep the nails short to limit any damage done to the skin by scratching. As much as possible, try not to scratch. Scratching gives temporary relief but the damage caused by scratching can make itching worse, leading to an itch-scratch-itch vicious cycle.
Antihistamines taken orally are very useful for some conditions like hives (urticaria). However, they do not help with all types of itch. Avoid topical antihistamines (which are applied on the skin) as they can sensitise the skin and cause allergic dermatitis.
Lotions that contain calamine or menthol may provide some relief.
Topical steroids can be useful if the itch is related to inflammatory conditions like eczema. However, they should be used under medical supervision.
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