Relief for Itchy Skin
The annoying itch of dry, flaky, or rough skin sometimes makes scratching unavoidable, especially when the air becomes dry and chilly. Repeated scratching of itchy skin, however, can lead to irritated, cracked, and peeling skin, which may eventually become inflamed, or infected.
Here are some ways you can find relief for itchy skin.
Use Moisturizer Frequently
Dry and cold air tends to rob your skin of the necessary moisture that is needed to maintain a balance in your skin’s fluid level, thereby, requiring the added assistance of a good moisturizer. It’s best to liberally apply a moisturizer immediately to the skin after showering or bathing to seal in the moisture on your skin. Start by applying a thin layer of body oil all over your skin, followed by a body cream, for best results. The oil will penetrate through the skin, while the body cream will lock in the oil, to enhance the moisture protection even further.
Avoid Hot Water when Bathing
The use of hot water when showering and bathing can dry out your skin even further, which is why warm, tepid water is recommended. After your shower or bath, it’s best to pat the skin dry instead of rubbing your skin with a towel that may further irritate dry skin.
Use Mild Cleansers
If you are prone to dry skin, try using mild cleansers, in lieu of, harsh soaps and cleansers, which may chafe inflamed dry skin. Some cleansers can contain harsh additives for deep cleansing action, compared to the mild cleaning of gentle cleansers. The strong cleansers may also contain additional additives like scents and fragrances that can further aggravate dry and inflamed skin. There is an alternative, however, with organic cleansers that offer thorough cleansing without the use of harsh chemicals, relying only on organic and natural sources.
Use a Humidifier
The use of a humidifier is a good idea to increase the moisture level in the house, thereby, helping to increase the moisture on your skin. Retaining natural moisture to the skin can help avoid the itch of dry, irritated skin.
Keep Your Skin Covered
Eliminating exposure of the skin to the harsh elements cold, and dry weather can help reduce dry skin problems. Keep the dry area of your skin covered to protect the outer layer of skin from any further irritation. Skin that is exposed to the chill of dry, cold air can lose moisture quickly, leaving it vulnerable to dry, flaky, and rough skin problems that can occur later on. It’s best to keep your head covered as well, since the hair and scalp can dry out, leaving the hair prone to frizz, flyaway hair and itchy scalp.
It’s important to note, itchy, red skin, may be due to a rash, or other skin conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis, or other medical condition. Severe redness and inflammation on the skin may signal an infection that could require medical attention, so it’s best to consult a doctor.
Following a few simple tips, should help ease the troublesome condition of dry, itchy skin.
