Causes, Symptoms and Effective Home Remedies for Itching

Itch is an annoyance in the skin that elicits an urge to scratch. Itches are a common problem and can be limited to a small area (limited to one area of the body) or generalized (occurring all over the body or in several different areas).

The medical term for itching is pruritus. Generalized itch, for obvious reasons, is more difficult to treat than localized itch. Itches can also occur with or with no skin lesions (for example, bumps or blisters).

Itching may be caused by a skin mess or by an ailment that affects the whole body (systemic disease).

Skin disorder that cause severe itching include infestations with parasites (such as scabies, mites, or lice), insect bites, hives, atopic dermatitis, and allergic dermatitis and contact dermatitis.

These disorders usually also produce a rash. Systemic diseases that can cause itching include liver disease, kidney failure, lymphomas, leukemias and other blood disorders, and, occasionally, thyroid illness, diabetes, and cancer.

Causes of Itching

Exposure or contact with chemicals
Sunburn can cause dying
Insect bites or stings
Chicken pox
Parasites
Cold conditions
Overexposure to water and hot baths

Symptoms of Itching

Bumps
Dry, cracked skin
Leathery or scaly texture of the skin
Tendency to scratch repeatedly, to relieve itching sensation
Redness of skin
Scraped skin, as a result of vigorous scratching
Thick and scar skin

Treatment of Itching

Specific treatment of itching depends on the underlying state that causes it. In general, itchy skin should be treated very gently.

While scratching may provisionally ease the itch, in the long run scratching just makes it worse. In addition, scratch can lead to an endless cycle of itch"scratch"more itching.

To avoid the urge to scratch, a person can apply a cooling or calming lotion or cold squeeze when the urge to scratch occurs.

Soaps are often infuriating to the skin, and can make an itch worse; they should be avoided, or used only when necessary.

Home Remedies for Itching

To get relief from itching peppermint bath is highly useful.
If itching is in a meticulous area application of Vicks vapor rub will provide immediate relief.

Must read about
Home Remedies for Common Illness

This is one of the best itching cure.

Mix equal amounts of honey and cinnamon powder and make a fine paste. Apply this paste on affected areas to stop itching.
This is very good home remedy for Itching.
Put 2 cups of oatmeal in a tub with Luke warm water. This is one of the effective natural remedies for itching.

Make a solution by adding ¼ parts of apple cider vinegar and 1/2 parts of water and wash the affected skin with this water as it provide relief. This is one of the effective home remedies for itching.

Pour a cupful of white vinegar in bath water and soak the body in it for 5-10 minutes. This is one of the successful natural remedies for itching.

Application of cod liver oil or Aloe Vera to the exaggerated area is also beneficial.

To avoid itching of dry skin, it's always better to use moisturizer after every wash.


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1/2/2011 3:50:42 AM

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