Allergies How to Stop Itching By Kristina Duda, RN Kristina Duda, RN Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Kristina Duda, BSN, RN, CPN, has been working in healthcare since 2002. She specializes in pediatrics and disease and infection prevention. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 05, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Corinne Savides Happel, MD Medically reviewed by Corinne Savides Happel, MD LinkedIn Corinne Savides Happel, MD, is board-certified in allergies/immunology, with a focus on allergic skin disorders. She is a part-time assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Itching can be irritating and frustrating. You may itch because of an: Allergic reaction Skin irritation Illness The best way to stop the itch is to figure out what caused it. Then you can find the right treatment(s). This article will walk you through the causes of itchiness and how to relieve them with medication or home remedies. Where Are You Itching? Itchy face, eyes, nose. Getty Images Where you itch can offer clues to the cause. It can be in/on your: Eyes Nose Throat Face Skin A skin itch may be all over (generalized) or in one location (localized). LOCATION CAUSES SYMPTOMS Eyes Allergies (hay fever) Redness, stinging, watering Pink eye Burning, redness, tearing, blurred vision, swollen eyelids, crusty discharge Common cold Irritation, watering Contact lenses Irritation, infection Nose Allergies (hay fever) Sneezing, congestion, runny nose Common cold Sneezing, congestion, runny nose Throat Allergies (hay fever) Congestion, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath Food allergies Scratchiness, swelling, wheezing Common cold Cough, congestion, sore throat Asthma Cough, tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath Face Allergies (hay fever) General itch Dry skin General itch, flakiness Eczema Itchy, red rash, rough or scaly skin, small fluid-filled blisters, cracked skin, oozing, crusting Skin Allergic contact dermatitis Rash where allergen touches, local itch Dry skin General itch, flakiness Eczema Itchy, red rash, rough or scaly skin, small fluid-filled blisters, cracked skin, oozing, crusting Fungal infection Extremely itchy patches Rash Many types exist, may be general or local itch, blisters, discoloration Parasites Many types exist, usually a local itch Insect bites/stings Local itch, burning, bump(s) at the site Chickenpox Fluid-filled blisters that scab over. May cover the whole body. An itch in your genital area could be from several types of infections. These include basic skin irritation to a sexually transmitted infection (STI). See your healthcare provider. 10 Home Remedies for Vaginal Itching Causes Itchy nose. Getty Images Some common causes of itching include: The common cold Seasonal allergies Food allergies or medication allergies Rashes Eczema Dry skin Pregnancy Parasites (head lice, scabies) Insect bites and stings Contact with irritants (chemicals, poison ivy) Chronic spontaneous urticaria (hives), which is frequent hives without a specific trigger If itching is persistent and bothersome, contact your healthcare provider to get an accurate diagnosis. Medications Allergy medication. BSIP/UIG/Getty Images Once you know what's causing the itch, you can figure out how to treat it. Medications that help relieve itching include: Antihistamines (allergy pills): Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), Claritin (loratadine), Clarinex (desloratadine), Allegra (fexofenadine). Anti-itch creams: Topical corticosteroids may be helpful for small itchy areas. like those from bug bites. Antibiotics: For bacterial skin infections. may require antibiotics. If itching is caused by a medication you take, ask your healthcare provider about different options. If you have trouble breathing, facial or tongue swelling, or vomiting accompanied by hives, get emergency medical attention. These are signs of anaphylaxis. That's a life-threatening allergic reaction. Treatment Without Medication Lotion or moisturizer may help with itching skin. RunPhoto/Taxi Japan/Getty Images You have plenty of non-drug option as well. A lot of things can help soothe your itchy skin. They include: Cold compressesLukewarm bathsLotions or moisturizersMild soapOatmeal bath If you itch because of dry skin, moisturizing with a cream or petroleum-based moisturizer may bring relief. Things to avoid if you have itchy skin are: Irritating fabrics, especially wool and polyester High heat Humidity Long hot baths, which can dry your skin Bubble baths Powders Cornstarch Scratching It may be hard not to scratch. But that can irritate your skin more. It may also spread the problem and put you at risk of infection. Summary Itches come from many causes. To pick the right treatment, make sure you know the cause of your itchiness. You may need your healthcare provider to figure it out for sure. Medications can relieve an itch from some causes. Home remedies can help, too. Avoid things that irritate your skin. Try not to scratch. A Word From Verywell An itch that won't go away can be really aggravating. Don't start trying different remedies right away, though. Some might make it worse. Instead, take the time to figure out the cause and the correct treatments. That's the best way to get relief. Frequently Asked Questions How can you stop itchiness from poison ivy? Lukewarm baths with colloidal oatmeal or a cup of baking soda can ease the itch. If it continues, use cool compresses.For mild itching, use calamine lotion. For a more intense itch, use hydrocortisone cream. Oral antihistamines can also help. Learn More: Home Remedies for Poison Ivy Are there over-the-counter treatments for eczema? Yes. Over-the-counter antihistamines and steroid creams can help reduce eczema symptoms. They don’t require a prescription. But these medications can cause side effects and aren't safe for everyone. Talk to your healthcare provider about what's best for you. Learn More: Can Children Use Topical Steroids? Can essential oils relieve itchiness safely? Yes. Diluted peppermint oil applied to itchy skin can reduce itchiness from myriad causes. Used correctly, it doesn’t seem to cause any side effects. Learn More: Benefits of Peppermint Oil 12 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Rathi VM, Murthy SI. Allergic conjunctivitis. Community Eye Health. 2017;30(99):S7-S10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cold versus flu. Shirinde J, Wichmann J, Voyi K. Allergic rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis and hayfever symptoms among children are associated with frequency of truck traffic near residences: a cross sectional study. Environ Health. 2015;14:84. Published 2015 Oct 26. doi:10.1186/s12940-015-0072-1 American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Allergy symptoms. Kapur S, Watson W, Carr S. Atopic dermatitis. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):52. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0281-6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chickenpox (varicella). Song J, Xian D, Yang L, Xiong X, Lai R, Zhong J. Pruritus: Progress toward pathogenesis and treatment. BioMed Research International. 2018;2018:1-12. doi:10.1155/2018/9625936 Patel T, Yosipovitch G. Therapy of pruritus. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2010;11(10):1673–1682. doi:10.1517/14656566.2010.484420 Weisshaar E, Kucenic MJ, Fleischer AB. Pruritus: a review. Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh). 2003;(213):5-32 American Academy of Dermatology Association. Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: How to treat the rash. National Eczema Association. Over the counter. Elsaie LT, Mohsen AME, Ibrahim IM, Mohey-Eddin MH, Elsaie ML. Effectiveness of topical peppermint oil on symptomatic treatment of chronic pruritus. CCID. 2016;9:333-338. doi:10.2147/CCID.S116995 Additional Reading American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.org. Pruritis. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. Pruritis (PDQ). National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Itching. By Kristina Duda, RN Kristina Duda, BSN, RN, CPN, has been working in healthcare since 2002. She specializes in pediatrics and disease and infection prevention. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies