Kids' Health Kids' Skin Health Anti-Itch Creams and Home Remedies for Kids By Vincent Iannelli, MD Vincent Iannelli, MD Facebook Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 27, 2022 Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO Facebook Jonathan B. Jassey, DO, is the founding pediatrician at Concierge Pediatrics in Long Island, New York. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked by Angela Underwood Fact checked by Angela Underwood LinkedIn Angela Underwood's extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder. Learn about our editorial process Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Topical Steroids Non-Steroidal Topicals Oral Antihistamines Home Remedies Prescriptions Whether your child is itchy from bug bites, hives, or poison ivy, some over-the-counter creams and home remedies can bring relief. While these remedies may help, see your pediatrician if you're not sure what's causing the itch. Your healthcare provider can make sure your child gets the right treatment. This article covers common home treatments for itching in babies and children, including over-the-counter (OTC) products and medications your pediatrician may prescribe. Verywell / Emily Roberts Common Causes of Itching Topical Steroids to Relieve Itching Topical steroids are the go-to treatment for itch relief. These creams or ointments are applied to the skin and work well for inflammatory or allergic itches, such as those caused by bug bites and poison ivy. Most of these creams contain 0.5% or 1% hydrocortisone. Popular brands include: Aveeno 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch CreamCortizone 10CortaidLanacort Cool Cream You can also try a store-brand hydrocortisone cream—for example, those made by Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart. Hydrocortisone creams are not recommended in children under the age of 2. Check with your child's healthcare provider to find out which topical steroids are safe. When to Avoid Steroids If you think your child has an infection that's causing an itch, do not use steroids. Rubbing steroid cream on infected skin can make a rash worse and lower the body's ability to fight off bacteria. Hydrocortisone Cream for Babies Anti-Itch Non-Steroidal Treatments You can also put a non-steroidal anti-itch product on your child's skin along with a topical steroid. Some of these creams or gels have an antihistamine like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) in them. These products block a chemical called histamine that's involved in allergic reactions and itching. Benadryl Cream and Oral Medications Benadryl cream and oral Benadryl should not be used together. The medication can make children sleepy even in normal doses. Topical medications that are not steroids include: Aveeno Anti-Itch Cream with Natural Colloidal OatmealBand-Aid Anti-Itch GelBenadryl Itch-Stopping CreamCaladryl Clear Topical Analgesic Skin LotionCalamine LotionDomeboro Astringent Solution Powder PacketsGold Bond Maximum Strength Medicated Anti-Itch CreamItch-X Anti-Itch Gel with Soothing Aloe VeraLanacaneSarna Ultra Anti-Itch Cream You can apply a wet dressing or compress to your child's skin. A soak with Domeboro powder mixed with water (a modified Burow's solution) or an Aveeno oatmeal bath can also be soothing. Watch for Allergic Reactions If you're using a skin-numbing cream (anesthetic), keep an eye on your child to make sure they do not have an allergic reaction. Allergies to these products are fairly common. You can tell that a product has an anesthetic in it because it will usually have "-caine" in the name. What to Know About Taking Benadryl Oral Antihistamines Benadryl is a common medication to give kids to help with itching. However, Benadryl does not last long (about four to six hours) and can make kids sleepy. You do not need a prescription for Benadryl. You can buy the product OTC at your local pharmacy or grocery store. Benadryl comes in different forms, including liquids, chewable tablets, and dissolving tablets. Having more than one type to choose from is helpful—if your child cannot swallow pills, you have other options. A prescription-strength drug such as Atarax or Vistaril (hydroxyzine) can sometimes help children with itching that OTC products have not helped. These prescription medications usually work a little longer than Benadryl (about six to eight hours). 5 Ways to Soothe Your Child’s Allergy Symptoms Home Remedies and Alternative Treatments There are some simple steps you can take at home to help soothe your child's itching and prevent harm to their skin from scratching, such as: Keep your child's fingernails short Dress your child in loose, light, cotton clothing Prevent your child from overheating (sweat may make your child itch more) Find fun ways to keep your child distracted Make sure your child's skin does not get too dry Avoid things that trigger itching, especially if your child has eczema, sensitive skin, or allergies Use insect repellents when outdoors and teach your child how to avoid poison ivy Have your child wear soft cotton gloves to bed to protect skin from scratching Since some treatments like topical steroids aren't safe for babies and very young kids, there are some natural and alternative treatments can be safer options, in addition to the steps above. For example: Warm (not hot) or cool showers or baths (try adding oatmeal)Using gentle soaps, household cleaners, and laundry productsChanging wet diapers as soon as possible to avoid diaper rashTrying natural moisturizers like cold-pressed oils (e.g., coconut) How to Get Relief From Itchy Skin Prescription Treatments If you do not know why your child is itching or you cannot get the itching under control, it's time to call your pediatrician for advice. Your child's provider can diagnose the problem and prescribe a prescription-strength medication if needed. These creams often include stronger steroid doses, such as: Cutivate cream 0.05%Elocon cream 0.1%Locoid cream 0.1%Triamcinolone acetonide 0.1%Westcort cream 0.2% Other options might include oral antihistamines, an oral corticosteroid such as prednisone, or other medications. The treatment will depend on what's causing the itch. For example, a child with scabies (a condition that is both itchy and contagious) might need Elimite to treat parasites. Prednisone (a steroid) might help a child with poison ivy, but a child with chickenpox might need to avoid steroids. Skin Conditions That Cause Itching Summary Itching can be hard for kids and parents to deal with. To ease the scratching, you can try at-home remedies like dressing your child in loose, light clothes, doing a warm or cool bath and compresses, and using OTC anti-itch treatments. You can buy itch-stopping topical remedies with or without steroids in them at your local pharmacy or grocery store. You can also try oral OTC anti-itch medications, which come in different forms. If home remedies or OTC products don't help your child's itching or you're not sure what's making your child itch, call your pediatrician. They can diagnose the problem and make sure your child gets the right treatment. 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Price NB, Grose C. Corticosteroids contribute to serious adverse events following live attenuated varicella vaccination and live attenuated zoster vaccination. Vaccines (Basel). 2021;9(1):23. doi:10.3390/vaccines9010023 By Vincent Iannelli, MD Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. 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