Itchy Skin: Symptoms, Causes, And Natural Remedies

Possibly one of the most frustrating skin ailments is the sensation of itchy skin. Sometimes it might seem like it’s appeared out of the blue with no obvious cause. Other times, you may have a red rash on the surface of your skin with bumps and inflammation.

Regardless of how your itchy skin began, we know it’s uncomfortable and that you want to find a solution as soon as possible to stop that irritating need to scratch. We’ve all been there; itchy skin is the worst!

Let’s dive into the symptoms, causes, and best natural remedies for itchy skin to get you back to feeling healthy, happy, and — most importantly — itch-free!

What Are The Symptoms Of Itchy Skin?

The symptoms of itchy skin can vary from case to case depending on the precise cause. But the most common symptoms tend to manifest as some combination of the following:

• Redness
• Small bumps
• Raised bites
• Blisters
• Dry, scaly skin
• Cracked skin

Itchy skin can occur in a localized area, such as the area surrounding a bug bite, or it can be more widespread and appear all over the body or a particular body part, such as an arm or leg.

 

What Causes Itchy Skin?

Identifying the cause of your itchy skin is important in determining how to treat it. While there are many possible causes, we’ve listed the most common ones below.

Dry Skin

Although dry skin generally isn’t a cause for major concern, it’s certainly irritating. Dry skin can flare up during particularly hot or cold weather, after a hot bath or shower, or due to an irritant in the environment.

Dry skin is often the most common cause of itchiness and irritation. It doesn’t require a diagnosis from a health professional and is easy to treat at home.

Eczema

Eczema is a type of dermatitis that causes the skin to become easily irritated and particularly sensitive. While it commonly develops in childhood, eczema can affect babies, children, and adults of any age.

This chronic condition manifests as red, scaly patches of skin and can show up just about anywhere on the body, with the most common areas being behind the knees, inside the elbow crease, on the wrists, and hands.

 

Psoriasis

Similar to eczema, psoriasis is an inflammatory condition that causes rough, red patches on the skin. The patches may also have a white, scaly appearance on the outermost layer.

Although the exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, some people may have a genetic predisposition toward the condition.

If you believe you may have psoriasis, talk to your doctor about your symptoms to discuss necessary interventions, such as medicated creams.

Insect Bites

We’ve all experienced insect bites at some point in our lives. This irritating, itchy feeling can be caused by mosquitoes, ants, and countless other bugs in the environment.

You’ll be able to identify an insect bite by the presence of a raised, red bump or blister localized to one or multiple small areas.

Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions can be trickier to identify, as the cause can be varied.

Certain foods, medications, and harsh chemical ingredients can lead to itchy, irritated skin. They may also cause a rash that can be either localized to a particular area or more widespread across the whole body.

Natural Remedies For Itchy Skin

If you’re battling with itchy skin, you’re not alone. Thankfully, there are many effective, natural remedies for easing your itching!

Colloidal Oatmeal

 

Colloidal oatmeal is a miracle ingredient when it comes to treating itchy skin! It’s been used for a variety of skin ailments from dry, sensitive skin to medically diagnosed eczema.

It soothes, protects, and hydrates itchy skin through its abundance of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants including Vitamins B12, D, and E.

Colloidal oatmeal can easily be added to a bath to reduce inflammation and itchiness. Simply pour the oatmeal as recommended into running lukewarm water and have a relaxing soak to calm your skin. Be sure to follow up an oatmeal bath with a calming moisturizer.

Our Sensitive Skin All Natural Healing Ointment is the perfect cream to introduce colloidal oatmeal into your topical skincare routine.

Safe and effective for the whole family, this healing ointment can be used on children from 2 years of age up to adults.

 

For your little ones, opt for our Sensitive Baby All Natural Healing Ointment. Specially formulated for delicate baby skin, our baby ointment is enriched with Organic Nutri-Soothe™ Complex and packed with natural ingredients to relieve itchiness fast.

 

Shea Butter

Shea butter is another must-have ingredient if you suffer from itchy skin. Its incredible moisturizing and hydrating properties help soothe and calm your skin.

Sourced from the seeds of the shea tree, shea butter is 100% naturally derived, meaning it’s unlikely to inflame or irritate sensitive skin.

At Babo Botanicals, we use organic shea butter in many of our products, including our Sensitive Baby Fragrance Free Miracle Cream.

This rich, intensive moisturizer contains the soothing combination of organic calendula and shea butter so you get the healing powers of both ingredients in one hydrating product.

Trust us, this organic, natural product will instantly become your new go-to when you or your family have a flare-up!

 

Cooling Compress

By soaking a clean washcloth in cool water and wringing until damp, you can apply a cooling compress to the affected areas of your skin with ease.

This can provide immediate relief for itchy skin and helps to ensure your skin is clean before applying a topical product.

Remember that hot water can very easily irritate sensitive skin! Be sure to avoid it by cooling the temperature down before laying a washcloth on your skin when it’s inflamed and itchy.

Baking Soda

While baking soda isn’t a cure for itchy skin, it can provide temporary relief during times when you need some reprieve. So stop that scratching and head to the pantry to find the baking soda, stat!

The National Eczema Association recommends using baking soda to relieve itchy skin by either adding it to a bath or mixing it with water to form a paste and then applying it directly to the affected areas.

This simple, natural solution is a great option if you’re in a pinch since baking soda is a common ingredient that you likely already have at home!

Essential Oils

 

Essential oils have been a huge trend over the past few years with the use of oil diffusers, but did you know they can also help treat itchy skin?

Essential oils such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, and peppermint oil can work wonders for your skin as they work to kill bacteria and soothe irritation.

How To Prevent Itchy Skin

Avoid Harsh Ingredients

It’s no secret that harsh, artificial ingredients can wreak havoc on sensitive skin. You may have experienced this when trying out a new face cream or hand wash — some products simply don’t agree with us!

Babo Botanicals uses only natural ingredients, many of which are 100% organic. All Babo Botanicals products are dermatologist tested so you can rest assured that they won’t cause irritation.

 

If you’re experiencing itchy, irritated skin, it’s best to avoid products that may exacerbate the problem and opt for all-natural remedies instead!

Moisturize Daily

Dehydrated skin means easily irritated (and itchy) skin! Staying on top of your skincare routine is your best defense against itching. The most effective way to do that? Moisturize daily.

After showering with a natural product, like our Sensitive Skin Fragrance-Free Hydra Therapy Face & Body Wash, apply a liberal amount of a rich, intensive moisturizer for your skin to soak up.

Reaching for naturally moisturizing products, including oils like our Skin Repair Nutri-Firm™ Treatment Oil, is a sure-fire way to prevent future occurrences of itchy skin. Keep up the great moisturizing work!

 

Soothe Your Itchy Skin The Natural Way

After identifying the cause of your itchy skin — whether by using the assistance of a medical professional or by completing your own research — you can begin to treat and prevent itchy skin.

Choosing natural and organic skincare products is your best bet for soothing your skin, and with regular moisturizing using products like our Sensitive Skin All Natural Healing Ointment, you’re well on your way to saying goodbye to itchy skin for good!