Dry Skin Relief: Reducing the Itch From Your Dry Skin

Dry Skin Relief: Reducing the Itch From Your Dry Skin

Trying hard to find dry skin relief for your troubled skin? Like you, we know dry itchy skin is infuriating. Just about the time you think you are going to be able to relax and go to sleep or get something done, there goes that itch again. Finding a dry skin relief becomes uppermost on your mind.

You know you shouldn't scratch it. Everyone tells you that scratching will only make it worse. Yet you go ahead and give into the urge because you so desparately want relief from dry itchy skin. In the midst of finding a proper dry skin relief solution, you find yourself sore and red because you scratched too hard. But at least you felt a momentary sense of relief. This cycle goes on and gets even worse in times of high stress.

Unfortunately, the dry skin relief you find from scratching is only temporary. But the pain and redness you may inflict upon yourself may not be quite so temporary. It is even possible to scratch until you cause an infection.

There is some evidence that scratching actually makes the itching worse. If you can keep yourself from giving in, the itch might lessen in a few moments.

Itchy Personal Areas

If the dry itchy skin is under your breasts or in your groin, you must keep the area dry from sweat. Chafing can lead to breaks in the skin and infection. Powdering these areas can be helpful and provide some relief. Talcum powder is widely available, but has it's critics.

A very slight link has been found between talcum powder and certain cancers. An alternative to talcum is corn starch, but bacteria has been known to grow in corn starch. You can make your own corn starch body powder by adding a half teaspoon of one of the carrier oils that are healthful to skin (almond, jojoba, or avocado, for instance) to a cup of corn starch and rubbing them together until the oil is distributed.

You can work in two drops of lavender oil for a scent. Geranium essential oil is helpful to skin but you might not care for the smell. Again, two drops worked in is plenty.

Diet and Food Supplements Inside and Out

For some people, changing the food they eat can help them find relief from dry itchy skin. Foods that most often trigger itching are milk, certain grains, tomatoes , nuts, and eggs. Gluten containing grains such as wheat are particularly problematic for some people. Switching to whole wheat bread products instead of white flour products is enough to help some.

Evening primrose oil is often taken as a food supplement for healthy arteries. It is also taken for orally for dry skin in some places. It is possible to have side effects such as nausea, headache, and diarrheah from this supplement. However, some naturopathic physicians recommend it's use topically for dry itchy skin.

In general, it is usually safer to use an herb or other medicine on the outside than taking it by mouth. The constituent of evening primrose oil that is considered beneficial to skin is GLA (gamma linolenic acid.) This fatty acid is used by cell membranes to retain proper skin cell structure.

Vitamins such as A and E and certain components of the B complex are also useful in the treatment of dry itchy skin. Skin needs to be protected by antioxidants just like the rest of your body.

E and beta-carotene (a type of A) are both antioxidant vitamins. Vitamin B-5, also called pantothenic acid, is good for healing wounds, so it is often included in lotions designed to bring dry skin relief.

Use a Moisturizer

A moisturizer is often the first step anyone takes toward finding relief from dry itchy skin. There are many types on the market. The over-the-counter creams that contain diphenhydramine or hydrocortisone are not natural remedies, but they can be effective against itchiness.

Combine this with moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera, lanolin, and petroleum jelly, and a moisturizing anti-itch cream can provide some dry skin relief to your skin.