Be it from sunburn, bug bites or an underlying skin condition like eczema, most of us have experienced the annoying and possibly debilitating pangs of itchy skin. And if you ask board-certified dermatologist Dr. Teresa Song of New York City’s Marmur Medical, it’s also one of the most common presentations from everything to allergic reactions to just dry skin.
“Over-the-counter anti-itch creams can be incorporated into daily moisturizing routines to help improve baseline itching,” Song said, adding that at the point these options no longer control the itch, it’s important to seek professional medical advice to address the potential underlying causes.
Song listed a variety of mildly steroidal or steroid-free ingredients and formulations on the market that can achieve improved skin barrier, reduce inflammation and instantly soothe irritation. However, according to her, results of these anti-itch cream are temporary and daily moisturizing aimed at repairing and strengthening the skin’s barrier is most important.
“Apply [these creams] immediately out of the shower while the skin is still damp to seal in moisture. If the creams are lightweight, consider adding on a heavier moisturizer on top of the anti-itch cream to increase the effects,” Song said.
You can find Song’s and another trusted skin expert’s exact product recommendations in the list below, plus more information about how they can relieve your itchy symptoms.
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"Steroids should be avoided for itching caused by superficial skin infections and healing wounds," she cautioned.
"Aloe is an anti-inflammatory and soothing [ingredient] to help relieve irritated skin and associated itching. It's best for sensitive, post-sunburn or postprocedural skin," Song said.
This fast-working and fragrance-free cream claims to offer relief for up to 10 hours and can control inflammation associated with poison ivy exposure, eczema, psoriasis and more.
"[This] is a new OTC cream that has aluminum acetate as an active ingredient for itchy skin," Mikailov said. "It’s also rich in shea butter [and] ceramides and works well on all types of itch."
In addition to skin barrier-strengthening ceramides, the Dermeleve cream also contains hyaluronic acid to draw moisture into the skin ,and strontium mineral salt, for which there is some clinical evidence to support the claim that it suppresses sensory irritation and histamine-induced itch. Mikailov did say that it's important to avoid the use of antihistamine creams like Benadryl, as they have the potential to cause contact dermatitis.
"This contains camphor and menthol, which gives a cooling sensation to relieve itch. It’s also very moisturizing which is great for dry, irritated skin," Mikailov said. Song suggested the fast-absorbing sensitive formula.
Like all of CeraVe's products, this cream contains three essential ceramides, which Song explained "are skin's natural fatty acids and work to build the barrier of the skin. It does not have active anti-itch properties, but works to strengthen the skin barrier so it can be less reactive to common irritants, and is best for eczema patients."
A trusted ingredient for those dealing with eczema-related irritation, colloidal oatmeal works to rehydrate and calm irritated skin, Song said.
"It works for all types of irritated skin, but remember to moisturize after," Song advised.
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