A rash involves changes in the texture, appearance and color of your skin. It can affect just one area of your body or the entire skin. Rashes can alter the color of your skin and cause itchiness. They can also swell and become inflamed, painful, red, bumpy, scaly or dry. Rashes are caused by numerous factors such as disease, allergies and environmental irritants. By employing all the remedies below, you can effectively stop your rash and surrounding areas from itching.
Things You'll Need
- Moisturizing lotion
- Cold pack
Suppress the itching area with ice or a cold pack. Applying coldness to your rash can stop the itch by cooling the skin. It can also help you resist the urge to scratch. Apply the ice pack directly to the itch for 15 minutes and whenever needed.
Apply a moisturizing lotion with menthol. Menthol combined with the other active ingredients of a moisturizing lotion can help soothe and cool the itch. Additionally, it can help prevent your rash from drying and cracking. Apply a generous amount of lotion to the affected area when at the sign of an itch and before going to bed. You can find moisturizing lotions such as Aveeno Skin Relief moisturizing lotion with menthol at your local drugstore.
Apply oats with ginger juice to the itchy rash. Ginger contains the potent compound 6-gingerol, which reduces the inflammation and redness associated with most rashes. This mixture can soothe your rash and reduces the itchiness. Add a cup of uncooked oats and a whole peeled ginger in a blender and blend to a pasty mixture. Apply the mixture to the affected area twice daily and at the first sign of an itch. Store any unused mixture in the fridge for later use.
Apply caladryl (calamine lotion) to the rash. Calamine protects, cools and soothes the rash, making your skin rash less irritated and itchy. Apply the lotion generously to affected area twice a day or as needed. You can buy caladryl at your local drugstore.
Take an over-the-counter antihistamine such as Benadryl. This drug works by blocking the effect of histamine, a substance that causes itchiness and redness to occur. The recommended dosage is one tablet every four to six hours daily. Never take this drug before or when you drive, since it can cause drowsiness.
Tips & Warnings
- Consult your physician before self-treating a skin rash.