10 Best Anti-Itch Creams – Anti-Itch Creams For Bug Bites, Rashes – Women’s Health

Science Photo LibraryGetty Images

Virtually everyone has dealt with itchy, irritated skin at one point or another, whether its from an allergic reaction, skin sensitivity, or pesky bug bite. (Boo mosquitoes bites!) But whatever type of skin itching youre experiencing, there's one thing in common: theyll make you want to find relief, ASAP...and anti-itch creams are an easy place to start.

Why does my skin itch in the first place? you're wondering. Well, summertime itchy skin is commonly due to mosquito bites, or potentially from poison ivy or other rashes after spending extended time outdoors and in nature. But itchy skin can also be due to chronic conditions such as eczema, an allergic reaction, or simply because youre dealing with dry skin. Fortunately, there are various over-the-counter anti-itch creams you can purchase to bring your skin some relief.

Over-the-counter anti-itch creams can help to reduce itching from conditions such as mosquito bites or poison ivy or other rashes, according to Rajani Katta, MD, a board-certified dermatologist who serves as voluntary clinical faculty of both the Baylor College of Medicine and the McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Houston.

These creams use several different types of active ingredients, and choosing between them means knowing how they work so you can opt for the right ingredient for the right purpose, she says. It's also important to remember that chronic itchy skin may be due to dry skin, and that moisturizing creams may help.

Not all anti-itch creams are alike. When shopping the aisles, you'll find five main types:

One major ingredient found in anti-itch creams is hydrocortisone, which fights skin inflammation. The products sold over the counter have a low concentration of hydrocortisone, which is a topical steroid. Applied to the skin, hydrocortisone helps reduce redness, itching, and the other symptoms of skin inflammation, Dr. Katta explains. However, topical steroids can produce side effects, and they're meant to be used for short-term use only. If youre using it for more than two weeks and not seeing improvement, she recommends talking to your dermatologist.

Another major category of ingredients is topical anesthetics, Dr. Katta says. These products dont actually reduce any skin inflammation, rather the ingredients numb the skin so that you dont feel the itching anymore. Examples include pramoxine, benzocaine, and lanacaine.

Another category of ingredients is topical antihistamines, which youre likely familiar with if you have allergies. These battle the effects of histamine, a chemical produced by the body that can cause itching, Dr. Katta explains. One example would be diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

One way to quell skin irritation? Cool it down. "Menthol/phenol creams provide a cooling effect on the skin that helps combat the sensation of itching," says Dr. Katta.

Lastly, another ingredient that can help is colloidal oatmeal, which exerts soothing qualities for irritated skin.

Best Overall Anti-Itch Cream

This is a good anti-itch cream to keep on hand in your medicine cabinet.For mosquito bites or mild cases of poison ivy, the product I recommend most often is hydrocortisone formulated as a single active ingredient, which can be found in thisointment, Dr. Katta says.

Best for dry or sunburnt skin

According to Dr. Katta, this gentle cream is a good option for other itchy conditions, such as dry skin, sunburn, and irritation due to insect bites.

Best for dry, sensitive skin

Aveeno anti-itch cream is a top pick to stymie scratchiness.Dr. Katta recommends this cream, which contains soothing colloidal oatmeal, for those with dry skin in need of a strong moisturizer.

Best germ-killing anti-itch cream

$7.65

This cream is a good option to relieve itching from bug bites and stings, poison ivy, oak and sumac, as well as dry, irritated skin. It also contains an antiseptic to kill germs and prevent infection.

Best for allergy symptoms

$4.29

This histamine-blocking cream can bring soothing relief to itching caused by outdoor aggravators, like bug bites, and poison ivy.

Best cooling anti-itch cream

$11.69

Gold Bond is another good option for outdoor-related itching and with menthol as its active ingredient, youll quickly notice a cooling sensation of relief upon application.

Best Multipurpose Anti-Itch Cream

With 1% hydrocortisone, this cream will stop itch. You'll also get theadded bonus ingredient of triple oat complex to relieve the dryness and irritation that can come with scratchy skin.

Best for eczema

If your main issue is dryness, a specially formulatedmoisturizing lotion may be all you need. This one, approved by the National Eczema Association, aims to restore the skins barrier to prevent further irritation and can also provide relief from eczema.

Best for moisturizing

This oatmeal-enriched cream provides all-day relief from dry, itchy skin. It goes on so silky smooth and isn't sticky, so you may just make this your daily body moisturizer all year.

Best for daily use

$5.39

Containing triple oat complex and natural colloidal oatmeal, this lotion can bring relief from itching and rashes caused by poison ivy, insect bites, and other causes, in addition to providing relief from general skin itching and dryness.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

See the rest here:
10 Best Anti-Itch Creams - Anti-Itch Creams For Bug Bites, Rashes - Women's Health