Itchy, Itchy, Scratch-Scratch!

Sometimes we have itchy skin. Itchy skin is uncomfortable. You rub and scratch the area to get relief. Sometimes, this just makes the skin even itchier. The more you itch, the more you scratch. Itch. Scratch. Itch. Scratch…you need to find relief.

Why you need relief? Because not only does scratching repeatedly cause areas to bleed and become infected; having this problem can affect your quality of life, keep you from sleeping, make it difficult to concentrate. It can even affect your self-esteem.

Causes. There can be various causes for your itchy skin: dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, or other itchy skin condition, allergic reaction,  nerve problem, skin cancer, pregnancy, etc. With more serious conditions, a treatment can be found once the condition is identified. Although, many people can manage and bring themselves relief with self-care measures.

Dry Skin. Dry skin is a common issue that can affect anyone. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, dry skin can be caused by: https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/dry-sweaty-skin/dry-skin#causes

• Age. The older we get, the thinner and drier our skin gets.

• Climate: Living in a dry climate.

• Skin disease: such as atopic dermatitis (also called eczema) and psoriasis

• Job: Nurses, hair stylists, and people in occupations that immerse their skin in water throughout the day.

• Swimming: pools that have high levels of chlorine in them, which can dry the skin

Dry skin can flake, itch, crack and even bleed. To help heal, relieve, and prevent this skin foe, my staff and I have compiled some of our favorite tips that have worked for us when our skin gets dry:

Tip #1: Make a Change. As seasons change, so should our skincare routine (as we learned in Green Gold’s March post: https://www.greengoldhairandbody.com/2019/03/16/how-to-easily-transition-your-hair-and-skin-routine-from-winter-to-spring/) Dry air can make fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable and can be the cause of dry skin.

Tip #2: The Bath.

• Use warm, not extremely hot water.

• Take shorter showers: 10-15 minutes

• Close the bathroom door. This keeps the moisture in there with you.

• Gently pat your skin to dry, afterwards.

Tip #3: Soap and Cleansers.

• Use mild, fragrance-free cleansers or a soap substitute.

• Don’t use too much soap, cleansers.

Tip #4: Moisturizers.

• Use products that have natural oils like olive and jojoba.

• Shea butter works well.

• Use lots of moisturizer immediately after drying your skin. This traps in the moisture.

• Use moisturizer after every hand wash and throughout the day.

• Stop using products with alcohol, like hand sanitizers.

• Use gentle, unscented skin care products.

Tip #5: Air. Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.

Our skin always feels better after following these steps, but if you do not see changes or relief with self-care; you may have a skin condition that may require a prescription ointment. A physician, specifically a dermatologist, can examine your skin and let you know if you have a condition and give you some treatment options.

Which tip do you like? Do you have a tip to add? Please leave your comment below.

Next blog topic…

For more tips, hacks, and advice about hair and body, check back in October, where Nneka will be talking about how she is… Vegan…ish?!