Nothing is less sexy than scratching your beard, forehead, or cheeks effectively shedding dead skin all over the people around you. You know it’s a bad look, but no matter what you try, you can’t get rid of the itch.
Itching skin can be caused by bad skincare habits, skin issues hard to diagnose, and even allergic reactions. We’ll tell you what’s underneath your itching and how to get relief fast (and stop the skin cell snowstorm you’re creating in your circle of friends).
What Causes Itchy Skin?
You can experience itchy skin for numerous reasons. If you can find the cause, you’re a step closer to a solution. Here are some of the most common reasons why you’re clawing your skin.
Dry Skin
The most common reason you’ve got an itch you can’t seem to scratch isn’t because you haven’t met the perfect soulmate; it’s because your skin is dry. Seriously, so dry.
Dry skin causes more itchiness in guys, probably because we aren’t exactly great at taking care of our skin. Less skincare leads to a higher rate of itchiness and discomfort, not to mention flaking.
Dermatitis
Dermatitis is a classy name for generalized skin irritation, even excessive dryness. You can develop different types of dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is caused by contact with a skin irritant (a particular product or ingredient).
Atopic dermatitis is another term for eczema, which we’ll cover further down.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a condition that causes large patches of rough, flaky, irritated, and, yes, itchy skin. Psoriasis is an immune response, and it can be triggered by unrelated infections, weather conditions, and even stress.
Psoriasis causes your dead skin cells to build up and collect on the scaly surface of your skin and has red patches. These patches are common on the face and the joints (elbows and knees), and limbs.
Eczema
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is thought to be largely hereditary. If your family members have it, you could get it too.
Eczema is characterized by patches of red, rash-like skin that may also appear dry and are almost always itchy. While it’s very common to get eczema on your knees and arms, you can also develop patches on your face, and anywhere else you have skin (that’s everywhere).
Eczema is a really common skin issue, and sometimes light therapy methods are used to treat it. Phototherapy is a prescription treatment done in your dermatologist’s office, not just a mandate from your doc to get a little more sun.
Allergic Reaction
You may not even realize you’re allergic to a particular ingredient in a product, but if you’re getting itchy, rashy skin every time you use it, that’s a good sign.
Allergic skin reactions are called hives by the American Academy of Dermatology. Hives can be itchy, red, and inflamed areas on your skin that typically go away within a few days after you’ve been exposed to an allergen.
Hives can be treated with a topical pramoxine lotion, a cream containing menthol or calamine, or an antihistamine like loratadine (Claritin) or fexofenadine (Allegra), or other oral antihistamines, like Benadryl.
Bug Bites
You usually know if a couple of bugs has bitten you, and generally, the itching that comes from a bite will be localized. When you get an insect bite, and the itch won’t quit, grab some antihistamines or topical hydrocortisone creams to alleviate the symptoms fast.
Getting Relief For Itchy Skin
Ready to get relief fast? Here are our top four home remedies for itchy skin. The following tips may work for some and not others, so be patient!
1. Cold
Place a wet cloth in your refrigerator for ten minutes and let it cool. Then, apply the cloth to the affected area for 10-20 minutes. The cooling effect should give you relief and help alleviate any swelling you may be experiencing.
An ice pack will also work, but wrap it in a dishtowel before placing it on your skin.
2. Grab Your AOC
We don’t mean the politician. Your AOC (antihistamine of choice) can help soothe your skin if your itching is related to a bug bite or an allergic reaction. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is the most popular over-the-counter choice, but it can make you drowsy, so taking it just before bed is the safest option.
3. Soak it Up
Take a lukewarm bath and toss in some oats, but not the type you eat for breakfast. A colloidal oatmeal bath works by creating a protective barrier on your skin that helps keep moisture in and soothes skin irritation.
You can hack colloidal oats for a bath by grinding up whole, uncooked oats in a food processor until it forms a fine powder. Add the powder to your bath, and boom: instant relief.
4. Stay Fragrance-Free
Your natural scent is the best scent, especially when it comes to trying new products. Fragrances are proprietary in the U.S., so a company doesn’t have to disclose the ingredients that make up its signature scent. If a product is scented, you might never know the contents, so it's best to opt for something like fragrance-free mild soap.
Our products contain natural ingredients at Disco that give them a light scent without irritating your skin or exposing you to harsh chemicals.
5. Get Better Skin Care
If you’re suffering from itchy skin on the regular, it’s time to level up your skincare. Disco is the solution for guys that need to take care of their skin without a bunch of complicated steps or bottles of products cluttering their bathroom counters.
Our products are designed to keep your skin looking sexy and feeling comfortable. From our Hydrating Face Moisturizer to our deep cleansing Charcoal Facial Stick, you’ll find the remedy you need for the skincare issue you may not even realize you have.
Let’s Disco
That skin ain’t gonna itch itself, and you don’t have to spend your day scratching it either. Grab an anti-itch cream to treat your itchy areas, and rely on Disco’s line of skincare, formulated to work perfectly with the pH balance of your skin.
Sources:
10 reasons your skin itches uncontrollably and how to get relief | AAD.org
How to relieve itchy skin | AAD.org
Phototherapy for Eczema | Phototherapy for Atopic Dermatitis
