27 Jun Why your skin itches
Itch, scratch, itch, scratch… it can be hard to work out why your skin itches! Here rare our top tips for helping to relieve an itch that just won’t go away…
Itchy skin isn’t just annoying. It can keep you up at night, preventing a good night’s sleep which in turn can even have an impact on your mental health and wellbeing. If your skin condition is severe, it can put you at risk of more problems from infections, as broken skin allows bacteria to get into the body.
In this short guide, we explain why your skin itches and what you can do to help keep your skin happy and healthy naturally.
Conditions that can cause itchy skin
When it comes to itchy skin, it’s often thanks to one of two main culprits – eczema or acne. These are common skin conditions that often involve the same uncomfortable symptom: irritated and itchy skin.
Eczema
Eczema is a condition that causes the skin to become itchy, dry, cracked and inflamed. It can affect any part of the body but is most commonly seen on the hands, insides of the elbows, backs of the knees, face and scalp.
The exact cause of the eczema is unknown. It often runs in families and frequently develops alongside other conditions like asthma, hay fever and other allergies. Common triggers for the itchy skin that goes with eczema include soaps and detergents, or stress and many people find their eczema affected by temperature, becoming worse in heat, or in the winter when it’s cold.
Acne
Acne is a condition that causes oily skin and spots – usually on the face, back and chest and – like eczema – is usually a long-term condition. Acne doesn’t cause itchy skin, but the scars left when acne cysts heal can be itchy, and some treatments cause the skin to dry out, making it itchy and uncomfortable.
Acne can’t be cured but it can be controlled with treatment. Plus, the majority of people grow out of the condition as they get older. Different treatments work best for different skin types.
Read our guide on getting rid of spots for your skin type.
Itching is a sign of dry skin
If your skin isn’t properly moisturised, it can become dry and very itchy. The best ways to remedy the dryness are by moisturising from within by drinking plenty of water and applying topical moisturisers to your skin.
You’ll also want to avoid abrasive products like strong soaps and the chemicals used to clean swimming pools. These are harsh and can really irritate the skin.
You skin may itch when it’s healing
As skin heals, for example after a pimple, it can be incredibly itchy. Think back to the last time you had a scab – the chances are it was itchy at some point. The process is similar when spots or blemishes heal.
To treat itchy acne, always ensure you wash pimples after the burst and avoid touching the affected areas. Applying a light moisturiser designed for acne-prone skin can also help to control dryness and inflammation.
Skin may itch if your skincare doesn’t agree with you
It’s also possible that itchy skin could be down to the products or makeup you’re using. Even if you haven’t got sensitive skin, there may be ingredients that don’t agree with your skin, leaving your skin dry, red and inflamed.
If you’re struggling to work out which skincare or makeup product is aggravating your skin, take a look at the ingredients. Sulphates, fragrances and alcohol (often labelled as ‘ethanol’) are common culprits.
Good Housekeeping has a very useful list of virtually every product that’s used in cosmetics and skincare products so you can find out more about them and identify any that may be causing your skin to itch.
Natural help for your skin from within
If putting products on your skin doesn’t help with the problems that cause itchiness, it is worth considering treating your skin with natural herbal medicines instead.
Designed to treat skin problems from within, HRI Clear Complexion is a licensed herbal remedy approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It is an ideal natural choice for treating the symptoms of skin conditions like mild acne or eczema.
It comes in easy-to-swallow, tablet form and can be taken daily. Suitable for vegetarians, it contains active extracts of Burdock root and Blue Flag rhizome – two natural ingredients that have powerful blemish-fighting capabilities.
The recommended dose is to take two or three tablets a day to help keep skin happy, healthy and beautifully clear.
HRI Teen Skin is our multivitamin plus created specifically for teenagers. It’s a unique vegan blend of 26 skin-boosting active ingredients including grapeseed and berry extracts, zinc and live cultures which help promote healthy, nourished and well-balanced skin.
Here’s what one Mum said about how Teen Skin has been helpful for her teenage son: “I have been emptying one tablet per day into a smoothie and my 15 year old son’s acne-prone skin is noticeably improved after 1 month. Less redness, fewer spots and an overall healthier appearance.”
