No need to scratch and suffer — you can calm that itch fast with a few ingredients from your kitchen or medicine cabinet. Whether it's poison ivy or poison oak, bug bites, or a mystery rash, this DIY anti-itch cream brings quick relief without a trip to the pharmacy.
This guide walks you through several effective remedies using things you probably already have at home. From antihistamine pastes to oatmeal masks and herbal sprays, there's a soothing topical solution for just about any kind of itch.
You will need
¾ cup hot water
½ oz. dried basil
2 oz. witch hazel
15 drops tea tree oil
½ oz. cloves (optional)
Use antihistamines
Crush several antihistamine tablets and add a few drops of water to make a paste. Spread the paste on the itchy area. Antihistamines contain diphenhydramine, which numbs the skin.
Use oatmeal
Mix the hot water with a 1½-ounce packet of instant oatmeal. Let it cool and spread it on the itch. Oatmeal has anti-itch properties and is effective for large areas, such as those affected by chicken pox, poison oak, and poison ivy.
Mix baking soda and water
Mix three parts baking soda with one part water and apply the resulting paste to the itchy area. The paste will harden into a crust and soothe irritated skin.
You can also make a solution of 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in a quart of water and apply it with a washcloth.
Use aloe vera
Snap off an aloe vera leaf, split it down the middle, and squeeze the gel onto the itch.
Use basil
Make a tea with ½ ounce dried basil and 1 pint of water. Cover the tea until it cools, and then apply it to irritated skin with a washcloth. Basil contains a natural anesthetic called eugenol.
You can substitute cloves for basil. Cloves are also high in eugenol.
Mix solution
Mix 2 ounces of witch hazel, 2 ounces of aloe vera gel, and 15 drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle. Spray your itch with the solution.
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