What helps dry, itchy skin all over the body?

Is dry skin causing the itch?

Dry skin happens when skin loses too much water and oil. Look for roughness, flaking, peeling, tightness after bathing or cracks that bleed. Dryness can affect any part of the body, although the hands, feet, arms and lower legs are common places. Cold winter air, indoor heating, air conditioning, frequent hot showers and some soaps or detergents can all contribute.1

Dryness is a common cause of itching, not the only one. Eczema, contact irritation, hives, bites and skin infections can also itch. Widespread itching can occur with medicine reactions, pregnancy, iron deficiency anemia, kidney disease or liver disease. These possibilities are reasons to get assessed, not a way to diagnose yourself from a list.2

How to wash and moisturize without making dryness worse

1. 1Keep baths and showers to 5 to 10 minutes, using warm rather than hot water. For ordinary dry skin, bathe no more than once daily.
2. 2Use a gentle cleanser or moisturizing soap. Concentrate cleanser on your face, underarms, genital areas, hands and feet rather than soaping every inch.
3. 3Skip scrubbing. Pat your skin gently with a towel, leaving it slightly damp.
4. 4Apply moisturizer straight after bathing. For older adults, apply a creamy, fragrance free moisturizer within 3 minutes.
5. 5Reapply moisturizer 2 to 3 times daily, or whenever your skin feels dry. Include a bedtime application if itching bothers you at night.

Vigorous toweling can increase dryness, so the towel does not need a second career as sandpaper. Notice whether itching starts after bathing: hot water, harsh soap or washing too often can explain that pattern. Switch to quick, lukewarm showers and a mild, fragrance free moisturizing cleanser.5

Which moisturizer should you choose?

Look for ceramides, which help trap water and restore the skin's protective barrier. Avoid fragrance in lotions, laundry detergent and fabric softener if these irritate your dry skin. A moisturizing cleanser should clean without stripping away natural moisture.5

What if you have eczema or sensitive skin?

For atopic dermatitis, the common type of eczema that makes skin itchy, raw and sensitive, choose a fragrance free cream or ointment rather than a lotion. Moisturize after bathing and whenever skin feels dry. Fragrance can trigger a flare, and other ingredients can too. Eczema care also involves identifying triggers and following an individual treatment plan, which can include medication.7

Unscented is not the same as fragrance free: fragrance can be covered up rather than removed, which is an unusually elaborate way to sell the absence of a smell. For eczema, choose products explicitly labeled fragrance free.7

If you have eczema, test a new skincare product before using it widely. Apply a quarter sized amount to the inside of your arm daily for 7 to 10 days. Use it more widely only if the skin stays clear. Avoid overheating and sweating if these trigger your eczema.7

Why is the itching worse at night?

Skin loses moisture at night, and changes in body temperature and hormones can contribute to itching. A heated bedroom with low humidity can make dryness worse. Nighttime itching can happen without a visible rash, so the absence of bumps does not explain the cause.4

• Apply moisturizer during the day and before bed.
• Use a cool, wet compress to calm an itchy area.
• Wear soft, loose cotton clothing to bed.
• Keep the bedroom cool, around 60 to 69 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 16 to 21 degrees Celsius.
• Avoid scratching: broken skin can bleed and become infected.

What else should you change?

For eczema, choose loose cotton clothing, fragrance free and dye free detergent, and wash new clothes before wearing them. Remove tags that irritate your skin; a care label does not need to remain in direct correspondence with your shoulder. Avoid wool against the skin. Cotton towels and sheets can also help reduce eczema flares.7

Skin becomes thinner and loses water more easily in your 60s and 70s. A very dry area can benefit from an ointment, which holds water better than a cream. Use a humidifier when indoor air feels dry; humidity between 45% and 60% can reduce dry, itchy skin. Avoid bath oil because it increases the risk of slips and falls.3

Can you use itch creams or other medicines?

Hydrocortisone cream is an option for inflamed, itchy areas. Oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine can help some itching but can cause drowsiness. With widespread itching, seek advice about the cause and suitable treatment rather than treating every area the same way. If itching began after a new medicine, tell your prescriber. Pregnancy is also relevant to the assessment.12

Smooth moisturizer gently in the direction of hair growth. If you also use a steroid cream or another skin treatment, leave 20 to 30 minutes between applications and ask your doctor which goes first. Ask a pharmacist or clinician about persistent burning, stinging or inflamed hair follicles. Keep emollient coated clothing and bedding away from flames and cigarettes, even after washing. Use a clean spoon for products in tubs.6

How quickly should the itching improve?

Moisturizer or a cool compress can give immediate relief from nighttime itching. Complete improvement can take several days to several weeks, depending on the cause. An underlying condition can take months or longer to manage. Itching lasting six weeks or more is called chronic itching, but you should not wait six weeks to seek help for widespread symptoms.45

When should you see a doctor?

Get itching all over the body checked promptly, especially when the cause is unclear or it keeps returning. Seek care if itching is severe, persists despite self care, occurs without a visible rash or keeps you awake. Open sores from scratching also need assessment. Fever, pain or a wound that will not heal can signal infection.124

Note when itching began, whether it follows bathing or worsens at night, and any new soaps, detergents or medicines. Tell the clinician about unexplained symptoms such as fever or weight loss. An examination and medical history help identify the cause; blood tests can check kidney, liver or thyroid function when needed.45