Getting under your skin usually refers to irritating someone. Nothing is more irritating than itchy skin.
Would you agree?
It can keep you awake at night, or distract you from being able to do routine tasks. It makes you want to scratch!
Sometimes it can be accompanied by a rash or other visible skin irritation, but your skin can also look normal.
Also referred to as pruritus, there are many common suggestions when itch is a constant.
You'll typically hear advice such as stay hydrated, moisturize your skin, use mild soaps and detergents.
You have probably been told to take an oatmeal bath, or increase dietary fats.
If you have itchy skin you’ve likely tried all of these things.
Here's the kicker: if histamine or mast cells are involved, then those suggestions usually don’t work.
Solutions on offer
The next step suggested by your medical team will typically involve a topical cortisone cream. It works brilliantly to manage itch, but at a cost. Read our recent blog on eczema if you haven’t already to find out what cortisone does to your skin.
Antihistamines can block histamine binding, which can help control itch. If your itch responds to antihistamines, then that is clear sign that histamine is involved.
Dig a little deeper
We invite you to get to the root of things, figure out what is driving the symptoms.
Start by reducing your overall histamine load; it's an important step. Clearing histamine is important too. Think of it as you would a sink. We wrote a blog post on this a while back. How big is your sink? And is it working properly?
When your sink overflows, that's when the symptoms show up. Eczema = sink overflow. So figure out why your sink is overflowing in the first place! Is it that your tap is forever dripping in your sink? Can you turn it off at all? Or maybe, is it that the plug at the bottom that isn't draining properly?
Or is it a combination of the two? This is where working with a trusted practitioner can be of service.
Itch accompanied by eczema or hives
If your itch is accompanied by eczema or hives, then be sure to read our recent blogs on the subjects for some additional tips and insights. The tips shared there will also be of benefit when chronic itchy skin is in the picture.
In our upcoming book, Tracey shares her story of how she used tube socks to manage her itchiness. Have you pre-ordered your copy yet?
Don't knock it til you've tried it...
Long-term itch can also be a sign of other health conditions on the go, so always discuss your symptoms with your doctor first.
Know this: itchy skin is one of those ways your body is letting you know something is up. Get it checked out, do a bit of digging to figure out what's at the root of it all, and start putting some of these practical pieces shared here in our blog and on social media in place to help alleviate the itch.
Want a concrete list of steps you can start putting in place for yourself if itchy skin is a constant in your life?
You just missed our most recent free Histamine Connection class on skin. But we'll be doing another one soon. Check out our next live class here, or join our Online Community. A recorded version of our Histamine Connection Master Class is available on demand in there! (Join the Online Community at no cost here.)
We share 3 tips to get started, and 3 food and nutrient ideas so you can start reducing potential water coming in to your sink. When you reduce the incoming water, you start to reduce the overflow! When you reduce the overflow, you reduce the itchy skin and other symptoms. Who doesn't want that?