How to Relieve Itchy & Swollen Skin
Itchy, swollen skin is an aggravating, unsightly condition that can be caused by many factors, including hypersensitivity to foods, cleaning products, pet hair, viruses or fungi. If you experience skin irritations and eruptions, several self-treatment options may alleviate your symptoms while your body heals. However, if you do not experience relief within one to two days of self-treatment, seek professional treatment from a qualified health practitioner.
Itchy skin. (Image: abdone/iStock/Getty Images)Step 1
Place a bag of ice over the affected area for 15 minutes at a time, several times throughout the day. The ice will encourage your blood vessels to constrict, which will reduce swelling.
Step 2
Elevate the swollen area by raising your limbs or propping the swollen area up with pillows. Elevation encourages fluid drainage in the body, which in turn reduces swelling.
Step 3
Take cool baths or showers several times per day if the rash is located at random points throughout your body. Like ice, the cool baths will help your blood vessels constrict and encourage the swelling to reduce over time. Avoid warm or hot baths, which may irritate your skin and make the condition grow worse.
Step 4
Avoid any new perfumes, foods, beverages, clothes dyes, laundry detergents, bath oils or other skin care products, household cleaners and even costume jewelry that may be causing itchy, swollen skin on contact.
Step 5
Apply an over-the-counter 0.5 to 1 percent hydrocortisone cream to relieve minor itching and swelling.
Step 6
Mix enough water into 1 tablespoon of baking soda to make a paste. Apply the paste to the itchy spots on your skin. Let dry for five to 10 minutes before covering with clothing.
Step 7
Cut a ½-inch slice of aloe vera leaf and apply it directly to the itchy, swollen skin. Aloe vera contains antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties that assist in healing skin eruptions and irritations.
Step 8
Take an over-the-counter antihistamine; this oral medication can reduce swelling on the skin.
Step 9
Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you are not responding to any home treatments or over-the-counter topical and oral medications. You may have an infection that will only respond to oral antibiotics, which will have to be prescribed by your doctor.
Things You'll Need
Bag of ice
Pillows
0.5 to 1 percent hydrocortisone cream
Baking soda
1/2 slice of aloe vera leaf
Antihistamine
