Itching in the body can be caused by many things, ranging from insect bites, allergies, to certain diseases, such as diabetes. To treat itching, you can use over-the-counter itching medication. However, the use of these drugs needs to be adjusted to the cause of the itching.
Itching or pruritus can affect certain parts of the body or the whole body. Itching can sometimes also appear along with other symptoms, such as skin rashes, hives, and dry, scaly, and cracked skin.
The itching that appears can last for a while and subside on its own. However, sometimes complaints of itching can last longer and feel heavy enough to interfere with comfort.
To deal with severe itching, you can use a full body itching medicine. The use of these drugs is useful for relieving itching as well as preventing wounds or infections caused by scratching the skin.
Various Causes of Itching
To treat itching, the first thing that needs to be done is to find out the cause. There are a variety of conditions that can cause itching, including:
- Allergic reactions, such as food allergies, dust, and insect bites, or from exposure to chemicals, such as the use of cosmetics or detergents
- Infections, such as fungal or tick infections (scabies)
- Skin disorders, such as dry skin, eczema, atopic dermatitis, hives, prickly heat, and psoriasis
- Nervous system disorders, for example multiple sclerosis, pinched nerves, and herpes zoster
- Certain diseases, such as liver disease, kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, iron deficiency anemia, thyroid disorders, and cancer
- Pregnancy
- Psychological problems, such as severe stress and depression
Safe whole body itching medicine
The most important thing in treating hives is knowing and avoiding the triggers. If itching is caused by certain diseases, such as diabetes, treatment of itching needs to be done by controlling blood sugar levels.
In addition, you can use several types of itching medication to help relieve itching. Some of these drugs can be purchased over the counter, while others need to be purchased with a doctor's prescription.
The following are some types of itching all over the body that are often used to treat itching or pruritus:
1. Antihistamines
Antihistamines work by blocking the production of histamine in the skin, which can trigger itching. Histamine is a substance released by the body when an allergic reaction occurs.
Some types of antihistamines, such as chlorpheniramine, can cause drowsiness so it is better consumed at night. However, there are also antihistamines that have a lower risk of causing drowsiness, for example loratadine or cetirizine.
To determine which type of antihistamine is right for you, you need to first consult with your doctor.
2. Corticosteroids
Corticosteroid drugs can be used to treat itching all over the body caused by inflammation. This drug is available in the form of oral tablets and topical medications, such as ointments or creams hydrocortisone. Corticosteroid drugs are usually used to treat inflammation and itching due to insect bites, eczema, dermatitis, or allergies.
3. Non-steroidal topical medication
This drug is available in the form of creams, lotions, gels, powders, and you can get them over the counter without a doctor's prescription. Some examples of non-steroidal topical medications that can treat itching are calamine lotion, creams containing menthol and capsaicin, or ointments. pramoxine.
4. Antidepressants
class of antidepressants selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), such as sertraline or fluoxetine, can also reduce various types of itching on the skin. Usually this drug is used to treat itching due to neurological disorders or psychological problems, as well as itching that does not improve with other treatments.
However, this whole body itching medicine can only be obtained through a doctor's prescription and its use must also be under the supervision of a doctor.
5. Antibiotics
If you often scratch the itchy body parts that cause skin damage, skin festering, or boils appear due to infection, then the skin infection needs to be treated with antibiotics according to a doctor's prescription.
6. Herbal medicine
In addition to medical drugs, there are also herbal medicines that are believed to reduce itching. For example, mint leaf essential oil to treat itching due to insect bites, diabetes, or kidney disease.
In addition, other essential oils containing flower extract chamomile, lavender, aloe vera, and tea tree oil It can also be used to treat itching complaints.
However, the effectiveness of herbal medicines in overcoming itching has not been ascertained. If you do not experience improvement in your symptoms or your itching gets worse when you use herbal remedies, you should stop using it and consult a dermatologist.
Some Other Options for Overcoming Itching
In addition to using over-the-counter itching medication, you can also relieve itching at home in the following ways:
- Do not scratch the itchy area, because it can cause wounds and infections, and hinder the healing process of the skin
- Use moisturizer to prevent dry skin
- Avoid taking too long a bath (no more than 5 minutes) or taking a hot shower
- Avoid itch triggers when you already know what's causing the itching, such as soap, detergent, perfume, stress, or heat
- Give a cold compress on the itchy area
Mild itching usually goes away on its own without treatment. You need to consult a dermatologist if the itching is very severe and interferes with activities, lasts for more than 2 weeks, and does not improve with home treatments.
Before prescribing medication, the doctor will first conduct an examination to determine the cause of the itching you feel. After the cause is known, the doctor can only prescribe the appropriate full body itching medication.