How to Deal With an All-Night Itch

Nothing is more annoying and uncomfortable than an itch that won't seem to go away. Especially, when you are trying to get a good night's rest. If you need relief from an all-night itch, try and stop the itching with a few simple things.

Instructions

1. Use a cold treatment. The feeling of cold and the feeling of itching travel along the same nerve fibers. Apply something cold to clog the nerve fibers and prevent you from feeling the itch. Run cold water over the afflicted area. Take a cold shower. Apply ice packs or ice cubes to the itchy spot to find some relief.

2. Apply topical ointments. Many over-the-counter products help numb the nerve endings and stop the itch. Look for anti-itch creams with the following active ingredients: camphor, menthol, phenol, pramoxine, diphenhydramine and benzocaine. Go to a 24-hour pharmacy. Speak to the pharmacist about which ointment is best for you.

3. Use lotions with soothing compounds. Apply lotions to sooth your itch. Look for lotions with chamomile, eucalyptus or calamine as a key ingredient. Apply the lotions frequently and generously.

4. Take an oral treatment. Use an antihistamine and get some sleep. Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine dull nerve endings to give itch relief and may make you drowsy. Talk to your pharmacist about which over-the-counter antihistamine is best for you.

Tips & Warnings

• Always talk to your doctor when you have a persistent itch. You may have an underlying medical condition that cannot be cured with over-the-counter itch remedies.

• Always consult a pharmacist about proper dosing on over-the-counter medications.

• Avoid scratching. Scratching only relieves the itch temporarily. What worse, scratching makes you vulnerable to skin infections and potential bacterial infections.