Hidradenitis Suppurativa Home Treatments and Natural Remedies
Itch Busters For Eczema Irritation
To find relief for your eczema may take trial and error. What works well for one person may not ease your symptoms. It's a good idea to keep an open mind -- and find lots of options.
Moisturizers: Creams and ointments ease inflammation and put water back into your skin to help it heal. Put it on several times a day, including right after you bathe or shower. Petroleum jelly and mineral oil work well since they form a thick barrier over your skin.
Products with glycerin, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and urea may also help since they also help pull water into your skin.
Coal tar: Your doctor may suggest a product that contains coal tar. Extract of crude tar has treated eczema and other skin problems for more than 2,000 years. Although it's messy and many people don't like the strong smell, it may help soothe your skin.
Wet wraps: When your eczema's flaring, soak some gauze, bandages, or pieces of soft clothing in cool water, then put them on your skin. The coolness will relieve itching, and the moisture will help creams or lotions work even better.
Talk to your doctor to find out how often you can use wet wrap therapy. If you do it too much, your skin may get infected.
Hydrocortisone creams: Hydrocortisone is a steroid that helps keep redness, itching, and swelling at bay. You can buy low-strength creams and lotions at the store. If those don't help, your doctor may prescribe you something that's stronger-acting.
It's safe to put hydrocortisone on most body parts as many as four times a day for up to 7 days, as long as you're not pregnant or breastfeeding. If you do use it, keep it away from your eyes, rectum, and genitals.
It's also important to note that some people have a severe reaction to hydrocortisone. If you have trouble breathing or swallowing, or notice a skin rash after you use it, call 911 or your doctor.
Calamine lotion (zinc oxide, ferric oxide) can be put in the refrigerator and helps relieve itch quickly.
Your doctor might also prescribe other topical medicines to treat eczema flares, such as crisaborole (Eucrisa), pimecrolimus (Elidel), or tacrolimus (Protopic). Dupilumab (Dupixent) is an option that is a shot. Oral options include abrocitinib (Cibinqo) and upadacitinib (Rinvoq).
Antihistamines: Over-the-counter allergy meds don't work well for itchy skin caused by eczema. But antihistamines that are known to cause drowsiness can help you sleep if you take them before bed.
Keep cool: Keeping cool and keeping your rooms cool can reduce itch.
Acupuncture: This ancient Eastern practice is based on the belief that paths of energy flow through the body. When they become blocked, your health takes a hit. By gently inserting thin needles just under the surface of your skin, energy is "unstuck," and your health may improve.
Studies show that people with eczema who try acupuncture or acupressure (which doesn't use needles) get relief from itching after only a few treatments.
Relaxation techniques: There's a strong link between stress and your skin. Plus, you're prone to scratch more when your emotions are running high.
Self-hypnosis, meditation, and biofeedback therapy have all been shown to ease eczema symptoms. You may also want to see a therapist. Doing so can ease stress. It can also help you change habits or negative thought patterns that may be adding to your skin problems.
Coconut oil: It seems to lessen the amount of staph bacteria on the skin, which lowers the chance of infection. Apply it to damp skin once or twice a day. "Virgin" or "cold pressed" coconut oils are best because they don't have chemicals that could irritate the skin.
Sunflower oil: This oil is particularly good at holding in moisture. It may also lessen inflammation. Rub it in a couple of times a day, at least once after a shower or bath to seal in moisture. Don't use it if you're allergic to sunflower seeds.
Other complementary treatments: Some people use supplements of different types to help. There is some evidence that vitamin B12 made into a cream helps some people with eczema. (This may need to be made by a specialty pharmacy in consultation with your doctor.) Others say that certain vitamin and mineral supplements help with symptoms of eczema, though there is little supporting evidence. In addition, some supplements can be harmful on their own or when taken with another supplement or medication. That's why it's always best to check with your health care provider before you try anything new.
Foods That Trigger Itchy Skin
About 8% of children and 10% of adults in the United States have food allergies. Itching is the most common symptom of an allergic reaction to food. It can begin within a few minutes or a few hours of eating even a tiny amount of the allergy-causing food. The itchiness may be in your mouth or on your skin, often in the form of a rash such as hives or eczema. You might also have swelling.
If your food allergy symptoms become more severe, such as trouble breathing or dizziness, seek emergency help right away.
More than 170 foods are known to cause allergic reactions, and if you're allergic to one food, you're more likely to be allergic to other foods. The most common way to treat food allergies is to avoid the allergy-causing food and consider seeing an allergist for allergy testing.
Below are some of the most common foods that cause itchy skin and other allergy symptoms.
Milk. A milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children, who can be allergic to breastmilk, cow's milk, or milk from other mammals like goats, buffalo, and sheep. Symptoms of a milk allergy include hives, wheezing, and digestive problems. Symptoms that may take longer to develop include loose stools, abdominal cramps, and colic in babies. Many kids outgrow milk allergies, but not all children do.
Milk allergies are different from lactose intolerance, though both can cause digestive problems. A milk allergy triggers an immune system response, and milk intolerance does not. Also, lactose intolerance requires different treatment.
Eggs. An egg allergy is also one of the most common types of food allergies in children, and 70% of kids will outgrow it. An egg allergy occurs when the body's immune system reacts to the proteins found in egg yolks and egg whites. Symptoms include hives, indigestion, wheezing, swelling, and shortness of breath. Some people with eczema find that eating eggs aggravates the itchy skin condition. If you're allergic to chicken eggs, you may also be allergic to other types of eggs, such as goose, duck, turkey, or quail.
Fish. Unlike milk and eggs, a fish allergy is one that may develop in adulthood. Up to 40% of people who report having a fish allergy said it was not an issue until they were adults. An allergy to finned fish, such as tuna or salmon, is different from an allergy to shellfish, such as lobster (more on that next). Symptoms include skin rash, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, and stuffy nose.
Shellfish. A shellfish allergy is triggered by foods like shrimp, crab, lobster, squid, oysters, and scallops. Some people are allergic to all types of shellfish, and other people are allergic to certain types. Symptoms are similar to fish allergy symptoms, such as hives, swelling of the face, wheezing, and nausea.
Wheat. Wheat is a common ingredient in bread, but it's also in food you may not expect, such as hot dogs and soy sauce. A wheat allergy is different from a gluten allergy. A wheat allergy happens when your body reacts to the proteins found in wheat, which are albumin, globulin, gliadin, and gluten. With celiac disease, the gluten protein in particular causes an abnormal immune system reaction.
Soy, Soy, a legume that's often used in baby formula and processed foods, is a common food allergen in children under age 3. Like milk and egg allergies, many kids outgrow this allergy by adulthood. Symptoms include itchy skin, especially on the face and mouth.
Peanuts. Peanut allergies are the most common cause of food-related anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that requires emergency medical treatment. Besides from eating peanuts, reactions can also happen from cross-contamination from other food and inhaling peanut dust or peanut oil spray. Symptoms are similar to other food allergy symptoms: itching, hives, swelling, digestive problems, runny nose, and trouble breathing.
Tree nuts. Like peanuts, tree nuts are another common cause of anaphylaxis from food. There are many tree nuts, including cashews, almonds, walnuts, and pine nuts. An allergic reaction may come from the nut itself or nut-based oils, butter, flours, or milks. Between 25% and 40% of people who have a peanut allergy also are allergic to at least one type of tree nut.
Sesame. Sesame allergies are ninth most common cause of food allergies. Most people who are allergic to sesame will have other food allergies. Symptoms range from mild skin rash to anaphylaxis.
Sesame is used as a seed, oil, or paste in many products including food, medicines, cosmetics, and pet food. But sesame does not have to be listed on food products as an allergen. Read food labels and ingredient lists closely to look for sesame.
If you think you have a food allergy, stop eating it and make an appointment with your doctor or an allergist. They will ask about your symptoms and family history with allergies, and they may give you a physical exam.
Your doctor may recommend a skin prick test, where skin on your arm or back is pricked with a tiny amount of various allergy triggers. If your skin gets red, swollen, or itchy, then you are allergic to the food or substance. Your doctor also may order a blood test, where your blood is drawn and tested in a lab with different foods. They also measure the amount of an allergy-related antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE).
Your doctor may suggest that you not eat the suspected food for a few weeks, and then slowly add the food back to see how you feel. This is called an elimination diet. But elimination diets cannot tell the difference between a food allergy and a food sensitivity. And they are not recommended for people who had a serious reaction to the food in the past.
The only way to completely avoid an allergic reaction is to not eat the allergy-causing food. But accidents happen. If you have a mild allergic reaction, an over-the-counter antihistamine can help soothe minor symptoms. Serious reactions may require an injection of epinephrine, whether at a hospital or from an autoinjector such as an EpiPen.
Itchy Belly Button
Several things can cause a belly button itch, from allergic reactions to insect bites. While some causes may clear up on their own, others require professional treatment.
Causes of itchy belly button
Typically, an itchy belly button results from either a rash around your navel or an infection in your navel. Some of the specific causes of an itchy belly button include:
EczemaAlso known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is a condition that can make the skin in and around your navel itchy and red.
Treatment: There is no cure for eczema. Wash with gentle soap, and then rinse and dry your belly button thoroughly. If you have an "outie" belly button, moisturize it twice a day. Don't moisturize an "innie" belly button — keep it dry.
Contact dermatitisWhen your skin comes in contact with a substance that causes an allergic reaction (allergen) or an irritant, the reaction is called contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis usually itches and appears as a red rash that sometimes blisters.
Treatment: Avoid the allergen or irritant. Use a topical over-the-counter (OTC) anti-itch cream with a minimum of 1 percent hydrocortisone, or take an OTC oral antihistamine such as:
Find out more about contact dermatitis treatments.
Yeast infectionCandida is a type of yeast that commonly grows in damp, dark areas of your body. It can cause a yeast infection known as candidiasis. Along with a white discharge, candidiasis can cover your navel with an itchy, red rash.
Treatment: Use an antifungal cream such as miconazole nitrate (Micatin, Monistat-Derm) or clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex), and keep your navel clean and dry.
Bacterial infectionLint, sweat, and dead skin can collect in your navel and lead to bacterial growth and infection. Sometimes an infection in your belly button can result in a brownish or yellowish discharge.
Treatment: Your doctor might prescribe antibiotics such as penicillin or cephalosporin (Keflex). Keep your belly button clean and dry.
Infected navel piercingJust like any piercing, a belly button piercing can become infected.
Treatment: Leave the piercing in and keep the area clean and dry. Use topical antibiotics such as Neosporin or Duospore. Your doctor might also prescribe oral antibiotics.
Insect biteMosquitos, spiders, bed bugs, and fleas all have bites that look like tiny, red bumps.
Treatment: Use an OTC topical anti-itch cream containing at least 1 percent hydrocortisone, or take an OTC oral antihistamine such as:
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