12 Essential Oils That Soothe Itchy Skin Fast
Itching can be an extremely irritating sensation that makes you want to scratch your skin repeatedly. It can arise due to a variety of causes and range in severity from mild to intense. While scratching provides temporary relief, it can damage your skin and make the problem worse.
Itching, also known as pruritus, is the irritating feeling that compels a desire to scratch. It is medically defined as pruritus. The itchiness is often localized to a specific area of skin, but sometimes can occur all over the body.
What Causes Itching?
Itching can be triggered by a number of internal and external factors that irritate the skin or nerves. Here are some of the common causes:
Dry Skin
Lack of moisture and oils in the skin can make it tight, flaky and very itchy. Low humidity, excessive bathing, harsh soaps, dry winter weather are drying factors that can cause itchy skin.
People with naturally dry skin types are more prone to this problem. Dryness makes the skin lose elasticity and become prone to cracks and fissures which exposes nerve endings that induce itching.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions to foods, fragrances, plants, jewelry metals like nickel, etc can trigger itchy bumps on the skin. When the immune system is exposed to an allergen, it causes release of histamine which leads to symptoms like redness, swelling and severe itchiness.
Some common allergens leading to itchy skin include eggs, peanuts, shellfish, pollen, pet dander and certain medication. The itchy rash typically develops within minutes to hours of exposure.
Insect Bites
Bites from insects like mosquitoes, bees, wasps, spiders, mites cause localized itching and swelling. This is an allergic reaction to the salivary fluid or venom injected by the insect into the skin.
Mosquito bites are especially itchy because the mosquito injects an anticoagulant like histamine alongside the saliva to keep the blood flowing. The histamine triggers inflammation and nerve stimulation causing persistent itch.
Eczema
Eczema refers to skin conditions that cause inflamed, irritated, overly sensitive skin that itches persistently. Areas like the hands, feet, back of the knees, face and neck are most prone to eczema outbreaks.
In eczema, the skin barrier function deteriorates allowing moisture loss as well as entry of irritants and allergens that trigger itching and skin damage.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis speeds up the life cycle of skin cells causing them to build up rapidly on the surface. The buildup of cells forms red, scaly patches on the skin that are very itchy. Common areas are elbows, knees, scalp and hands.
The abnormal immune response also causes inflammation and dilation of blood vessels which makes the areas warm, painful and itchy. Scratching further triggers new psoriasis patches.
Prickly Heat
Prickly heat, also called miliaria, occurs when sweat gland pores get blocked and clogged due to factors like hot weather, synthetic fabrics, sunburns. The trapped sweat causes itchy red bumps and rashes on covered parts of the body.
It is most common in babies and children due to their underdeveloped sweat glands. The areas typically affected include neck, back, abdomen. The itchiness stems from inflammation caused due to the skin obstruction.
Skin Infections
Bacterial, viral or fungal infections on the skin can also manifest with itchiness. For example, ringworm is a contagious fungal infection that causes a red, itchy rash in circular pattern on scalp, body or feet.
Bacterial infections like impetigo, cellulitis involve red, itchy bumps or blisters on the skin surface. Viral infections like shingles, chickenpox, measles also cause itchy blisters and rashes.
Liver Disorders
Liver diseases like hepatitis, cirrhosis, obstructive jaundice lead to accumulation of bile salts under the skin which creates severe itching. This is referred to as cholestatic pruritus.
Sometimes no rash is visible on the skin. The itching is typically worse at night and located on the hands and feet. Treatments target reducing bile salt levels and antihistamines provide some relief.
Kidney Disease
In advanced kidney disease, itching is a common symptom due to the buildup of toxins and waste in blood that are not filtered properly. This is called uremic pruritus.
It can occur all over the body but commonly affects the back, arms legs. Dialysis treatment helps reduce itching by filtering out waste.
Blood Cancers
People with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, polycythemia vera and other blood cancers may experience itching resulting from abnormal levels of white blood cells or platelets in the blood stream. This is known as paraneoplastic itching.
Antihistamines, steroids, light therapy help temporarily relieve this type of itching associated with blood cancers.
How Essential Oils Help With Itching
Itching is often tied to inflammation, allergies, infections and other skin disorders. Using essential oils is beneficial because they provide localized therapeutic benefits without the side effects of oral medications.
Essential oils like lavender, tea tree, peppermint, eucalyptus etc. contain plant compounds that make them effective against itching due to the following properties:
Anti-inflammatory
Essential oils help reduce inflammatory chemicals like leukotrienes, prostaglandins and histamine that are released in conditions like allergic reactions, eczema, psoriasis etc. This calms the irritation and itchiness.
Lavender, geranium, basil oils contain powerful anti-inflammatory compounds. The swelling and redness responsible for itch is diminished with topical application at the affected spot.
Antimicrobial
Many essential oils have bactericidal, fungicidal or virucidal action against microbes that infect the skin. Oils like oregano, thyme, tea tree, cinnamon are strongly antimicrobial and fight infections that cause itchy rashes.
Applying diluted essential oils inhibits microbial overgrowth and treats secondary infections that may develop from excessive scratching and wounding of skin.
Analgesic
Essential oils like clove, peppermint, eucalyptus have desensitizing effect on nerve endings in the skin due to their chemical makeup. This provides pain relief which reduces the itchiness sensation emanating from skin nerves.
Clove oil in particular contains eugenol that temporarily numbs nerve endings. Applying to itchy skin diminishes the urge to scratch.
Sedative
Sedative essential oils have calming effect on the skin. They reduce irritation and sensations of itching that disrupt normal nerve function. Oils like lavender, Roman chamomile, clary sage relax the skin and provide soothing relief.
Using them in baths or massaging onto affected areas promotes restful sleep by alleviating itch that keeps people awake. The skin nerves become less stimulated with their regular use.
Antioxidant
Itching is often associated with inflamed skin and oxidative damage of cell membranes. Antioxidant rich essential oils like thyme, oregano protect skin cell health and curb itching caused by free radical activity and toxins.
They repair irritated skin prone to rashes and allergic reactions by neutralizing free radicals that aggravate nerve sensitivity and itchiness.
Skin Moisturizing
Some essential oils help improve moisture retention and oil production in the skin which helps restore normal texture. Oils like sandalwood, geranium, frankincense protect skin’s moisture barrier.
By preventing water loss and retaining skin’s moisture balance, they alleviate itchiness caused by excessive dryness of the skin. Their emollient properties leave skin smooth.
12 Best Essential Oils for Itching
Here are some of the best essential oils to try for reducing itchiness fast:
1. Lavender Oil
Lavender essential oil is renowned for its skin soothing, calming properties. It reduces inflammation and irritation responsible for itchy skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and allergic rashes.
The main active components in lavender oil are linalyl acetate and linalool which provide powerful localized relief by reducing swelling, pain and itch intensity.
Lavender oil also promotes faster healing of wounds, burns and scars that can become very itchy during the recovery process. It prevents infection risk due to its antimicrobial nature.
How to use: Mix 5 drops lavender oil with 1 teaspoon carrier oil like jojoba oil or coconut oil. Gently rub the oil blend into the affected area for relief from itching 2-3 times a day.
2. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia plant native to Australia. It is a popular remedy to heal skin issues and reduce itching due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action.
It contains terpinen-4-ol that makes it effective against bacterial, fungal and viral skin infections like acne, athlete’s foot, wounds etc. that can cause secondary itching.
The oil also reduces redness, swelling and allergic skin reactions. It helps heal rashes, insect bites and eczema outbreaks that cause persistent itchiness.
How to use: Dilute 3 drops tea tree oil with a tablespoon of carrier oil like coconut oil. Dab on itchy areas using a cotton ball 3 times daily for relief.
3. Chamomile Oil
Chamomile oil has been used since Ancient Egyptian times to treat various skin and digestive ailments. Today it is commonly known to reduce skin irritation, inflammation and itchiness due to compounds like bisabolol, chamazulene and flavonoids.
It has mild anesthetic effect that reduces the skin’s sensitivity to itching triggers. It calms rashes caused by eczema, allergies, acne or insect bites. Chamomile oil speeds up healing time and prevents scars from becoming itchy.
How to use: Add 4-5 drops chamomile oil to a cup of bathwater and soak in it. Can also mix with a tablespoon of carrier oil and apply directly on itchy skin as needed.
4. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint essential oil instantly provides cooling relief from itching due to its high menthol content. It is very effective against rashes and skin inflammation caused by poison ivy or pets.
Peppermint oil reduces temperature sensations and desensitizes skin nerves to prevent the urge to scratch chronic itchy spots. It also helps dry out rashes and provides antiseptic benefits.
How to use: Mix 2 drops peppermint oil with coconut or olive oil and dab on itchy areas. Reapply 2-3 times daily until the itchiness subsides.
5. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil improves circulation and blood flow to the skin which helps reduce inflammation, speed up healing and curb itchiness. It cools the skin and creates a tingling anesthetic sensation.
It also aids in balancing the skin’s oil production and retaining moisture which alleviates itching triggered by dry skin. The antimicrobial action of eucalyptus oil treats fungal skin infections too.
How to use: Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to moisturizer or carrier oil and massage onto itchy skin. Can also use in baths for whole body relief.
6. Bergamot Oil
Bergamot oil provides quick relief when itchy spots flare up unexpectedly due to its rich flavonoid and volatile compound content like linalool, linalyl acetate and limonene that possess analgesic properties.
By calming nerves in the affected area, bergamot oil stops itchiness in its tracks so there’s no urge to scratch. It also ensures the area heals faster by preventing infection due to its antimicrobial nature.
How to use: Mix with a carrier oil and gently rub onto affected areas. Repeat application 2-3 times daily as needed for itch relief.
7. Geranium Oil
Geranium oil balances sebum production, heals damaged skin cells and reduces inflammatory chemicals that trigger chronic itchiness due to conditions like eczema.
It tightens enlarged pores and constricts blood vessels underneath the skin which alleviates irritation. The anti-itch compounds like geraniol and citronellol restore skin health and provide astringent benefits.
How to use: Add a few drops to a tablespoon of carrier oil and massage onto clean skin after bathing to prevent itching flareups.
8. Rosemary Oil
Rosemary oil is an effective essential oil for itch relief because it contains analgesic chemicals like camphor, borneol, cineole that reduce nerve sensitivity on application to the skin’s surface.
It also enhances microcirculation in the area when massaged which provides soothing relief from the inflammation and itchiness triggered by rashes, allergic reactions and eczema.
The rich antioxidant content of rosemary oil also repairs skin damage due to scratching which in turn diminishes itch.
How to use: Add 5-6 drops rosemary oil to a moisturizing cream and massage into affected areas twice daily.
9. Lemongrass Oil
Lemongrass oil provides quick relief when a bout of itching strikes suddenly. It has astringent and antimicrobial properties that help tighten enlarged pores and treat fungal infections causing itchiness.
It reduces inflammation and swelling associated with dermatitis or hive outbreaks. The citral and geraniol compounds in lemongrass oil relieve itch caused by ringworm and heat rashes as well.
How to use: Dilute 4-5 drops lemongrass oil with fractionated coconut oil and apply on clean skin. Reapply 2-3 times a day.
10. Basil Oil
Sweet basil oil contains flavonoids like orientin and vicenin are known to reduce itchiness caused by rashes, insect bites, scrapes and eczema. It also helps heal skin damage faster.
Basil oil provides relief from the pain and itching caused by wasp, bee or mosquito bites when rubbed on the affected spot. It also has antibacterial benefits against minor skin infections causing itching.
How to use: Mix 2-3 drops basil oil with a teaspoon of aloe vera gel. Apply on itchy bug bites or affected areas 2-3 times a day.
11. Thyme Oil
Thyme oil can temporarily relieve itching by calming inflammation and irritation. It contains thymol that increases blood flow to the skin and provides analgesic effects when applied on eczema or dermatitis.
This essential oil also helps restore skin health by retaining moisture and preventing dryness that worsens itching. The antimicrobial action clears bacteria or fungi on the skin.
How to use: Add several drops of thyme oil to bath water and soak the body in it. Can also mix with lotion and apply.
12. Cypress Oil
Cypress oil tightens skin pores and controls excess oil production which reduces greasiness and itchiness. The astringent effect helps with oily, combination skin that’s prone to acne itch.
It also constricts blood vessels to alleviate redness and inflammation of rashes or allergic reactions causing itching. The spicy, woodsy aroma provides comfort.
How to use: Blend 2-3 drops with a carrier oil and massage onto affected areas once or twice daily to prevent itch flareups.
Lifestyle Tips to Prevent Itching
Aside from using essential oils, also follow these tips to avoid problems with itchy skin:
Moisturize skin daily
Use gentle, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free moisturizers suitable for your skin type to prevent dryness and itching. Occlusive moisturizers are best for retaining water in the skin. Apply daily especially after bathing.
Avoid hot showers
Very hot showers and baths strip away the natural moisturizing oils on skin causing it to become dry and tight, leading to itchiness. Limit showers to 5-10 minutes with lukewarm water instead.
Wear breathable cotton fabrics
Choose loose, airy clothing made of natural fibers like cotton or silk that allow the skin to breathe. Tight synthetic clothes can irritate skin and cause itching. Also wear moisture wicking fabrics that absorb sweat if prone to heat rashes.
Manage emotional stress
For some people, emotional stress can trigger or worsen itchy skin. Practice relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, deep breathing to manage stress levels. Lowering stress helps reduce inflammation.
Avoid harsh soaps
Harsh soaps, detergents and skincare products containing alcohol, fragrances, dyes can irritate sensitive skin and cause itchiness in some individuals. Opt for gentle, hypoallergenic formulations.
Keep skin clean
Practice good hygiene by keeping skin clean to prevent bacterial or fungal infections which can spread and cause contagious itching. But avoid over washing which dries out skin. Lukewarm water is best.
Humidify air
Use a humidifier during dry, cold weather to add moisture back into the air, which helps prevent itching caused by dry skin. Ideal indoor humidity is 30-50%. Also apply moisturizer right after showering.
When to See a Doctor
While essential oils can provide relief from occasional itching, it’s advisable to see a dermatologist if the itch:
- Is very severe, chronic and persistent
- Worsens at night disrupting sleep
- Occurs without any skin changes
- Spreads and occurs all over the body
- Is accompanied by development of rash, infections, hives etc.
- Does not improve with over-the-counter remedies
The doctor can diagnose the underlying cause and prescribe topical steroids, antihistamines or medicated creams that can more effectively manage chronic itching conditions like eczema, psoriasis etc.
Conclusion
Itching can be an annoying and uncomfortable symptom to deal with. Thankfully, essential oils provide a natural way to find relief due to their various therapeutic properties when applied topically.
Oils like lavender, tea tree, chamomile and eucalyptus can curb itchiness because of their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, analgesic, antioxidant and skin healing effects. Always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying them directly on skin to prevent adverse reactions.
Using essential oils, along with good skin care habits and a healthy lifestyle, can help minimize annoying itching episodes. However, if the itching persists or severely disrupts daily life, it’s advisable to consult a dermatologist to diagnose and treat the underlying condition.