# What is good for a itchy skin rash? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 2, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267 "2014-09-02T17:09:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267/1 "2014-09-02T17:09:37Z")
Got these itchy red welt streaks on my right arm. Two welts about 4 to 5 inches long.and one short one about a inch long. I’ve had hives on this same arm about 6 years ago. But I think this is something different. Some kind of allergy triggered it. Any ideas? I recall for Hives there was a over the counter spray that \*\*really \*\*helped. Not sure if I should try that again or something else? I try hard not to scratch. But it itches. oh does it itch. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267/2 "2014-09-02T17:12:35Z")
Hives are generally allergy related. They can also be brought on by stress. Claritin meltaway tablets can help. Sprays? Benadryl makes one – a topical antihistamine. Cool compresses can help. So can 1% cortisone cream. I like Gold Bond, but the menthol might be a bit much if your skin is irritated. If it’s poison ivy, all bets are off, and stay away from me! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267/3 "2014-09-02T17:19:38Z")
Cortisone or benadryl cream. Poison Ivy, which is NOT contagious BTW, treated the same way. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267/4 "2014-09-02T17:20:58Z")
I think I used Benadryl spray before. I can’t recall for sure. I know it was a clear spray that tingled and felt cool when applied. I rarely get skin rashes. These are welts and not a solid rash. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267/5 "2014-09-02T18:35:32Z")
Calamine lotion works well on that kind of outbreaks and is quite soothing. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267/6 "2014-09-02T18:45:34Z")
We have a huge aloe vera plant that we use for mosquito bites, poison ivy, sunburn, tattoo healing, etc. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267/7 "2014-09-02T20:18:07Z")
Picked up a tube of Cortizone 10. I’ll give it a try for a few days. If that doesn’t help then I’ll try a tube of Benadryl cream. I’m nearly certain this isn’t poison ivy or oak. I haven’t been anywhere near it. Calamine lotion is really good for that. It may be a reaction to a little tree I cut down last Thursday. It had shot up unexpectedly right next to the house. It was at the roof line and had to go. A few swings with my hatchet took care of it. It did rub on my arm while I was cutting it up to put on the curb. Maybe it triggered a reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Anita\_Dayoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Anita\_Dayoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anita_Dayoff)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267/8 "2014-09-04T17:36:27Z")
For most itches hot water is a good 8-10 hour fix. Put the affected area under running hot water and increase the heat til you just can’t stand it. Dry it off - no itch. This depletes the histamines in the skin which make you itch and it takes 8 hours or so for them to build back up. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267/9 "2014-09-05T15:36:36Z")
As a super-allergic-to-urushiol person, I second the hot water treatment. While the hot water is running over the itchy area, it feels great - like you’re scratching the hell out of it. About 20 seconds later, no more itch for a good 8+ hours. ---
**Author:** ![Snowcarpet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowcarpet/32/257_2.png) [@Snowcarpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowcarpet)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267/10 "2014-09-05T15:45:16Z")
I am addicted to this product (the itch cream) for any kind of scratchy rash, bite, itch, or sting: [http://www.ivarest.com/](http://www.ivarest.com/) It’s super-strength calamine with extra soothers/anti-allergy. You look pink and splotchy, but relief is pretty immediate. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267/11 "2014-09-05T18:19:08Z")
Posted a similar emergency request yesterday after trimming back wisteria left me itching all over. I tried cold water and I tried vinegar. Then Wasp-Eze brought sweet, sweet relief. It’s benzocaine and anti-histamine combined and works for most rashes and stings that come from plants or animals. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-good-for-a-itchy-skin-rash/697267/12 "2014-09-05T18:43:33Z")
I tried it and it helped relieve the itching a lot. Thanks! > [@Anita\_Dayoff](#): > > For most itches hot water is a good 8-10 hour fix. Put the affected area under running hot water and increase the heat til you just can’t stand it. Dry it off - no itch. This depletes the histamines in the skin which make you itch and it takes 8 hours or so for them to build back up.