Relieving the itch is the first order of business, an essential step to take before you even begin to scout around for the cause of your misery. Not only will you welcome the comfort of relief, but you’ll also eliminate the danger of infection (and possible scarring) from continued scratching. There are plenty of effective ways to conquer the itch.

Ice cubes, rubbed on skin whenever you get the urge to scratch, take the fire out of inflammation.

Cold, wet dressings soothe eczema and help to stop not only itching but oozing. And the colder the dressing, the more effective, says Alexander A. Fisher, M.D., a professor of dermatology at New York University Postgraduate Medical School and author of a textbook on skin problems.

”Wet dressings consisting of water with ice, make to the consistency of sherbet and applied with a cotton cloth for 5 to 15 minutes and reapplied as necessary, are often well tolerated and beneficial,” says Dr. Fisher (Contact Dermatitis, Lea and Febiger, 1978).

We found an easy way to make Dr. Fisher’s anti itch slush. To break up the cubes, empty a tray of ice cubes into a plastic bag and pound it with a wooden meat mallet. Then empty the cracked ice into a blender with two tablespoons of cold water and, in several short burst, blend into a mush. Wrap in cotton and apply to irritated skin.

Dr. Fisher isn’t the only doctor who favors cold, wet treatment. ”Cool compresses or ice packs relieve itching faster and more safely than most medications,” says Nia K. Terezakis, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Louisiana State University.

Lotions of calamine and milk of bismuth, following wet compresses, bring down weeping, swelling and redness, says Dr. Terezakis.

Night dressings of zinc oxide paste (available at pharmacies), applied on a closely woven cotton cloth, are also suggested by Dr. Fisher.

Vinegar in water (1/4 cup of vinegar in 1 quart of water) is soothing.

Lukewarm water baths are extremely soothing, especially for inflammation around the genitals and buttocks or for widespread symptoms. A soothing bath is also a good way to soak off ointments and medications once they’re served their purpose. Dr. Fisher recommends two cups of a colloidal bath because the particles stay suspended in the water to soothe the skin rather than settling to the bottom of the tub.

Other colloidals recommended by Dr. Terezakis are: skim milk, powdered milk, cornstarch, baking soda, or a combination of any of these ingredients (colloidal baths do make the tub slippery, though, so be extra careful climbing in and out. A rubber tub mat is a good safeguard).

Depending on the extent of your problem, one to three baths a day should be helpful. As you heal, you’ll need to bathe less frequently. Soaking in tepid water is comforting, even without colloidals. Whatever you do, avoid hot baths and showers.

Wash with Fels Naphtha or other bland soaps if you have poison ivy.

Moisturize your skin by always applying a bland, non allergenic moisturizing cream after bathing or showering to prevent drying, itching and further irritation. Dr. Tarezakis recommends Nutraderm, Ultra Derm, Keri Lotion, Shepard’s Lotion (unscented), Purpose Cream, Nivea Lotion, And Eucerin Cream.

Humidify the bedroom in winter and dehumidify in summer to keep your skin comfortable. Arthur L. Norrins, M.D., professor of dermatology at Indiana University School of Medicine, recommends some further steps to reduce irritation and control itching and other symptoms.

Substitute 100 percent cotton clothing, sheets and blankets for synthetics or synthetic/cotton blends.

Wash new clothing and sheets before they’re worn to get rid of chemicals used to stiffen fabric. We know a woman whose whole body broke out in an itchy, disfiguring rash after she slept on brand new sheets. After several washing, they were finally safe to use.

Rinse all clothing and sleepwear in clear water after washing. Don't use fabric softener or other laundry aids. And be sure to use low suds detergents without enzymes, whiteners, bleach and other additives.

Avoid tight clothing, tight dressings and adhesive bandages. Anything that rubs against your skin is going to aggravate the situation, says Dr. Norrins.

Stay out the sun. The last thing that red, un-flamed or scaly skin needs is to be cooked with heat and light.

Rest. Healing takes energy. If your arm or leg is so bad that it's swollen and red from top to bottom, you may have to rest it completely for a few days so it can heal itself successfully. In fact, if it's your misfortune to have a whole body skin rash, your doctor may order a few days of bed rest.

In more than nine people out of ten, reactions will be mild or moderate. Only 3 percent react severely. If your skin problems are severe and widespread, covering 50 percent or more of your body, don’t fool around with self diagnosis. Body wide involvement calls for medical attention and sometimes even special hospitalization to isolate the individual from all chemical exposure.

A Note about Skin Medications.

Your dermatologist may feel that your problem calls for a topical ointment or oral medication of some kind. Dr. Fisher cautions that preservatives such as parabens and ethylenediamine and other common ingredients of topical salves are common causes of allergy and can therefore prolong rather than heal the disease.

Another doctor tells of one person with skin allergy who was treated with one medication after another by many doctors, with no relief – until parabens were considered. ”Within 24 hours of application of a parabens free cream, his skin began to heal for the first time in seven years,” says William F. Schorr, M.D., dermatologist at the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, Wisconsin (Journal of American Medical Association, June 3, 1968).

Dr. Schorr points out that benzocaine, widely used for dishpan hands and other irritating skin problems, is a very common cause of allergy. In fact, he strongly advises against use or any topical ending in "caine." So if treatment calls for a topical medication, it's important that doctors prescribe only creams that are free of potent allergens. Dr. Fisher suggest Hytone, Aristocort, Valisone or Lidex.

For a similar reason, doctors strongly discourage people with any kind of skin allergy from buying over the counter medicated lotions. You should also stay away from corticosteroid creams or ointments – they may cause a non-allergic type inflammation, further compounding skin problems.

Yet some dermatologists are rather quick to prescribe oral doses of corticosteroids, like prednisone, for allergic skin problems. Non-drug approaches may make steroids unnecessary, says Dr. Schorr. ”It has been my experience ... that is rarely necessary to treat the average patient with contact dermatitis with systemic corticosteroids,” Dr. Schorr states.

The one exception, he says, is poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac. They're such intense allergens that the disease continues to spread long after the initial contact. And the blisters and swelling produced can keep you out of work of school for longer than most people can afford. Under those circumstances, Dr. Schorr sees little risk in a ten day to two week course of prednisone, in decreasing doses (Minnesota Medicine, October, 1974).

Another exception to the no drug rule may be antihistamines prescribed to be taken in the evening. They prevent you from scratching in your sleep, which would delay healing. Overall, though, you should try non-medical means of relief if at all possible. There certainly are enough tried and true means available.

Total relief, however, is only possible if you stay away from the allergy provoking items. After you’ve got the itching under control, the next step is to find out what it in the first place.