Products to Relieve Itching
Itching, whether caused by insect bites, contact
dermatitis, allergic reactions, sunburn or dry skin may be soothed
with non-prescription topical products such as LESPAIN.
Itching can also be caused by skin diseases,
contact irritants, nerve damage, tumor, infection, diabetes or lack
of vitamin B12. Often doctors cannot find the exact cause. When more
than one person in a family itches, a common cause is scabies,
caused by a skin parasite. Consult your doctor for treatment if your
itch persists. Preventing exposure to causative substances, such as
insects or poison ivy, is the first line of defense. When exposure
cannot be avoided, scratching temporality reduces the itch. However;
excessive scratching may lead to further tissue damage and greater
risk of infection.
Analgesic products such as LESPAIN alleviate some of
the causes of itching, including dry skin unresponsive to
moisturizing lotions.
Hydrocortisone is a topical corticosteroid and
impairs the activity of the itch promoting chemical mediators.
Local analgesics like lidocaine which is used in
LESPAIN reduce itching locally by blocking the transmission of nerve
impulses.
Antihistamines alone do not relieve all types of
itch because mechanisms other than histamine contribute to the
sensation. Oral antihistamines may reduce some itching promoted by
histamine because of their sedative effect rather than by blocking
histamine.
While topical antihistamines produce an immediate
inhibition of itch, these preparations frequently produce allergic
contact sensitivity. Once this sensitization has occurred, if the
antihistamine is taken orally or applied topically again, a
widespread systemic eruption can occur. Therefore, antihistamines
should be considered only after other treatment modalities have
failed.
Another alternative that provides rapid relief of
itching, especially for weeping lesions, are wet dressings. A
non-irritating cloth dipped in cool water and rung of excess fluid
can provide itch and help dry weeping lesions. Sometimes a medicinal
agent is added to the solution to treat weeping lesions. A fresh
solution should be made up for each subsequent application.
Counterirritants, such as camphor and menthol,
may be effective in relieving itch. They work by decreasing the
sensation at the skin’s itch receptors by producing a mild local
inflammatory reaction at the application site.
Calamine, one of the most traditional treatments
for itch, comes as a lotion and is a mixture of zinc and ferrous
oxide. Calamine inhibits itch through its cooling and protective
actions. The lotion will form a layer on the skin as it dries, and
this works to absorb fluids from weeping lesions. It can be applied
topically to the affected area as needed. The biggest drawback to
using calamine lotion is the color of the lotion that remains on the
skin. |
LESPAIN®
uses
lidocaine which belongs to the family of medicines called local
analgesics.
When lidocaine
is applied to the skin, it produces pain relief by blocking the
signals at the nerve endings.
Apply topical
LESPAIN®
sparingly for temporary relief from minor pain
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