As the air dries out, arms and legs start to itch and you keep scratching. For itchy skin the NHS suggests patting or tapping instead of scratching, cool or lukewarm baths or showers and an unperfumed moisturiser used regularly, and says to avoid tight clothes or wool and synthetic fabrics, long baths or showers, and perfumed soaps, deodorants or moisturisers. Most itching can be managed with these habits, but if it is all over your body, severe or during pregnancy, see a GP. This sets out the NHS page “Itchy skin”.
1. Pat or tap instead of scratching; hold a cool damp towel on it.
2. Short, cool or lukewarm washes; unperfumed moisturiser regularly. Loose cotton or silk, laundry products for sensitive skin.
3. All over, severe, in pregnancy, or keeps coming back: see a GP.
Why skin itches — NHS
The NHS groups the causes: skin reactions to heat or something you’re allergic to (such as hives or heat rash), long-term skin conditions (dandruff, eczema, psoriasis), fungal skin infections (thrush, ringworm, athlete’s foot) and parasites or insects living on the skin (scabies, lice). Itchy skin is also common during pregnancy and after the menopause. Less commonly, it can be a sign of something more serious, such as thyroid, liver or kidney problems.
Several causes overlap with other posts here — dandruff, athlete’s foot and head lice.
Do and don’t — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| Do | Pat or tap your skin instead of scratching | — |
| Do | Hold something cool on your skin, like a damp towel | — |
| Do | Have cool or lukewarm baths or showers | Not hot |
| Do | Use an unperfumed moisturiser or emollient regularly | — |
| Do | Keep your nails clean, short and smooth | Less damage if you do scratch |
| Do | Wear loose cotton or silk clothing | — |
| Do | Use a laundry liquid or powder for sensitive skin | — |
| Don’t | Wear tight clothes, or wool or synthetic fabrics | Winter knits fall here |
| Don’t | Spend a long time in the bath or shower | No time limit is given |
| Don’t | Use perfumed soaps, deodorants or moisturisers | — |
Laundry and fabric care are in fabric care; indoor temperature in indoor temperature 1818°C#176;C.
At the pharmacy — NHS
A pharmacist can suggest things that may help, depending on the cause, the NHS says: antihistamines may help with some causes of itching, and there are lotions and creams such as menthol creams that cool the skin. We haven’t matched product names sold in Korea.
When to see a GP — NHS
| When | What the NHS says | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| It’s affecting your daily life | See a GP | Lost sleep reads as included |
| Self-care doesn’t help, or it keeps coming back | See a GP | — |
| A new rash, lump or swelling you’re worried about | See a GP | — |
| It’s all over your body | See a GP | The rarer causes (thyroid, liver, kidney) |
| It’s severe | See a GP | — |
| It happens during pregnancy | See a GP | Common, yet still on the GP list |
The NHS files these as non-urgent, and the page we read has no emergency list. “Lost sleep” is our reading. Where to go is covered in ER vs local clinic.
Checklist
- ☐ Pat instead of scratching; nails short
- ☐ Short lukewarm washes; unperfumed moisturiser
- ☐ Loose cotton; keep wool and synthetics off bare skin
- ☐ Skip perfumed products; sensitive-skin laundry products
- ☐ All over, severe, pregnant or recurring: see a GP
Questions that remain
How many times a day should I moisturise?
The NHS just says “regularly”, with no number, so we haven’t added one.
A hot shower feels good on itchy skin, though?
The NHS recommends cool or lukewarm water and says not to spend a long time in the shower.
Sources
- NHS — Itchy skin — source (page shows: reviewed 19 July 2023, next review 19 July 2026; checked 12 October 2026 — the next review date has passed, and we give the page as shown). Four groups of causes, pregnancy, menopause and rarer causes, 7 dos and 3 don’ts, 2 pharmacy options, 6 GP reasons.
- Not read. NHS eczema and psoriasis pages; Korean agency guidance on dry skin.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column.
Where else to check
- A pharmacist — antihistamines and moisturisers.
Written on 12 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.