Health experts including Dr Catharine Denning of Marylebone Skin have detailed the best High Street creams sold at Boots and Superdrug to treat itchy skin.
The NHS recommends regularly applying an unperfumed moisturiser, or emollient, to help relieve symptoms, warning that scratching itchy or sore skin can make irritation worse and lead to skin breaking or bleeding. The NHS, or National Health Service, serves as the publicly funded healthcare system across the United Kingdom.
Walk into any pharmacy and you are faced with a bewildering array of creams, gels and ointments, ranging from antihistamines and steroids to calamine, aloe vera and antifungals. However, health experts emphasize that these treatments are not interchangeable, as what works for one type of itch may do nothing for another or could even make it worse. The key is knowing what is causing the itch and choosing the right treatment for the job.
Persistent itching without a visible rash should always be assessed by a GP, as it can sometimes be a sign of something more serious, such as type 2 diabetes or liver disease. Most skin itches have a much simpler explanation, and selecting the correct remedy depends on identifying the underlying cause.
Emollient creams for everyday dry skin
Everyday dry skin is one of the most common causes of itching. Expert Rachel explained: "It can happen when the skin loses moisture, leaving it feeling tight, flaky or irritated."
Environmental factors frequently strip moisture from the skin. "Changes in temperature, central heating, hot showers and using harsh soaps can all strip moisture from the skin and make itching worse," Rachel said.
To soothe everyday dryness, Rachel recommends fragrance-free moisturising treatments known as emollients, which create a protective layer over the skin to trap moisture. Emollients should be applied as often as needed throughout the day, especially after showering.
"If your skin is regularly dry and itchy, try to avoid heavily fragranced products and very hot showers, which can cause further irritation," Rachel added.
Ingredients often found in emollients, such as cocoa butter and colloidal oatmeal, can help reduce moisture loss further. For everyday dry skin, Boots sells Epaderm Deep Hydration 3-in-1 Ointment for Dry Skin (500g) for £12.55.
Cooling gels and calamine for sunburn relief
Sunburn is a widespread cause of skin irritation in the UK. According to the skin cancer charity Melanoma Focus, a huge 49 percent of Brits suffer from at least one case of sunburn every year, whether from sunbeds, trips abroad, or sunshine at home, leading to inflamed and itchy skin.
Dr Catharine Denning, founder and medical director of Marylebone Skin, explained how sun exposure causes discomfort: "UV damage triggers inflammation as the skin repairs itself, causing itching." As burnt skin starts to heal, it becomes dry and flaky, which causes further itching.
"Aloe vera or soothing emollient creams cool and rehydrate damaged skin. Calamine can also help soothe irritated, sunburnt skin, although it won't reverse damage caused by UV rays," Dr Denning said.
For sunburnt skin, remedies available on the High Street include Care Aqueous Calamine Cream (100g) for £4.39 at Holland & Barrett, and Bondi Sands Aloe Vera Aftersun Gel (200ml) for £9.99 at Boots.
Short term hydrocortisone for eczema flare ups
Eczema affects around 1.5 million people in the UK, causing dry, red and itchy skin that frequently occurs in skin creases such as the elbows, knees and neck. During a flare-up, the urge to scratch can be intense, but Rachel warned that scratching can further damage the skin barrier, the outermost layer of your skin.
While fragrance-free emollients help keep skin moisturised, Rachel noted: "topical corticosteroids may be recommended to some people during flare-ups to help reduce inflammation, redness and itching." Corticosteroids, commonly known as steroids, are anti-inflammatory medications that calm the underlying inflammation causing redness and itching.
"The right treatment will depend on your symptoms and severity, so it's important to seek professional advice if you're unsure," Rachel said.
However, hydrocortisone should only be used for short periods. The NHS advises not using it for more than seven days unless a doctor or pharmacist tells you to, as prolonged or excessive use can cause side effects including thinning of the skin. For eczema flare-ups, Lloyds Pharmacy supplies HC45 Hydrocortisone Cream (15g) for £6.37.
Zinc oxide and metronidazole for perioral dermatitis
Perioral dermatitis is an itchy facial condition that is most common in women aged 15 to 45. Rachel said: "Perioral dermatitis usually appears as an inflamed, bumpy rash around the mouth and can sometimes feel itchy, dry or irritated."
Because facial rashes can easily be mistaken for acne or eczema, patients should check with a pharmacist or GP, as treatments for eczema and dermatitis differ significantly. Unlike with eczema or psoriasis, steroid creams should not be used for perioral dermatitis, as they can make the itchiness and rash far worse. Heavy face creams and thick sunscreens can also aggravate perioral dermatitis.
To ease symptoms, Dr Denning recommends zinc oxide creams. "Zinc oxide forms a physical, occlusive layer over the skin, to trap moisture and shield damaged or inflamed skin from irritants," Dr Denning explained. "It's also been shown to help calm irritated skin without the potency of steroids and without the associated risks of thinning skin. It's also well tolerated for prolonged or repeated use."
In addition, prescription creams containing 0.75 to 1 percent metronidazole, an antibiotic and antiprotozoal medication, can help reduce inflammation, redness and itching. Patients can consult their GP to receive a prescription based on severity. A recommended High Street zinc oxide treatment is Avène Cicalfate Restorative Protective Cream (40ml), sold at Boots for £7.87.
Antihistamines for allergic reactions and insect bites
Insect bites and allergic reactions can occur throughout the year, causing itchy skin and hives, which are raised, itchy bumps on the skin.
Rachel explained how allergies trigger itching: "Allergies can also be behind itchy skin. When the body encounters something it perceives as an allergen, it can release histamine, which can cause symptoms including itchy skin and raised, itchy hives."
Antihistamines, such as cetirizine, loratadine or fexofenadine, work by blocking the effects of histamine and can help manage allergy symptoms, including intense itching. For insect bites, which cause localized allergic reactions, a mild steroid cream can help reduce swelling and itching.
However, if an allergic reaction causes difficulty breathing or swelling of the mouth or tongue, individuals should call 999 for emergency medical help immediately.
Targeted treatments available in shops include Boots Insect Bite & Sting Treatment 1% Cream (10g) for £3.89 at Boots, and Superdrug Fexofenadine Hydrochloride 120mg (30 tablets) for £8.99 at Superdrug.
Ceramide creams for managing psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting around 1 in 50 people, or 1.3 million people in the UK. The condition occurs when the immune system causes skin cells to be produced too quickly, resulting in red, purple or brown patches of skin, plaques, blisters, stinging, and intense itchiness commonly found on the elbows, face, hands, knees, feet and scalp.
"It often runs in families and it can flare up with stress or infection," Dr Denning added.
To manage psoriasis symptoms, experts advise choosing creams containing ceramides, which are fats that naturally occur in the skin and make up about half of its outer layer. Dr Denning explained: "Psoriasis can alter the amount of ceramides in your skin, so a ceramide-based cream can help to repair the damaged outer skin barrier in psoriasis, helping to lock in moisture and reduce dryness and scaling."
For scaly psoriasis patches, Superdrug sells CeraVe Moisturising Cream Pot with Hyaluronic Acid & Ceramides (454g) for £17.49.
Antifungal creams for scaly fungal infections
Fungal skin infections cause significant itching alongside distinct rashes. Common fungal conditions include athlete's foot, which typically affects skin between the toes or on the feet, and ringworm, which appears elsewhere on the body as a red, scaly or ring-shaped rash.
Rachel explained that "The fungus causes local inflammation as it invades the skin."
To treat fungal infections effectively, patients should select targeted antifungal products rather than general anti-itch creams. Rachel said: "Look for an antifungal cream, rather than a general anti-itch cream. These will kill the fungus or prevent it from growing. Common active ingredients include clotrimazole or terbinafine."
Because different rashes can look similar, individuals should consult a pharmacist who can advise on the best option. Lloyds Pharmacy stocks Canesten 1% Anti Fungal Cream (50g) for £7.76.
