Nothing can drive you as crazy as an itch that just won’t stop.
You’ve tried scratching it – it’s only a temporary fix and often makes the situation worse.
You’ve tried ignoring it, and I’ll give you this: that’s a great exercise in patience, willpower, and composure.
My guess is, after that, you start to feel so uncomfortable that the impulse sets in to run to the pharmacy and get some over the counter itch relief cream.
But you pause because you really want something natural.
Essential oils are a great option. They offer the perfect balance of efficacy and gentleness on the body.
Why Essential Oils Are Good For Itching
There are so many reasons why you may be experiencing itching, and just as many, if not more, essential oils that can help you find relief.
From sudden itching from bug bites of all kinds – spiders, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, bed bugs, ants, bees – to more chronic and persistent skin conditions, essential oils can help.
They are gentle enough to use in children and are a great way to soothe your little one’s diaper rash, allergic reactions, or just generally dry, irritated skin.
Essential oils are packed with constituents that help fight fungus, virus, and bacteria. They are great as a wash, a moisturizer when mixed with carrier oil, or to help heal wounded skin.
It’s not always physical ailments that lead to itching. Stress and anxiety can erupt hives and nervous itching. This is one area where essential oils shine at supporting the entire system of the body. Especially when used aromatically, essential oils reduce stress that can not only cause breakouts, but will exacerbate any condition that’s already going on.
While there are other options out there to deal with itching, essential oils are my favorite because they are gentle, versatile, natural, and generally have minimum, if any, side effects.
Additionally, with so many different kinds of skin, as well as different reasons for itching, there is an essential oil for everyone.
While itch creams can help with symptoms, essential oils have the capacity to get deeper to the root of the problem. They nourish the tissues of the body as well as support the nervous system, which is really helpful when your symptoms are causing you stress.
Not to mention the impact on our well-being of using a natural, plant-based product that smells amazing, and feels good to use because it comes straight from the earth.
8 Best Essential Oils For Itching
1. Rose (Rosa damascena)
Most of the following essential oils will have a topical use recommendation, but rose is a great one to use in a diffuser when you are feeling the itch. Inhaling the scent will calm your nervous system and help relieve itching associated with anxiety or stress-induced hives.
It can also be applied topically, is a wonderful antiseptic, and is great for all skin types, including dry, sensitive, or aging skin. Rose is one of the safest, gentlest oils, and is great for use in children. Best for reducing itching associated with stress.
2. Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Tea tree is a strong and very effective oil, both for cleaning the skin and numbing pain. It is great at calming stinging and itching associated with insect bites. Tea tree reduces redness and inflammation.
Always dilute in a carrier oil and patch test first, as it can be an irritant – not the best for use on sensitive skin.
Tea tree is great mixed with witch hazel and used as a wash for acne or any itching related to bacteria, fungus or virus. Best for itching related to bacteria.
3. Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)
Roman chamomile is good for dry, sensitive skin, making it great to soothe itching associated with chronic skin conditions, dry scalp, or sunburn. It helps reduce inflammation, redness, and pain. For heat-related itching such as burns or heat rash, Roman chamomile has the added benefit of reducing any associated fever. Best for sunburn.
Dilute 1-2 drops in one teaspoon of carrier oil and smooth over affected areas for fast, gentle relief. To support restful sleep during periods of itching, blend Roman chamomile, lavender and jasmine into a diffuser and use during sleep.
4. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender is excellent for itchy acne and chronic skin conditions. It helps reduce redness, inflammation, pain, and itchiness. It also helps speed recovery of burns, bites, and wounds.
Lavender is also one of the best oils to support the nervous system. It’s wonderful to use aromatically in addition to your skin care regimen. It helps calm you down and think more clearly, which is helpful when itching has you feeling a bit crazed.
Lavender is one of the few oils that is ok to apply neat to the skin. To use for itchy acne, simply apply a drop to a cotton ball and dab on the affected areas. Best for hives. Diffuse to calm anxiety, and also add to a warm bath (see recipes below) for a double dose of wellness.
5. Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
Geranium is astringent and promotes speedy healing, making it an ideal choice for mosquito bites, spider bites, and bee stings. It helps relieve itching associated with hemorrhoids. Geranium can also help relieve itching and discomfort in the mouth due to ulcers.
I recommend mixing this oil with witch hazel and applying it directly to bites. For dry, itchy skin, mix with a carrier oil and massage into skin. For this it works well on its own or in combination with lavender and/or eucalyptus. Geranium also mixes really well with rose in a bath to soothe itchy skin. Best for bug bites.
6. Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum)
Jasmine is useful at helping reduce itching associated with healing scars, or aging skin. As an added benefit, it can reduce the appearance of scars, wrinkles, and marks, so it’s a great oil to add to a healing blend.
Jasmine is also another oil that can be helpful to use via inhalation when itching, especially to help you sleep. I recommend using jasmine while you sleep, either via a diffuser or by placing a cotton ball near your pillow.
Topically, jasmine is great for sensitive skin and can help relieve pain associated with itching when mixed with a carrier oil and applied to the affected area. Best for sleep support when itching.
7. Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
Patchouli helps reduce bacteria, fungus, inflammation, and is a great antiseptic, making it an ideal choice for all kinds of itching. It is great for dry, irritated skin, as it can help heal cracked skin by supporting the regeneration of skin cells.
Patchouli is a wonderful oil to use in a warm compress on affected areas. Patchouli is also great at repelling itch culprits like fleas, lice and mosquitoes, especially when combined with our next choice… eucalyptus. Best for extremely dry, cracked skin.
8. Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
Eucalyptus is another strong oil that is great at reducing pain, redness, and inflammation. Eucalyptus has a very cooling effect, so it is a top choice for heat-related itching such as sunburn or heat rash. It is also a powerful antibacterial and disinfectant.
Diluted in a bit of vodka or oil, and mixed into a bath is a great way to soothe itching as well as any soreness associated with itching, especially in the case of shingles. Bonus! If you want to head off itching before it starts, eucalyptus is a great insect repellent. Best for heat rash.
Best Essential Oil For Itching Recipes
Itch Relief Spray
- 6 drops geranium
- 6 drops lavender
- 3 drops eucalyptus
- 2 ounces witch hazel
- 1 ounce rose water (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a 4 ounce spray bottle. Shake well. Spray liberally on itchy skin, bug bites, acne or sunburn. This blend is especially good for itchy skin that needs to be dried out, like rashes or oily acne.
Bath Soak To Moisturize And Beat The Itch Before Bed
- 20 drops rose
- 15 drops jasmine
- 15 drops Roman chamomile
- 1 cup of apple cider vinegar
Mix essential oils with apple cider vinegar and shake well. Add 2 tablespoons into running water as the bath fills, making sure the blend mixes well into the bath. About an hour before bed, soak for at least 20 minutes, ideally longer. Enjoy deep, restful, itch-free sleep.
Store in a cool, dark place and shake well before each use. Makes enough for about 8 baths.
Anti-Itch Essential Oil Wash Blends
Oily Or Acne Prone Skin Blend
- 2/3 cup castile soap
- 30 drops tea tree
- 15 drops lavender
- 15 drops patchouli
- 1/3 cup witch hazel
- 2 tsp rosehip seed oil
Normal To Dry Skin Blend
- 2/3 cup castile soap
- 20 drops rose
- 10 drops tea tree
- 10 drops lavender
- 10 drops patchouli
- 1/4 cup distilled water
- 1 tbsp sweet almond oil
Using an 8, 10, or 12 ounces soap dispenser, mix the castile soap with the essential oils and carrier oils. Swirl the bottle to combine ingredients. Add the witch hazel or water, cap the dispenser and slowly tilt the bottle back and forth a few times. Do not shake. Use as a face and/or body wash.
To Summarize
- Essential oils are an amazing remedy for all kinds of itching including, but not limited to: insect bites, acne, dry skin, sunburn, heat rash, itching related to fungus and bacteria, and allergic reactions.
- Essential oils can help reduce redness, inflammation, itching, pain, dryness, bacteria, and appearance of scars, with little to no adverse side effects.
- All the recommended essential oils can be used mixed with a carrier oil, or witch hazel to apply to itchy skin. They also work wonderfully when combined in blends for specific types of skin issues.
- Topical application will be most effective for itching, but don’t forget how beneficial aromatic use of essential oils can be for stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness related to itching!
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