Itching can range from a minor annoyance to a very uncomfortable distraction, but regardless of its intensity, there is only one natural and automatic response to itching – and that is scratching!
Itchy skin has a formal, clinical name. It is called Pruritus. But that’s just an intimidating term for itching. Your skin can itch for a wide variety of simple reasons. For example, you may have touched poison ivy or ragweed, you may have been bitten by mosquitos or you may simply have dry skin.
It is can also itch for more complex reasons such as allergies, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis or sensitivity to dyes and chemicals. Whatever the reasons for itching, we want it to stop fast!
Fortunately, there is a great selection of over-the-counter, topical creams that are extremely effective as our Best Anti-Itch Cream guide will illustrate.
Things to Know
There are essentially two options among over-the-counter anti-itch creams. There are creams designed to calm the itchiness and soothe the skin. Then there are creams that contain a drug called hydrocortisone which actually diminishes inflammation in addition to reducing itchiness.
While our top 10 guide includes both options, we strongly recommend you select and use a product with at least 1% hydrocortisone for the fastest and most effective relief of symptoms. These products are denoted with an asterisk in our table below.
Top 10 Anti-Itch Creams Ultimate Chart
| Picture | Name | Size | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Cortizone 10 Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Liquid Easy Relief Applicator | 1.25oz | $ | 4.8 |
 | 2. Curel Itch Defense Lotion, Fragrance Free | 20oz | $ | 4.7 |
 | 3. Eczema & Psoriasis Itch Soothing Cream | 4oz | $$$$ | 4.7 |
 | 4. Cortizone-10 Max Strength Cortizone | 2oz | $ | 4.7 |
 | 5. Pac-Kit by First Aid Only 18-012 Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream Packet | 12 Pks | $ | 4.7 |
 | 6. Kirkland Signature Maximum Strength Hydrocortisone Cream | 8oz | $$ | 4.6 |
 | 7. Eucerin Skin Calming Itch Relief TreatMent Lotion | 20oz | $$$ | 4.5 |
 | 8. Sarna Sensitive Anti-Itch Lotion | 7.5oz | $$ | 4.5 |
 | 9. Gold Bond Rapid Relief Anti Itch Cream | 2oz | $ | 4.5 |
 | 10. Neosporin Essentials Eczema Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream | 1oz | $ | 4.4 |
Prevention and Relief
If you are completely uncertain about the cause of your itching, if you have other symptoms in addition to itching or the itching is truly severe, see your physician as soon as possible. For less severe itching, there are several things you can do to prevent the condition and to relieve it once it occurs.
Prevention
- Avoid soaps and detergents that contain perfumes and dyes
- Keep baths and showers fairly short
- Bathe or shower with lukewarm water rather than hot water
- Use a good moisturizer after every shower or bath to keep your skin hydrated
- Use gloves whenever doing yardwork or using cleaning projects
- Use a humidifier to keep the air in your home moist
- Avoid wearing tight or wool clothing
Relief
- As difficult as it may be, avoid scratching
- Take cool baths with oatmeal or baking soda added to the water
- Take an oral, over-the-counter antihistamine
- Avoid anti-itch creams and lotions that contain “diphenhydramine” or “benzocaine” as these ingredients can cause more itching
- Choose a best anti-itch cream product from our guide and use according to directions
Top 5 Best Anti-Itch Cream Reviews
1. Cortizone-10 Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Liquid
Affectionately dubbed “the itch stick” by consumers, this product contains the all-important hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation and eliminate itching and is one of the most effective products on the market. But it is also a market favorite because of its convenient and easy to use foam sponge applicator.
The product comes in a container that is much like a large lip balm tube. When you pop the top off, you can apply the medicine directly and quickly from the container onto the skin for fast relief of itching without any mess. Perfect for squirmy kids!
Cortizone-10 Anti-Itch Liquid also contains aloe for an extra soothing effect meaning kids won’t complain about the stinging or burning that can come from other products.
These small, efficient tubes fit easily in a purse, backpack or pocket for convenient on-the-go use and the medicine won’t melt in a hot car in summer like creams or lotions. Even if you use other products at home, this is the product of choice for travel.
2. Curel Itch Defense Lotion
Even though this is one of the products that does not contain hydrocortisone for inflammation reduction, it ranks second in our top 10. The science behind the effectiveness of this product lies in something called ceramides.
Ceramides are natural substances found in the outer layer of our skin and are there to help skin retain moisture. If ceramide levels get low, our skin becomes dry and itching is often the result. Curel Itch Defense Lotion is said to restore proper ceramide levels so that it not only relieves itching but, over time, prevents it.
This product is fragrance-free, is allergist tested and is pediatrician tested to ensure its safety on babies 6 months and up. It absorbs really quickly and has the added benefit of making your skin feel softer and smoother while it works its itch-reducing magic.
3. AltheaDerm Itch Soothing Cream
For the all-natural enthusiasts among us, this product is perfect even though it does not seem to eliminate itching as well as some of the other products on our list and does not last as long. It gets top marks, though, for its soothing properties, for being vegan-friendly and for containing zero fragrances, phthalates, parabens or sulfates.
A blend of 38 natural and organic ingredients, AltheaDerm smells heavenly (no perfumes are added – the product scent comes directly from Mother Nature). When trying it out, most of us agreed it smells like Girl Scout thin mint cookies. What a perk! But be prepared to have an urge to find a girl scout and place an order.
The wide-mouthed jar allows easy access and because the cream has a thick, buttery consistency a little goes a long way meaning the jar lasts awhile.
While this product is enthusiastically embraced and given high marks by psoriasis and eczema sufferers, it is equally touted by those suffering from itchy skin resulting from simpler irritants and exposure. But PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION because this product contains nut oils and can adversely impact those with nut allergies.
4. Cortizone-10 Max Strength Cortizone
You may notice this is the second product from Cortizone-10 that made it into our best anti-itch cream list. That is for good reason. This manufacturer makes very, very effective products.
Also containing hydrocortisone to act as an anti-inflammatory, this may be the strongest anti-itch medicine available without a prescription. It is equally effective for basic skin irritation, dry skin, rashes, insect bites and poison ivy or more serious skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
While a few users reported light burning after applying the product, everyone agreed that relief was almost immediate and was long-lasting. The product is fairly thick but absorbs into the skin quickly and has little or no smell.
5. First Aid Only Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream
First Aid Only is a company that has specialized in making top flight first aid and emergency preparedness products for decades so finding that consumers loved their anti-itch, hydrocortisone-containing cream was no surprise. This product is safe even for children, is highly effective in reducing inflammation and itchiness and is ultra-convenient.
Where this product differs most dramatically from the others in our top 10 list is in how it is packaged. The kit or box contains twelve single-use, tamper-resistant foil packets that hold about 3/10 of an ounce (or 1 gram) of cream. They tear open easily and hold just the right amount of medicine for a single application to itchy skin.
While the other products might represent a slightly greater value based on price, these packets are unbeatable for purses, backpacks or pockets whether in the car, on a camping trip or at the ball field. And as you might expect from a company named First Aid Only, they are perfect for first aid kits as well.