Home Symptoms Itching

Itching — what to take?

Itching (pruritus) is one of the most common dermatological problems. Causes: dry skin, allergies, dermatitis, systemic diseases (thyroid, liver, kidney).

Also known as: pruritus my skin itches skin irritation
5 recommended OTC drugs
8,327 pharmacies available

In short: Itching (pruritus) most often comes from dry skin, allergies or dermatitis, but it can sometimes signal a systemic cause (thyroid, liver, kidneys). For relief, common OTC options include emollients and urea cream for hydration, calamine lotion or hydrocortisone for the irritated area, and an antihistamine such as cetirizine when the itch is allergic. On HartaFarmacii you can compare the prices of these products across Dr. Max, Tei, Catena and HelpNet, with prices updated daily. This information is for guidance only and does not replace medical advice; see a doctor if generalized itching persists or jaundice appears.

Data verified on from public sources (OpenStreetMap, chain websites, ANM/MS) — updated daily.

OTC — no prescription

What you can take for itching

Informational only — HartaFarmacii is not an approved medical site. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine. Don't self-medicate. Emergencies: 112.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, consult a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Persistent generalized itching
  • Jaundice (yellow skin/eyes)
  • Weight loss, fever
  • Lesions that ooze
  • Rapid spread, edema

Common causes

Xerosis (dry skin), atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, urticaria, scabies, fungi (mycoses), drug reactions, cholestatic diseases, chronic kidney failure, lymphomas, diabetes.

OTC treatment

Oral antihistamines — cetirizine, loratadine, bilastine for allergic causes.

Emollients — Cetaphil, CeraVe, Avène, Bioderma, La Roche-Posay. Applied 2-3 times/day, they maintain the skin barrier.

Hydrocortisone 0.5-1% — topical cream for local inflammatory lesions. Maximum 1-2 weeks during flare-up periods.

Calamine, menthol 1% — immediate soothing effect.

Urea 5-10% creams — for very dry skin.

What to avoid

  • Long, hot showers (they dry out the skin).
  • Harsh fragranced soaps — use gentle dermatocosmetic products.
  • Scratching (worsens it, can cause infection).
  • Wool directly on the skin, strong detergents.

When to see a doctor

Generalized itching persisting beyond 4-6 weeks, with weight loss, night sweats, jaundice, edema — these require evaluation for systemic causes.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes and does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist. For diagnosis and treatment, consult a health professional.

Medicines compared

Medicines used for itching

This list is for guidance only, generated automatically from the DCI/category match. It is not a medical recommendation — consult your doctor before starting any treatment.

This list is not a medical recommendation. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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Medicines for itching

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for itching

Open the interactive map and grant location permission — you'll immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it's night or a weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-call ones. For itching most of the listed remedies are over the counter, so you can walk in without a prescription, but check stock and prices on the comparator page first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active ingredient (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.), search it in the comparator before you leave — you'll see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it's in stock. For chronic prescriptions, save your favourite pharmacy in the app and turn on hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially when treatment for itching runs over weeks.

See also

Related symptoms and conditions

Symptom

Urticarie

Urticaria = erupție cu plăci eritematoase, pruriginoase, migratorii, care apar și dispar în ore. Acută (sub 6 săptămâni) sau cronică (peste 6 săptămâni).

 Symptom

Alergie

Alergia e un răspuns imun exagerat la substanțe în mod normal inofensive (polen, praf, alimente, medicamente). Se manifestă cu mâncărime, urticarie, rinită, astm, anafilaxie.

 Symptom

Piele uscată

Pielea uscată (xerosis) pierde apă și lipide, devine aspră, descuamată, uneori pruriginoasă, cu tendință la eczeme. Cauze: iarna, îmbătrânire, dușuri fierbinți, genetică, boli.

 Condition

Dermatită atopică

Dermatita atopică e boală cronică inflamatorie cutanată cu prurit, uscăciune, eczeme recurente. Apare în contextul triadei atopice (astm, rinita alergică). Debut frecvent în copilărie.

 Condition

Psoriazis

Psoriazisul e boală inflamatorie cronică cu plăci eritemato-scuamoase, hiperproliferare keratinocite, asociate cu comorbidități sistemice (artrită, sindrom metabolic, depresie).

 Condition

Eczemă

Eczema (dermatita) = inflamație cutanată cu eritem, prurit, vezicule sau scuame. Forme: atopică, de contact (iritativă sau alergică), seboreică, numulară, dishidrotică, stasis.

Frequently asked

What else do you want to know?

What can I apply to itching quickly?
A cold compress, calamine or menthol lotion, hydrocortisone 1% cream. An oral antihistamine if it is an allergy.
Why does my skin itch in winter?
Dry air + heating + warm showers = xerosis (dry skin). Moisturize 2x/day with a thick emollient, avoid hot showers.
Itching without lesions — what is it?
Pruritus sine materia. Causes: dry skin, allergies, systemic diseases (thyroid, liver). If it persists — investigations.
Is hydrocortisone dangerous?
Short-term (1-2 weeks) it is safe. Chronic use on extensive areas → skin atrophy, telangiectasias. Do not apply to the face for more than 3-5 days.

See also

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