Time Tested Goodie: Sarna Sensitive Anti-Itch Lotion

During a particularly bad flareup, I was told by my allergist to try out this lotion. The Benadryl Anti-Itch lotion didn't do much for me, because my trigger at the time wasn't allergy related, it was stress combined with the changing of seasons. If the reason you're itchy is because of something you touched, breathed (such as pollen), or ate, I seriously urge you to try the Benadryl lotion out. It's not something I keep at my house, though, because that's not often the cause of my itchiness.

Sensitive Sarna Anti-Itch Lotion

This lotion claims to be moisturizing as well as stopping the itch. Well, when I'm itching bad enough to reach for this stuff, my skin is already raw enough that the little moisturizing that this does goes unnoticed. That said, I love this for when I'm painfully itchy. I won't go on vacations without it. The lotion is thin and watery, so it spreads very easily. This is a selling point to me, as I end up desperately squirting it into my hands and covering my face with it. It has a lovely, cooling sensation just seconds after it goes on your skin, which really helps cool the "burn" of the itch. If your skin is very raw, it can sting quite painfully for a few moments before the cooling really sets in. It's fast-acting enough that I feel markedly better after only 10 - 15 seconds of application, even if the first 5 - 6 are agonizing from the sting. This irritation is NOT from fragrance -- the Sensitive version is fragrance-free. It's also higher-strength than the original version, so I would recommend the sensitive version.

I've found that keeping this in the refrigerator (and no, it doesn't interfere with the medication -- I checked) really helps keep the stinging under control, and has the added effect of being cold when I slather it on. It's so, so nice.

Where to buy: Walmart, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, Target, Skinstore.com, Amazon.com, Drugstore.com

List Price: $10.49

Normal to Slightly Dry Skin: 1/5. This isn't for poison ivy or insect bites, which is probably what you would need this for. Use the original version instead for those things.

Very Dry, Flaky Skin: 5/5. Cools the itch very effectively.

Sensitive Skin: 5/5. Cools the itching from irritants while not being irritating itself. A must.