Gatal kulit (itchy skin) is usually not a sign of anything serious and often gets better within a few weeks with self-care. Common causes include dry or irritated skin, heat rash, hives (biduran), eczema, fungal infections such as kurap and panau, and scabies. Keeping the skin cool, using an unperfumed moisturiser, wearing loose cotton clothing and patting instead of scratching all help. The right ubat gatal kulit depends on the cause: antihistamines for hives, moisturisers for dry skin and eczema, antifungal creams for fungal rashes and a whole-body cream for scabies. Steroid creams can make fungal infections worse, so ask a pharmacist first. See a doctor if itching is severe, all over the body, keeps coming back or happens in pregnancy.
Punca gatal kulit: what causes itchy skin?
According to the NHS, itchy skin has many possible causes. Other symptoms, such as a rash or swelling, can help find the cause, but do not try to diagnose yourself:
| Type of cause | Examples |
|---|---|
| Dry, cracked or irritated skin | Long hot showers, perfumed soaps, tight or synthetic clothing |
| Reactions to heat or allergies | Heat rash (prickly heat), allergies, hives (biduran) |
| Long-term skin conditions | Eczema, psoriasis, dandruff |
| Fungal infections | Ringworm (kurap), athlete's foot (kutu air), thrush |
| Parasites on the skin | Scabies (kudis buta), head lice |
| Other conditions (less common) | Thyroid, liver or kidney problems |
For fungal rashes, see our guide to kurap and panau. For intense itching that is worse at night, see our guide to kudis buta.
Jenis gatal kulit: common itchy rashes
Hives (biduran, urticaria). An itchy rash of raised bumps or patches in many shapes and sizes, which can appear anywhere and may sting or burn. According to the NHS, hives happen when something triggers high levels of histamine in the skin. Triggers include certain foods, plants, animals, chemicals or latex, heat and sweat from exercise, stress or spicy food, cold, medicines, insect bites, scratching or tight clothing, and infections. Hives usually get better within a few days.
Heat rash (prickly heat, biang peluh). Small, raised spots with an itchy, prickly feeling and mild swelling, common in hot, humid weather. It is usually harmless, cannot be passed on to others, and gets better on its own after a few days if you keep the skin cool.
Eczema (ekzema). Atopic eczema makes skin itchy, dry, cracked, scaly or thickened, often on the elbows, knees and hands, and on the face in babies. It usually starts in childhood, has flare-ups, and cannot be cured, but treatment helps manage it.
Contact dermatitis. A type of eczema triggered by something the skin touches. It is most commonly caused by irritants such as soaps, detergents, solvents or frequent contact with water, and less often by an allergy to things like cosmetics or nickel. It usually improves once the trigger is identified and avoided.
Fungal infections and scabies also cause itchy rashes and need specific treatment, so it is important to know which one you have. Itchy blisters with a fever may be chickenpox; see our guide to cacar air.
How to ease itchy skin at home
Sometimes itching is caused by dry, cracked or irritated skin. The NHS recommends:
Do:
- pat or tap your skin instead of scratching it;
- hold something cool on your skin, like a damp towel;
- have cool or lukewarm baths or showers;
- use an unperfumed moisturiser (emollient) regularly;
- keep your nails clean, short and smooth;
- wear loose cotton or silk clothing;
- use a laundry liquid or powder for sensitive skin.
Don't:
- wear tight clothes, or clothes made from wool or synthetic fabrics;
- spend a long time in the bath or shower;
- use perfumed soaps, deodorants or moisturisers.
For heat rash, the main thing is to keep your skin cool so you do not sweat: wear loose cotton clothing, use lightweight bedding, take cool showers and drink plenty of fluids.
Ubat gatal kulit di farmasi: which products help?
A pharmacist can tell you which products suit your type of itch. According to the NHS, options include:
- emollients (moisturisers) for dry skin, eczema and contact dermatitis;
- antihistamines, which may help some causes of itching, such as hives. Tell the pharmacist if you have a long-term condition, and note they may not suit young children;
- menthol creams that help by cooling the skin, and calamine lotion for heat rash;
- hydrocortisone cream for some rashes such as heat rash.
Fungal infections need an antifungal cream, and scabies needs a cream or lotion applied to the whole body. Tell the pharmacist where your skin is itchy and whether you have other symptoms, so they can suggest the right ubat gatal kulit or tell you if you need to see a doctor.
Should you use steroid cream (krim gatal)?
Many people buy a "krim gatal" containing a steroid for every rash. Mild steroid creams such as hydrocortisone can help some rashes, but:
- they can make fungal infections such as kurap worse, and do not treat scabies;
- according to the NHS, hydrocortisone cream should not be used on children under 10 without a doctor's advice;
If you are not sure what is causing your rash, ask a pharmacist before using a steroid cream.
Itchy skin in pregnancy, after menopause and all over the body
- Pregnancy. Itchy skin is common during pregnancy and usually nothing to worry about, but check with your doctor or midwife, because it can sometimes be caused by a liver condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).
- After menopause. Itchy skin is also common after the menopause and usually gets better over time; see our guide to menopaus.
- All over the body. Less commonly, itching can be a sign of a more serious condition such as a thyroid, liver or kidney problem; see our guide to tiroid. Itching is also one of the less common signs of iron deficiency; see our guide to kurang darah.
When should you see a doctor?
See a doctor, according to the NHS, if itchy skin:
- is affecting your daily life;
- does not get better with self-care, or keeps coming back;
- is caused by a new rash, lump or swelling that you are worried about;
- is all over your body, or is severe;
- happens during pregnancy.
A doctor may prescribe creams, lotions or tablets, arrange a blood test to look for a cause, or refer you to a dermatologist. Also get urgent advice if hives do not improve after 2 days, keep spreading or coming back, or come with a high temperature or swelling under the skin, or if eczema becomes blistered, crusty, leaks fluid, or is painful, swollen or warm.
Call an ambulance (999) if a rash or hives comes with sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue, fast breathing or difficulty breathing, a tight throat or trouble swallowing, blue, grey or pale skin or lips, sudden confusion or dizziness, or fainting. These can be signs of a severe allergic reaction.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What causes gatal kulit (itchy skin)?
Itchy skin has many causes. Common ones include dry or irritated skin, heat rash, allergies and hives (biduran), eczema, fungal infections such as ringworm (kurap), and scabies (kudis buta). Less commonly, itching all over the body can be a sign of a thyroid, liver or kidney problem. A rash or other symptoms can help find the cause.
What is the best ubat gatal kulit from the pharmacy?
It depends on the cause. A pharmacist may suggest an unperfumed moisturiser (emollient) for dry skin, antihistamine tablets for hives and some allergic itching, menthol or calamine lotion to cool the skin, or hydrocortisone cream for some rashes. Fungal and scabies rashes need different treatments, so tell the pharmacist where the itch is and what it looks like.
What is gatal in English?
Gatal means itchy, and gatal kulit means itchy skin. A rash is called ruam in Malay, and hives are often called biduran. Heat rash, sometimes called biang peluh, is another common cause of itchy skin in Malaysia's hot climate.
How can I stop itchy skin at night?
Keep your skin cool with a damp towel or a cool shower, use an unperfumed moisturiser regularly, wear loose cotton clothing and use light bedding. Keep nails short and pat or tap the skin instead of scratching. Itching that is worst at night, especially between the fingers, may be scabies and needs treatment.
Can I use steroid cream for any itchy rash?
No. Mild steroid creams such as hydrocortisone can help some rashes, like heat rash or eczema, but they can make fungal infections such as ringworm worse, and they are not suitable for children under 10 without a doctor's advice. Ask a pharmacist which cream suits your rash before using one.
What are the types of itchy skin rash (jenis gatal kulit)?
Common types include hives (raised, itchy bumps or patches that come and go), heat rash (small, prickly spots), eczema (dry, cracked, itchy patches), contact dermatitis (itchy, dry skin after contact with something like soap or nickel), fungal infections such as kurap and panau, and scabies (intensely itchy spots, worse at night).
When is itchy skin serious?
See a doctor if itching affects your daily life, does not improve with self-care, keeps coming back, is all over your body, is severe, or happens during pregnancy. Call an ambulance if a rash or hives comes with swelling of the lips, mouth or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or feeling faint, as this may be a severe allergic reaction.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or pharmacist. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
