Itchy skin

Causes of itchy skin

• Dermatologic: Itching happens due to swelling or inflammation within your body. Some examples are – dry skin (xerosis), burns, psoriasis, scabies, parasites, eczema (dermatitis), scars, hives and insect bites.
• Systemic: The itching occurs due to underlying medical condition that can affect skin or internal organs. This may consist of natural changes to your body with age or other hormonal changes. Itching on the body might be a symptom of underlying diseases such as diabetes, liver disease, thyroid problems, kidney disease, anemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma.
• Neuropathic: The conditions related to nerve damage or nervous system leads to itching. Some examples are – pinched nerves, shingles and several sclerosis.
• Psychogenic: Psychiatric conditions or conditions which may affect your brain lead to itching. Examples include depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• Environmental: An irritant in the environment causes itching which can be clothing material, insect bite, temperature, drug reaction or touching something uncomfortable. Chemicals, soaps, wool and other substances may cause irritation to your skin and lead to itching and rashes. Sometimes the substance like cosmetics or poison ivy leads to allergic reaction. Also, the reactions to certain drugs, such as narcotic pain medications (opioids) might be the reason for your itchy skin.

Different kinds of itchy skin or pruritus

• Brachioradial pruritus: The itching of upper arm occurs due to nerve damage.
• Nocturnal pruritus: Itching which happens during night with several possible causes include a reaction to natural functions of body, a reaction to medication or contacting skin irritant.
• Pruritus ani: Itching of skin that surrounds your anus occurs due to hemorrhoids which is a skin irritant or an infection.
• Senile pruritus: The itching occurs due to changes to skin that affects people above 65 years.
• Uremic pruritus: Itching occurs as a symptom among people who have been diagnosed with renal disease and receive dialysis.

Who does itchy skin affect?

Pruritus is quite common and will affect everyone during their lifetime. You might be at greater risk of pruritus if you:

• Have allergies.
• Are 65 years or older.
• Are pregnant.
• Have underlying condition like diabetes, eczema or psoriasis
• Are on dialysis.

Is itchy skin a sign of underlying condition?

Some common conditions that cause itching are the following:

• Diabetes
• Eczema
• Pregnancy
• Kidney disease
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Psoriasis
• Liver disease
• Allergies
• Dermatitis
• Thyroid disease
• Cholestasis

Symptoms of itchy skin

Itchy skin may affect small areas such as arm, leg, scalp or entire body. Itchy skin can occur without other noticeable changes on your skin or it is associated with:

• Scratch marks
• Redness
• Cracked or dry skin
• Blisters, spots or bumps
• Scaly, thick or leathery patches
• Localized pain at the site of itchy skin
• Skin breaks open and bleeds
• Broken skin leaks yellow to white fluid that does not heal or has scaly texture

Other symptoms of pruritus are:

• Discoloration of skin which is darker or lighter surrounding it
• Small pimple-like bumps on the skin
• Large bumps on the affected skin area
• Rash forms on your skin that is swollen or elevated
• Fluid-filled bumps or blisters on your skin

How to diagnose itchy skin

In order to diagnose pruritus, the dermatologist examines your skin condition and gathers information about your symptoms and medical history. The provider might ask you certain questions which include:

• When did itching start?
• Did you make changes to personal care products soaps before itching started?
• Have you had other symptoms such as night sweats, weight loss, feeling tired or increased thirst?
• Did you take new medications?
• Did you touch something specific like plant or new pet?

Different tests to diagnose itchy skin

• Allergy tests denote when you react to something in your environment
• Blood tests indicate vitamin and mineral deficiencies or problems with internal organs like thyroid, liver or kidneys
• Imaging tests like chest X-ray to denote conditions that extend beneath your skin such as cancer.
• Skin biopsy to detect skin conditions that lead to itching. The test involves taking small sample of skin and examining it under the microscope.

Risk factors with itchy skin

• Certain medications
• Obesity
• Allergic reactions
• Diabetes nellitus
• Cholestasis

How you can get rid of itchy skin

• Use a lotion, ointment or cream on your skin
• Take medicine to prevent the problem of itching
• Change a medicine that causes symptoms but stop taking a medicine till the provider tells you it is safe to do
• Manage or treat underlying conditions that lead to itching
• Use non-medical therapies to ease itching like light therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve, stimulation therapy or acupuncture.

Are there at-home remedies to treat itchy skin?

• Use lotions and creams daily to keep skin moisturized and prevent dry skin
• Wear sunscreen to prevent damage from UV rays of sun and sunburns
• Use sensitive skin products like soaps and detergents to avoid irritation
• Take warm bath or shower to ease itchiness
• Avoid wearing fabrics that cause skin irritation like synthetic fabrics and wool
• Cotton clothing usually do not lead to any irritation to skin
• Place cool washcloth or ice wrapped in a towel over skin area where there is itching

What medications can treat pruritus?

Your provider might prescribe medications to treat pruritus such as:

• Antihistamines
• Immunosuppressant medications such as cyclosporine A
• Oral steroids or topical steroids

Different anti-itch creams to treat itchy skin

• Hydrocortisone: A drug that prevents inflammation and swelling
• Antihistamines: A drug that eases the symptoms from allergic reaction
• Capsaicin: A drug that treats severe pain and minor aches
• Aloe vera: A substance extracted from the plant that soothes irritated skin
• Menthol: A plant-based product that offers cooling sensation when it is applied to your skin.
• Petroleum jelly: A mixture of waxes and mineral oils that provides moisture to your skin.

What deficiency leads to itchy skin?

Both vitamin A and vitamin B12 deficiencies might be the reason for itchy skin. If you are suffering from itchy skin, getting the levels of vitamins tested may be helpful. This testing will determine if these deficiencies are at the root cause of your skin itchiness and sensitivities.

What foods trigger itchy skin?

• When it is about food allergies, wheat, peanuts, soy, cow's milk, eggs and shellfish are among the common culprits. The itchiness caused by these foods may lead to flare-ups or worsening of dermatitis symptoms.

How soon after treatment will you feel better?

The length of time you need to get rid of itchy skin depends on the cause of it. Some diagnoses can be for a long term and you might suffer from symptoms that come and go throughout the life. For others, the condition could be temporary irritant that goes away within a few days. Speak with your provider about the diagnosis, cause and how to treat symptoms to feel better quickly.

When you need to visit a doctor

You should see a skin specialist when itching:

• Remains for more than two weeks and does not improve with self-care measures
• Gets severe and distracts you from daily routines or prevents from sleeping
• Happens suddenly and cannot be explained
• Affects your entire body
• Occurs with other signs and symptoms such as – fever, night sweats or weight loss