Description

Itchy skin is an irritating sensation that makes you want to scratch. Also called pruritus (proo-RIE-tus). Itchy skin is often caused by the dryness of the skin and is common in older adults, as skin tends to become drier with age.

Depending on the cause of the itching, your skin may look no different than normal or that may be inflamed, rough, or have bumps. Repeated scratching can cause raised thick areas of skin that might bleed or become infected.

Many people find relief with self-care measures such as moisturizing, mild cleaners and warm baths. Long-term relief requires the identification and treatment of the cause of the itching in the skin. Common treatments include medicated creams, wet dressings, and anti-itch medications that are taken by mouth.

Symptoms

Itchy skin can affect small areas, such as the scalp, arm, or leg. Or you can cover the entire body. Itchy skin can occur without any other noticeable change in the skin. Or you can come up with:

  • Inflammation of the skin
  • Scratch marks
  • Bumps, spots or blisters
  • Dry, cracked skin
  • Leather or scaly patches

Sometimes itching lasts a long time and can be severe. As you rub or scratch the area, it gets itchier. And the more it itches, the more than zero. Breaking this cycle of itch-scratch can be difficult.

When to see a doctor

Consult your health care provider or a disease of the skin specialist (dermatologist) if the itching:

  • It lasts more than two weeks and does not improve with self-care measures
  • It is serious and distracts you from your daily routine, or prevent you from sleeping
  • Appears suddenly and can't be easily explained
  • It affects the whole body
  • Comes with other symptoms, such as weight loss, fever or night sweats

If the condition persists for three months despite treatment, see a dermatologist to be evaluated for disease of the skin. You may also need to see a doctor who specializes in internal medicine (internist) to rule out other diseases.

Causes

Causes of itchy skin include:

  • Conditions of the skin. Examples include dry skin (xerosis), eczema (dermatitis), psoriasis, scabies, parasites, burns, scars, insect bites and hives.
  • Internal diseases. Itching all over the body can be a symptom of an underlying disease, such as liver disease, kidney disease, anemia, diabetes, thyroid problems and certain types of cancer.
  • Disorders of the nerves. Examples include multiple sclerosis, the compression of the nerves and shingles (herpes zoster).
  • Psychiatric conditions. Examples include anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression.
  • Irritation and allergic reactions. Wool, chemicals, soaps and other things that can irritate the skin and cause rashes and itching. Sometimes a substance, as a poison ivy or cosmetics, causes an allergic reaction. Also, reactions to certain medications, such as narcotics to treat pain (opiates) can cause itching in the skin.

Sometimes, the cause of the itching can not be determined.

Risk factors

Any person can develop itching of the skin. But you may be more likely to develop if you:

  • Has a condition that can cause itching, such as dermatitis, kidney disease, anemia, or thyroid disease.
  • Older adults, as skin can become drier with age.

Complications

Itching of the skin that is severe or lasts more than six weeks may affect the quality of your life. This type is called chronic itching. You can alter the dream, or the cause of the anxiety or the depression. Prolonged itching and scratching may increase the intensity of the itch, possibly leading to skin injury, infection, and scarring.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of the cause of the itching of the skin begins with a physical exam and questions about your medical history. If your doctor thinks your itchy skin is the result of a medical condition, you might have tests, including:

  • Blood test. A complete blood count can provide evidence of an internal condition causing your itch, such as anemia.
  • Tests of liver and kidney function. Liver or kidney disorders and thyroid conditions, such as hyperthyroidism, can cause itching.
  • X-ray of the chest. A chest x-ray can show whether you have inflammation of the lymph nodes, which can go along with itching in the skin.

Treatment

Itching of the skin, the treatment focuses on the removal of the cause of the itching. If home remedies do not relieve your symptoms, your doctor can recommend prescription medications, or other treatments. The control of symptoms itchy skin can be difficult and may require long-term therapy. The options include:

  • Corticosteroid creams and ointments.If you have itchy skin, and swelling, the doctor may suggest the application of a medicated cream or ointment to the affected areas. You can then cover the treated skin with a cotton material wet. The moisture helps the skin to absorb the cream and has a cooling effect. If you have serious or long-term, itching, your doctor may suggest that this bedtime routine: Bathing on the plain of warm water for 20 minutes and then apply triamcinolone .025% or 0.1% ointment for the skin moist. This traps the moisture and helps the medicine to absorb. Then put on pajamas. Repeat this routine at bedtime for several nights.
  • Other creams and ointments. Other treatments that are applied to the skin include calcineurin inhibitors, such as tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel). Or you can find a little relief with topical anesthetics, capsaicin cream or doxepin cream.
  • The oral medications. Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Ssris) may be useful to relieve some types of long-term itch. Examples of Ssris include fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft). Another option is a tricyclic antidepressants, such as doxepin, You may not feel the full benefit of some of these medications until 8 to 12 weeks after starting treatment.
  • Light therapy (phototherapy). Phototherapy involves exposing your skin to a specific type of light. This can be a good option for people who cannot take medications by mouth. It is likely that you will need a couple of sessions of phototherapy, until the itching is under control.

Corticosteroid creams and ointments. If you have itchy skin, and swelling, the doctor may suggest the application of a medicated cream or ointment to the affected areas. You can then cover the treated skin with a cotton material wet. The moisture helps the skin to absorb the cream and has a cooling effect.

If you have serious or long-term, itching, your doctor may suggest that this bedtime routine: Bathing on the plain of warm water for 20 minutes and then apply triamcinolone .025% or 0.1% ointment for the skin moist. This traps the moisture and helps the medicine to absorb. Then put on pajamas. Repeat this routine at bedtime for several nights.

Lifestyle and home remedies

For the temporary relief of the itching, try these self-care measures:

  • Avoid items or situations that cause itching. Try to identify what is causing your symptoms and to avoid. This may be the clothing of wool, too heated room, too many hot baths or exposure to a cleaning product.
  • Moisturize your skin daily. Apply hypoallergenic and fragrance-free moisturizer (Cetaphil, other) to the affected skin at least once a day. For dry skin, thick creams and ointments work better than lotions.
  • Treat the scalp. For a dry, itchy scalp, try without prescription medicated shampoos containing zinc pyrithione (Head & Shoulders, others), ketoconazole (Nizoral, others), selenium sulfide (Selsun Blue, others) or coal tar (Neutrogena T/Gel, and others). You may need to try a few products before you find one that works for your hair and condition. Or you may find that switching between the products of the help. Do not use a medicated shampoo right after having a chemical relaxing process — instead, use a neutralizing shampoo.
  • The use of creams, lotions or gels that soothe and refresh the skin. The short-term use of the prescription corticosteroid cream may offer short-term relief of itching, inflammation of the skin. Or try calamine lotion or creams with menthol (Scabies, other), camphor, capsaicin, or a topical anesthetic, such as pramoxine (for adults only). Keep these products in the refrigerator can enhance its calming effect. Corticosteroid creams do not help with the itching that follows a herpes zoster infection.
  • To avoid scratching. Cover the affected area if you can't avoid scratching it. Clipping the nails, and, if it helps, wear gloves when you sleep.
  • Take a bath. Use warm water and sprinkle in about half a cup (100 grams) of Epsom salts, baking soda, or oatmeal-based bath product (Aveeno, other). Use a mild cleanser (Dove, Olay, Cetaphil), which limits their use in the armpits and groin. Do not rub too hard, and limit your bathing time. Then rinse, pat dry, and moisturize.
  • Reduce stress or anxiety. Stress or anxiety can worsen the itching. Many people have found that the counselling, behaviour modification therapy, acupuncture, meditation, and yoga can help reduce stress or anxiety.
  • Try over-the-counter oral medications allergy. Some over-the-counter allergy medicines (antihistamines), as diphenhydramine, can cause drowsiness. This type of pill that could be useful before bedtime if the itching in the skin disrupts your sleep. Antihistamines do not help with the itching that follows a herpes zoster infection.
  • The use of a humidifier. A humidifier can provide some relief if the home heating makes the air in your home to be dry.
  • Be well rested. Getting enough sleep could reduce the risk of itching on the skin.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary care provider. Or you may be referred to a specialist in skin diseases (dermatologist).

Here is information to help you prepare for your appointment and know what to expect from your health care provider.

What you can do

List of the symptoms, when they occurred, and how long they lasted. Also, the list of all the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you are taking. Or take the original bottles and a written list of the dose and directions.

List of questions to ask your health care provider. For itchy skin, questions to ask include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms?
  • The tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis?
  • What are other possible causes of the symptoms?
  • Is my condition likely to be short-term or long-term?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • I have other health problems. How can I manage together?
  • What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • Do I need prescription medication, or I can use the-counter products to treat the disease?
  • What results can I expect?
  • Can't wait to see if the condition goes away without treatment?

Don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to begin with your health history and ask you some questions, such as:

  • When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
  • What made your skin look like when your symptoms started?
  • The symptoms changed?
  • Is your itch to interfere with your daily activities?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What home treatments have you tried?
  • What prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking?
  • Have you traveled recently?
  • Have you gone swimming or wading in a lake or pond recently?
  • What is the typical diet?
  • Are you in contact with potential irritants, such as domestic animals or of certain metals, either at home or at work?
Symptoms and treatment of Itchy skin (pruritus)