Itching is an unpleasant and sometimes painful sensation that makes you want to scratch all the time. Itchy skin is referred to as pruritus. These can be localized or spread to a large part or even the whole body. Most often, the skin has redness, a rough appearance, small pimples, bumps, or blisters, which trigger the itchiness. However, pruritus can also occur on healthy skin for no apparent reason.

Itching can be a simple cause of dry skin, but it can also be a symptom of more serious illnesses. To find out more, the doctor will carry out an interview and a thorough examination to determine the causes of the itching. He may also prescribe additional analyzes to refine his diagnosis: blood tests, allergy tests or skin samples or refer you to a doctor specializing in dermatology.

Itching can be caused by many diseases. For this reason, do not hesitate to consult a doctor, especially if the itching is intense, persistent or extensive.

Some potential causes of itching include:

• skin rashes, such as eczema, psoriasis, chickenpox, hives, or those caused by scabies. This itching is localized and is accompanied by redness, small pimples or blisters.

• mosquito bites, lice, jellyfish, or plants (such as nettles) are often very irritating.

• dry skin, which results from environmental factors such as cold and dry weather, the use of central heating or air conditioning, or a significant number of showers or baths. The skin may show signs of cracking in this case.

• internal diseases, such as liver disease, kidney failure, biliary retention, hematological diseases, thyroid problems or even lymphoma. The itching usually affects the whole body. In these cases, the skin does not show signs of redness, blisters or pimples.

• allergic reactions to drugs, chemicals, cosmetics applied to the skin, or certain foods. The itching is most often localized but can be generalized in the event of a reaction to a drug.

• Pregnancy: Pregnant women may feel itchy in the breasts, thighs, arms and abdomen, often due to stretching of the skin.

• diseases affecting the nervous system: multiple sclerosis or shingles can cause itching sensations

When the skin itches, the first instinct is to scratch. But beyond providing relief for a limited time, scratching can aggravate itching and lead to a risk of superinfection, especially with staphylococcus aureus, this is called impetigo. The more a person itches, the more likely they are to bare their skin and expose it to germs. It is advisable to use suitable treatments, or at least to relieve yourself with the palm of the hand (not with the fingernails) to have short and clean nails, especially for the little ones.

The itching and the associated physical consequences (redness, pimples, blisters, etc.) can also be bothersome and have a psychological impact on the person affected. Persistent itching can be deeply crippling.