Itching is an important sign from the body. See what itching means and how to treat it

Itching is an irritation of the skin that makes us want to scratch the itchy area. It can be whole-body or restricted to a specific location. In severe cases, it can lead to sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression. Continuous scratching, in turn, can damage the skin and reduce its effectiveness as a primary protective barrier.

1. Itching may be the result of a rash or other skin condition
2. It may also be a symptom of a more serious condition such as liver disease or kidney failure
3. In the fight against itching, diagnostics and treatment of the cause of the itching are of key importance
4. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

What is itching?

Itching is a feeling that causes you to feel thirsty or to scratch. Although the itching does not have to be related to a serious problem, it does produce a rather uncomfortable feeling. Occasionally, the itching can be caused by a serious medical condition. However, most of the causes of itching can be treated at home with lotions, moisturizers, and over-the-counter medications.

Itching – symptoms

If itching occurs, in addition to the obvious itching, symptoms may include:

1. reddening of the skin;
2. bumps, spots, or blisters on the skin;
3. dry, chapped skin;
4. flaky skin.

Keep in mind that dry skin is more prone to infection, which in turn causes the skin to become swollen, hot, red, and may leak fluid. You will need to take antibiotics to deal with the infection.

See also: Irritated, red and itchy skin? What do the signals he sends us mean?

Itching – what is it caused by?

The skin is full of immune system cells designed to protect the body and skin from viruses, bacteria and other threats. When skin cells detect any type of suspicious substance, they trigger a reaction that causes inflammation in that area. This is known as a skin rash, which may be itchy. Sometimes the rash may be itchy, sometimes painful, or it may be blistering or a spot on the skin. It can be caused by some disease, infection or something that affects our body. As previously mentioned, the itching sensation may affect the entire body or just a part of it. It is assumed that the pruritus may be due to:

Itching and dry skin

Usually, the itching sensation is caused by dry skin. This is easy to tell by the absence of bright red nodules or other lesions on the skin, possibly dry skin. Excessively hot or cold weather with low humidity or too frequent showering can cause skin dryness. Moreover, the problem with dry skin can appear at any age, although the more frightened a person, the more likely it is.

Moisturizing cream can help with dry skin. Dry skin, however, may require consultation with a dermatologist.

The most common symptoms of dry skin are: excessive itching; rough or flaky skin; gray or ashen skin in people with a darker complexion; cracked skin prone to bleeding.

These symptoms should not be ignored, especially chapped skin where germs can enter the body. These germs can cause an infection, the first symptom of which is sore red patches on the skin. The dermatologist may prescribe a moisturizing cream to use throughout the day or a topical medicine to apply directly to the skin.

Itching and eczema

Another cause of itching is eczema or atopic dermatitis, which most often affect children. Eczema results from the drying out of the skin, which exposes it to irritation and inflammation, which is why it is so important to properly moisturize the skin. Although eczema usually clears over time, sufferers need to be careful all the time as they are more prone to skin infections.

For daily care of problematic skin, we recommend Blue Cap Shower Gel for flaky and itchy skin.

Itching and allergies

Pruritus can also be caused by allergies, for example allergic contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into direct contact with an allergen (there is a time delay between exposure to the allergen and the onset of a rash). A skin allergy appears as a red, itchy rash that may include small blisters or lumps.

Allergic reactions can occur after contact with pets, household chemicals, soap, plants (e.g. poison ivy), or cosmetics, and even jewelry. It is quite common to be allergic to nickel, a small amount of which is sometimes found in jewelry. Symptoms of nickel allergy include red, lumpy, itchy, and swollen skin at the site of contact. What’s more, itchy skin can also be caused by food allergies.

In the case of allergies, the key is to avoid substances to which we are allergic. As for allergic rash, creams or lotions can help.

Itching and hives

Urticaria is another cause of itching. This is a type of dermatitis caused by a chemical called histamine being released into the body, causing small blood vessels to leak, causing the skin to swell. There are two types of urticaria:

1. Acute urticaria – occurs after contact with an allergen (e.g. a given drug or food), due to excessively high or low temperature, exposure to the sun or exercise.
2. Chronic urticaria – This type of urticaria does not come from contact with specific allergens, so it cannot be detected with allergy testing. It can go on for months or even years.

Hives can be unpleasantly itchy and painful, but are not contagious.

Itching and insect bites

Itching can also be the result of insect bites. With mosquito and spider bites, the skin often develops small bite marks surrounded by a red spot, which should disappear within 7-14 days. In turn, dust mites and bed bugs can cause more rash and itching all over the body. Fighting bedbugs will require removing all furniture and thoroughly cleaning the room with deterrents. Clothes, bedding, pillows, etc. will have to be washed at 60 degrees C. Sometimes it may happen that you will need to seek the help of professionals.

Itching – the psychological aspect

Sometimes the itching has no physical cause. In these cases, there is a mental illness that causes itching or a feeling of crawling on the skin, requiring the patient to scratch. Unfortunately, excessive scratching can damage the skin.

Compulsive scratching may be the result of depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Itching – other causes

Itching can have many causes, one of which is parasites such as pinworms, or insects such as bedbugs or lice. Fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot, can also cause itching between and around the toes. Itchy skin can also be caused by more serious medical conditions. Nervous disorders due to diabetes mellitus, pressure on the nerve and shingles can cause severe itching.

It is estimated that about 2 percent. pregnant women have itching for no apparent dermatological cause. In some cases, itching is caused by cholestasis (a build-up of bile in the gallbladder and liver). It usually starts in the third trimester and resolves after childbirth. Generalized pruritus is also a common symptom of menopause.

Doctors may also refer to uremic pruritus as kidney itch or itch associated with chronic kidney disease. Uremia is a broad syndrome that occurs when the kidneys are severely damaged and unable to filter out toxins from the body. With uremia, itching usually worsens at night. Most often it affects the back, shoulders and abdomen.

Itching – diagnosis

In most cases, a physical examination is sufficient to diagnose pruritus, but sometimes, in the case of skin lesions of uncertain etiology, a biopsy may be needed. If your doctor suspects you have an allergic reaction but is not sure what allergen is causing it, patch tests will be performed.

If a systemic disorder is suspected, tests are performed to look at the suspected cause and usually include a complete blood count (which may provide evidence of an internal itching condition such as anemia), liver, kidney and thyroid function tests; and chest x-rays (which can show if the patient has enlarged lymph nodes, which may be associated with itchy skin).

Patients without primary skin lesions and with little evidence of chronic scratching should also be screened for neuropathic and psychogenic causes.

Itching – treatment

Treatment of itching depends on its cause and focuses on removing the cause of the itching. Sometimes only home remedies are sufficient, but in some more serious cases the use of medications or other treatments will be required.

Topical medications are usually used to treat itching, including:

1. steroid creams – applied to the skin to reduce swelling and inflammation. They are used for eczema, scabies, psoriasis, neuropathic itching, systemic lupus erythematosus, contact dermatitis, insect bites, allergic reactions and rash.
2. antifungal creams – they are used to reduce itching of the skin caused by fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, diaper rash and itching of the groin.
3. topical antidepressants – doxepin, a tricyclic antidepressant, is sometimes used to treat problems such as eczema.
4. local anesthetics – are designed to temporarily relieve pain and itching caused by conditions such as scabies, insect bites or stings, hives and rash (such as hydrocortisone pramoxin cream).
5. anti-scabies remedies – Permethrin creams are a type of topical treatment for scabies.
6. zinc oxide – when used in the form of a cream, it can reduce skin irritation from rashes. It is also found in products such as calamine lotion.

Other agents that are used to treat pruritus are oral medications:

1. antihistamines – used to treat allergic reactions and itchy skin or rashes caused by insect bites or stings, hives, eczema, dermatography and contact dermatitis.
2. corticosteroids – help soothe inflammation and can be used to treat conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic urticaria, eczema, psoriasis, and severe allergic reactions.
3. immunosuppressive drugs – are designed to reduce immune activity. Immunosuppressants can be useful in treating exacerbations caused by inflammatory conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic urticaria, and eczema.
4. antifungal drugs – used to treat fungal infections, they can reduce itching caused by fungal infections of the feet and groin itching. Such agents include, for example, griseofulvin, fluconazole and itraconazole.
5. antibiotics – they stop infections caused by bacteria. The results of a 2019 study published in Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica suggest that certain types of antibiotics, such as rifampicin, are also used to control itching caused by liver disease. Oral antibiotics such as amoxicillin / clavulanate or clindamycin can also treat severe impetigo.
6. beta-blockers – used to treat cirrhosis of the liver and portal hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the vein that carries blood to the liver.
7. Bile acid sequestrants – help to remove bile salts from the body, which can treat cirrhosis of the liver. These drugs include, for example, cholestyramine.
8. antidepressants – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as sertraline and fluoxetine, are often used to reduce itching of the skin caused by liver disease.
9. Antiparasitic drugs – Drugs such as mebendazole and albendazole are sometimes prescribed for a pinworm infection.
10. diuretics – can help reduce fluid build-up to relieve symptoms of cirrhosis.

Light therapy (phototherapy) is also used to treat itching. It involves the exposure of the skin to a specific type of light. This can be a good option for people who cannot take oral medications. Before the itching subsides, however, the patient will need several sessions of phototherapy.

Moreover, in the case of pruritus, behavioral therapy can also be used, which, along with pharmacotherapy, is to help cope and reduce stress, which interrupt the itch-scratch cycle.

Itching – home remedies

In order to alleviate the feeling of itching, it is also worth using home remedies.

1. Moisturize your skin daily – it is worth applying a hypoallergenic and odorless moisturizing cream to the affected area of ​​the skin at least once a day. For dry skin, thicker creams and ointments work better than lotions.
2. Use air humidifiers – an air humidifier can provide relief if heating in your home makes the air dry.
3. Avoid items or situations that cause itching – it’s worth understanding and finding out what exactly causes our skin to itch and avoid it. Symptoms may be caused by the action of wool in our clothes, excessively high temperature in the room we are in, too many warm baths or the action of a cleaning agent.
4. Take care of your scalp – shampoos containing substances such as zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, selenium sulfide or coal tar can be great for problems with dry, itchy scalp. Sometimes we have to try several different measures before we find one that works for us. Sometimes it is also a relief to use these products alternately.
5. Reduce stress or anxiety – stress or anxiety can make the itching symptoms worse. Many people have found that therapy, acupuncture, meditation, and yoga can help reduce stress or anxiety.
6. Stay refreshed – getting enough sleep can reduce the risk of itchy skin.
7. Avoid scratching – in order not to scratch a given place, it is worth simply covering it with clothes. It’s also a good idea to trim your nails and wear gloves while sleeping.
8. Try over-the-counter oral allergy medications – some antihistamines (e.g. diphenhydramine) may make you feel sleepy. Medications can be helpful before bedtime if itchy skin keeps us awake. Antihistamines do not help with the itching that follows a shingles infection.
9. Take a bath – a great way to alleviate the symptoms of itching is to take a bath. In the case of such baths, it is worth adding 100 grams of Epsom salt or baking soda to lukewarm water in advance. When bathing, it is important to use a mild cleanser, limiting its use to the armpits and groin. You should not scrub the skin too much and limit the bath time. After the bath itself, we should rinse thoroughly, dry and moisturize.
10. Use skin-cooling creams or lotions – it is assumed that a corticosteroid cream can temporarily relieve itching. Positive effects can also be obtained by using calamine lotions or creams with menthol, camphor, capsaicin or a local anesthetic. It is worth adding that storing these products in the refrigerator can enhance their soothing effect. Corticosteroid creams do not help with the itching that follows a shingles infection.

Itching – complications

Itchy sensations caused by itching that last longer than six weeks can affect your quality of life. Itching can cause sleep disturbance, anxiety or depression. Prolonged itching sensations such as the resulting scratching can increase the intensity of the itch, which in turn can lead to skin damage, infection and scarring.

See also: Sleep deprivation and its importance for health. What can sleep disturbances lead to?