Itchy Skin

Itchy Skin

Itchy skin is also known as pruritus and is any irritating sensation on the skin that makes you want to scratch the area. Although in most cases the itchy area will have bumps, redness or rough skin it can also appear to be normal despite the itching sensation. There are several possible causes for itchy skin, ranging from harmless (such as a rash) to harmful (such as kidney problems or Psoriasis). Many home remedies can relieve the itchiness, but it’s necessary to be informed when it’s the time to seek medical help.

Causes of Itchy Skin
1. Dry Skin
In most cases when itchy skin does not involve noticeable changes in the skin (such as a rash), it is caused by xerosis or dry skin. This is usually due to environmental factors such as bathing too frequently, overuse of central heating or air conditioning and cold or hot weather that is accompanied by low levels of humidity.

2. Skin Conditions and Rashes
There is a long list of rashes and related skin conditions that can cause itchy skin and some of these include Dermatographism, HIVes, Chickenpox, Lice, Scabies, psoriasis and eczema (dermatitis). In most cases when the itchy skin is due to one of these conditions, there will be other symptoms as well such as blisters, bumps, or skin that is red and irritated.

3. Diseases
Some internal diseases can also cause itchy skin and a few examples include: some Cancers, thyroid problems, anemia, Kidney Failure, Celiac Disease and liver disease. When a disease is the cause, the skin can appear to be normal with the exception of scratch marks (from scratching the itches) and the itching will usually affect the entire body.

4. Nerve Disorders
An additional cause of itching can be conditions which affect your nervous system including Shingles, Pinched Nerves, Diabetes mellitus and Multiple sclerosis.

5. Allergic Reaction and Irritation
People with allergies know that this can sometimes cause itchy skin. This cause is more common with contact substances such as cosmetics or poison ivy but can also occur because of food allergies. Skin irritations caused by soaps, chemicals, wools and other items can also cause itching.

6. Drugs
Widespread itching and rashes can also be due to a side effect of drugs, specifically narcotic pain medications, antifungal drugs and antibiotics.

7. Pregnancy
Some women will suffer from itchy skin during pregnancy and this most frequently occurs on the arms, breasts, thighs and abdomen. People who suffer from an itchy skin condition (ex: dermatitis) can also experience a worsening of symptoms during pregnancy.

8. Menopause
Menopause is the time when a woman stops getting her periods due to changes in hormonal levels. Doctors believe that these hormonal changes (such as the levels of estrogen) are a cause of itchy skin.

Symptoms of Itchy Skin


Itchy skin can either occur in a small area of the body (such as a leg or arm) or the entire body. Although it may occur in addition to other noticeable skin changes, that is not always the case. It can be associated, however, with a scaly or leathery texture, skin that is dry or cracked, blisters, spots, bumps or redness. Itchiness can be intense andlong-lasting. Keep in mind that rubbing the area will cause the itchiness to increase.

When to See a Doctor
If the itching does one of the following, you should contact a dermatologist or your normal doctor:

• It lasts over two weeks without improvement using self-care


• It is extremely uncomfortable and severe to the point where you are unable to sleep or participate in your daily routines


• There is no easy explanation for it


• It affects your entire body


• It includes additional symptoms such as skin redness, fever, a change in urinary or bowel habits, Weight Loss or extreme tiredness

Remedies for Itchy Skin
Medical Treatment

• Instant Relief. Your doctor may prescribe topic anesthetics or lotions and ointments that provide instant relief from the itching but in almost every case this relief will be short-term.


• Medications. Corticosteroid creams are applied topically to control itching. Usually you will apply them to the itchy areas and then cover them with using damp cotton as this helps your skin absorb the cream. Oral antihistamines are good for itching due to hives or allergies.


• Treating the Underlying Conditions. When the itching is caused by an underlying disease, treating the disease should relieve the itchy skin although your doctor may recommend additional treatments.


• Light Therapy. Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, exposes your skin to specific wavelengths of UV light and usually requires several sessions.

Home Remedies

• High-quality Moisturizer. You should apply a high quality moisturizer to your skin one or two times each day, being sure to concentrate on the spots with severe itching. Examples of these creams include CeraVe, Eucerin, Cetaphil and Vanicream.


• Anti-itch Lotion/Cream. There are nonprescription hydrocortisone creams that are able to relieve the itch temporarily. You can also try an oral antihistamine that is non-prescription (such as Benadryl) if your itching is more severe.


• No Scratching. As mentioned earlier, scratching will make the itchy skin worse. If you are not able to control yourself, cover the affected area, cut your nails and wear gloves.


• Wet, Cool Compress. Applying cool, wet compresses can help relieve itching as can covering the itchy area with bandages. This will also prevent you from scratching.


• Cool Bath. Another great option is to take a cool bath and sprinkle some colloidal or uncooked oatmeal or baking soda in it as well.


• Proper Clothing. Wearing clothing made of smooth-textured cotton will allow you to avoid further irritation of the itchy areas.


• Mild Soaps. When selecting your soaps, choose ones that are mild and do not have perfumes or dyes. You should make sure to rinse off completely and use a moisturizer afterwards.


• Detergent. When washing your towels, bedding or clothes, always use a mild laundry detergent that is unscented and use your machine’s extra-rinse cycle.


• Keeping Away from Irritants. If you know certain substances cause allergic reactions or skin irritation, you should avoid these. The most common objects include cosmetics, cleaning products, perfume, jewelry and nickel.


• Licorice Root. Licorice root compress is a natural remedy for itching because it has a steroid that will reduce the itching sensation. Either choose skin-care products with licorice root in them or make tea using the root and soak a compress in it.


• Basil Tea. Because basil contains cloves which have eugenol, it can help relieve itching. Make tea using half an ounce of the dried leaves, keeping it covered while it steeps. After the tea cools, use a clean cloth to apply it to your skin. Thyme and mint will help in the same way.


• Oatmeal Bath. Taking an oatmeal bath can help with itching from a variety of causes. Simply run the bath then add as much oatmeal as you want (the oatmeal in your kitchen is fine). The natural ingredients in the bath won’t dry out your skin like other products do.

Video: Natural home remedies for itching

Itchy Skin No Rash

Itchy Skin No Rash

Itching skin or pruritus can be caused by any number of conditions. In most cases a small area of your skin will become itchy for a short time, but in some cases a wide area of your skin can become affected by this itching. There are conditions that can causes, from mild to serious, the skin to become itchy without developing a rash, but both home remedies and medical treatments can help relieve the condition.

Causes of Itchy Skin without Rash
1. Allergic Reactions
Chemicals, wool, soap and other substances can cause the skin to become irritated and itchy. In some cases an allergic reaction to foods, cosmetics or poison ivy can cause the body to develop itching on the skin.

2. Drugs
Reactions to antibiotics, narcotic pain medications or antifungal drugs can cause rashes or widespread itching.

3. Kidney Failure
Kidney failure is a condition that leads to damage of the kidneys, usually from high Blood Pressure or diabetes, leading to the kidneys to stop working properly. As the kidneys stop working properly the body will develop acidosis where the blood becomes increasingly acidic. Kidney failure is known to cause itching on the skin that is not accompanied by a rash. You may also experience decreased immune function, fatigue, weakness, an increased need to urinate, seizures and confusion.

4. Cholestasis during Pregnancy
Cholestasis is a disease of the liver that may develop in the later stages of pregnancy. As this condition develops bile flow from the gallbladder to the kidneys is altered by the hormones released during pregnancy. This will cause an overabundance of bile acid in the liver which will then start moving into the bloodstream, causing itching across the body but no accompanying rash. This itching is often the most severe in the hands and feet.

5. Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a Cancer that develops in the lymphatic system and moves into the blood. This can develop as non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma, but approximately 12 percent of those that develop lymphoma have Hodgkin lymphoma. This type of cancer will cause the skin to become itchy without a rash, Weight Loss, fever, Swollen Lymph Nodes and fatigue.

6. Dry Skin
Dry skin is one of the most common causes of widespread itching without the presence of a rash. This condition, known as xerosis, is not serious but it can make you uncomfortable. When the skin becomes dry the cells will shrivel and create wrinkles and fine lines. It may feel taut and stretched or appear shrunken. You may notice scaling, flaking or peeling in addition to mild to severe itching on the skin.

7. Scabies
Scabies is caused by mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) burrowing into the skin, leading the skin affected by this infection to become itchy. The itchiness associated with this condition is often the most severe at night. Scabies are highly contagious and often spread amongst people when materials such as towels, bedding or clothing are shared.

Home Remedies for Itchy Skin without Rash
1. Proper Diet
You should drink plenty of water or get water from consuming juicy fruits, fruit juices or soups. Avoid consuming a great deal of pineapple or mango as they can cause itching to become more severe. Increase your intake of leafy green vegetables and cut down on consuming fried, oily foods, fast food, eggs and red meat.

2. Moisturizing Cream
Applying a high quality moisturizer one or twice a day in the areas that are particularly itchy can help to provide relief. Look for products that contain Eucerin, Cetaphil, Vanicream, CeraVe.

3. Anti-itch Cream/Lotion
Hydrocortisone creams are available in 1 percent doses over the counter. Applying these to the skin can temporarily relieve itching. You can also take an antihistamine to help relieve itchy skin.

4. No Scratching
While it may temporarily address your itchiness, you should avoid scratching your itchy skin as this can cause damage. Trim your nails or wear gloves at night to reduce this risk.

5. Cold/Wet Compress
Covering areas that are itchy with a dressing or bandage that is cool and wet to prevent scratching.

6. Cool Bath
Take a cool bath with colloidal oatmeal, baking soda or uncooked oatmeal to soothe the skin. Choose finely ground oatmeal products that are designed for use in the bathtub.

7. Oatmeal Bath
Fill your bathtub with water and add a cup of oatmeal to the water. Bathing in this mixture every other day will greatly improve itching symptoms.

8. Proper Clothing
Smooth, cotton clothing will be much less likely to avoid irritating your skin.

9. Mild Soaps
Rinse soap completely off the body and avoid using soaps with perfumes or dyes that can irritate your skin. Apply moisturizer after you have washed to keep your skin of moist.

10. Mild Laundry Detergent
Use mild launder detergents that are unscented when you are washing your clothes, bedding or towels. Using an extra rinse cycle when you wash these items to remove as much of the soap as possible.

Medical Treatments for Itchy Skin without Rash
1. Medications
Oral antihistamines can help manage HIVes or inflammation from skin allergies. You can also apply corticosteroid creams on areas that are very itchy and cover these areas with a damp cotton bandage to help the skin absorb this medication to relieve itching.

2. Treating the Underlying Condition
If it is found that an internal disease such as a thyroid problem, kidney disease or iron deficiency is causing your itching you will need to manage this condition to relieve your symptoms.

3. Light Therapy
During phototherapy your skin will be exposed to a variety of ultraviolet light wavelengths over the course of multiple sessions. This should help to control itching.

4. Short-Term Relief
If the itching is not responding to treatment you can use ointments to provide short term relief for your condition. Lotions that contain camphor, calamine or menthol and anesthetics that contain benzocaine or lidocaine are particularly helpful.

When to See a Doctor
If your itching has lasted more than two weeks without any improvement, you cannot explain your itching, the itching affects the whole body or is extremely uncomfortable and makes it difficult to participate in everyday life you should contact your doctor. You should also let your doctor know if your itching is accompanied by additional symptoms like changes in bowel habits, weight loss, extreme tiredness, redness of the skin, fever or the urgency to urinate.

Itchy Skin

Itchy Skin






Itchy skin can be defined as irritating and uncomfortable skin condition that causes itching that cannot be controlled. There are number of reasons that cause itchy skin. In medical terms, it is called Pruritus and itchy skin can be indicative of internal disease also. Itchy skin is always seen with dryness, rough skin, with bumps lesions or blisters.

Unless your doctor identifies the correct cause for itchy skin, it may recur again or stay with you for prolonged time.

Symptoms :

Itchy skin can occur in any part of your body like arms, legs, hands, scalp and face. Sometimes, there may not be any symptoms except itching and dryness on the skin. For some people, itchy skin is accompanied with redness, cracked skin, blisters or bumps on several places and scaly texture on the surface of the affected area.

Similarly, the intensity of itchiness may vary from one person to other. If you rub more on the area, it may cause more itching. Treating this condition of itchy skin is really challenging. You may not be able to carry out daily activities and for some people it may disturb their sleeping pattern.

Causes :

Dry skin or xerosis is the main cause for itchy skin. Dryness can be caused by environmental factors like climate, exposure to sunlight or low humidity climate, staying too long on air conditioned room, or using water frequently. Dry skin can occur due to overdose of medicines, internal diseases and allergic reactions.

Sometimes, certain skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis, lice and chickenpox may produce itchy skin. But for these diseases, other symptoms are present.

Internal diseases like liver problem, Celiac Disease, Kidney Failure, and anemia and thyroid problems can trigger itchy skin. Certain types of cancerous cells also affect your skin causing severe itching. Nervous disorders like diabetics, Multiple Sclerosis, Shingles and Pinched Nerves may cause itchy skin. Allergic reactions can occur due to change of cosmetics or soaps may cause itchy skin.

Diagnoses :

Your doctor will generally examine your body, looking for specific symptoms. He may ask you to do blood test, thyroid function test and X-ray to identify the underlying cause.

Pictures of Itchy Skin :

Images, Pictures, Pics and Photos of Itchy Skin

Treatment :

Corticosteroid creams are given to control itching. Oral antihistamines are given to treat severe itching and allergic reactions. Your doctor will initiate treatment depending on the underlying cause of the disease. Phototherapy is given to the patient, wherein the affected areas of the skin are exposed to UV light.

Topical ointments and lotions are given to control the symptoms. You can take preventive measures to control itchy skin. Apply cool compresses on the affected area, followed by anti-itch cream or lotion. Use only mild soaps that do not contain chemicals. Wear soft cotton clothing and take warm bath with oatmeal to get relief.

Itchy Skin – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Medications

Itchy Skin – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Medications

Symptoms of Itchy Skin

Skin which is itchy can occur in very small areas, such as on the arm or leg. Or can occur over the whole body making an individual wanting to scratch everywhere. Itchy skin can happen without any visible or other noticeable changes on the skin. It can be associated with:

• Bumps, blisters or spots


• Redness


• Scaly or leathery surface to the skin


• Cracked or dry skin

Often itchiness will last for a very long time and may be very intense. And as you scratch or rub the area, it only gets worse. And the itchier it gets, the more you scratch and worse it gets. The challenge is to break this itch-scratch cycle.

An individual should see their primary care physician or a specialist in skin disease – dermatologist – if the itching:

• Is a problem for more than 2 weeks


• Does not improve with self-care measures


• So severe and uncomfortable that an individual is distracted from daily routines or prevented from sleeping


• Is not able to be explained


• Affects the whole body

Has other symptoms, such as:

• Weight Loss


• Extreme fatigue


• Changes in urinary or bowel frequency


• Redness of the skin


• Fever

Causes of Itchy Skin

Dry Skin
Skin which is itchy and that is not accompanied by any skin modifications, for example, a rash, is often caused simply by skin that is dry or xerosis. Skin which is dry normally is caused from factors in the environment that can be influenced. These include cold or hot weather together with humidity levels which are low, air conditioning or central heating used for long period of times, and bathing or washing too often.

Other Probable Causes
Other situations such as internal diseases, skin disorders, drug reactions as well as allergies can as well cause skin to be itchy. These include:

Skin Rashes and conditions
Numerous conditions of the skin can cause skin to be itchy, including psoriasis, eczema (dermatitis), scabies, chickenpox, lice, hives as well as Dermatographism. It is these cases where itching normally distresses definite areas as well as causes other problems, such as irritated, red skin or blisters and bumps.

Disease of the Internal system
This can include abnormal absorption of wheat (Celiac Disease), liver disease, Kidney Failure, thyroid problems, Iron Deficiency Anemia, and cancers, including lymphoma and Leukemia. It is these cases where the itching normally affects the total body, instead of just one precise area. The skin can look normal otherwise except for this repeatedly need to scratch itchy area.

Nerve disorders
These are circumstances that upset the nervous system –for example diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, nerves that are pinched as well as herpes zoster or Shingles – and cause itching.
Allergic and Irritation reactions
Chemicals, wool, soaps and other materials may aggravate the skin and cause intense itching. Often the matter causes what is known as an allergic reaction for example poison ivy or cosmetics. Allergies of food can also cause skin to have itchy reactions.

You're reading Itchy Skin – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Medications posted by minhhai2d, the information is for reference only.

Drugs
Drug such as antifungal drugs, antibiotics or narcotic pain drugs can cause itching and rashes which is widespread

Pregnancy
Many women develop skin which is itchy during pregnancy, particularly on the thighs, arms, abdomen and breasts. As well, other itchy skin problems for instance dermatitis can get worse during pregnancy.

Itching and scratching which is prolonged can actually increase the intensity of the itch and this leads to neurodermatitis – Lichen Simplex Chronicus. Neurodermatitis is a condition where the area of skin that is scratched frequently becomes leathery and thick. The patches can become red, raw or darker than the other parts of the skin. Scratching which is persistent may also lead to a bacterial infection of the skin as well as causing permanent scarring as well as changes in color of the skin.

Itchy Skin Treatment

As soon as a cause is diagnosed, treatments for skin which is itchy can include:

Medications

Corticosteroid creams
This is applied topically to control itching. The doctor may advise applying this medicated cream to the affected areas, and then cover the areas with cotton material which is damp with water or other solutions. This moisture in the wet dressings will help the skin to absorb the cream.

Antihistamines Oral
Used for hives or allergies to add with corticosteroid creams for itching for skin inflammation.

Treating the underlying disease
If a disease internally is found, whether it is iron deficiency, thyroid problem, or kidney disease, treating the disease will most of the time relieve the itch.

Light therapy or Phototherapy
Phototherapy encompasses exposing the skin to wavelengths of ultraviolet light. Many sessions are normally scheduled until the itching is under control.

Relief which is short-term:
Even with many kinds of itching responding well to treatment, relief may not always be immediate. But, there are a number of ointments and creams which are specifically created to relieve short-term itching including:

• Topical anesthetics such as benzocaine or lidocaine


• Lotions and ointments such as calamine, menthol, or camphor

Although these products can offer immediate relief of the itching, treatment of the causal problem is the most important method for any relief which is long-term.