Itch (Itching or Pruritus) Itch (Itching or Pruritus) Itch facts What is an itch? What are associated symptoms and signs of itching (pruritus)? What causes itching? What causes itching? (Continued) How do health care professionals diagnose itching? What types of health care specialists treat itching? Should people scratch the itch? What are topical itch treatments? Are there any home remedies for itching? What are topical itch treatments? Are there any home remedies for itching? (Continued) What are oral medications that treat itch? Is it possible to prevent itching? When should the doctor be consulted for itching (pruritus)? What are possible complications of itching? What is the prognosis
Itch (Itching or Pruritus)
Itch (Itching or Pruritus)
Itch facts
- The medical term for itching is pruritus.
- Infections, bites and stings, infestations, chronic diseases, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, allergic reactions, sun exposure, and dry skin are among the numerous and common causes of itching.
- Anti-itch creams and lotions containing camphor, menthol,
- phenol, pramoxine(Caladryl, Tronolane), diphenhydramine(Benadryl), or benzocaine can bring relief.
- Some cases of itching will respond to corticosteroid medications.
- It is important to avoid scratching when possible to prevent worsening of the condition and disruption of the skin that could lead to bacterial infection.
- If itching persists, worsens, or is associated with skin lesions, consulting a health-care professional is advisable.
Can Stress Cause a Rash?
Q: Before my wedding, before job interviews, and anytime I have a bit of stress, my arms, wrists, and hands break out in an itchy rash. Can stress cause a rash? How do I prevent this from occurring, and how do I treat it?
A: Stress is one of the known triggers of hives, an outbreak of raised, red spots (or welts) on the skin that often itch.
What is an itch?
Itch is an irritation in the skin that elicits an urge to scratch. Itches are a problem that everyone experiences, and the symptom can be localized (limited to one area of the body) or generalized (occurring all over the body or in several different areas). Sometimes, depending upon the underlying cause, itching may be worse at night. In medical terminology, itching is known as pruritus.
Generalized itch that occurs all over the body is often more difficult to treat than localized itch. Itches can also occur with or without skin lesions (bumps, blisters, rash, redness, or abnormalities that can be seen on the skin). An itch that is accompanied by a visible skin abnormality should be evaluated by a physician and, in some cases, by a dermatologist since the problem is likely to be a condition that requires specialized medical treatment (for example, eczema, scabies, etc.).
What are associated symptoms and signs of itching (pruritus)?
Depending upon the underlying cause, itching may be associated with other symptoms and signs. Most commonly, these associated findings include skin lesions such as rash, blisters, bumps, or redness of the affected area. Dryness of the skin is a common cause of itch. Itching of skin can lead to tears in the skin (excoriations) from scratching. Less commonly, generalized itching all over the body can be a sign of chronic medical conditions such as liver disease. In these situations, there may be no changes to the appearance of the skin.
What causes itching?
Pruritus can be caused by many conditions. Stress, anxiety, or other emotional problems can cause itching. Stress also can aggravate itch from other causes. Dry skin(xerosis) is perhaps the most frequent cause of itch without a rash. Many people also report sunburn itch following prolonged exposure to UV radiation from the sun along with the pain of sunburn. Other causes of generalized itching that may not produce a rash or specific skin changes include metabolic and hormone disorders (for examples, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism), cancers (for example, lymphoma), reactions to drugs, interruptions in bile flow (cholestasis) from liver disease, and diseases of the blood (for example, polycythemia rubra vera). Itching is common with allergic reactions, such as food allergies or other types of allergy. Itching can also result from insect stings and bites such as mosquito or flea bites.
Psoriasis is a chronic cause of skin inflammation that can also be associated with itching. Patients with psoriasis typically develop red, elevated, scaling plaques of dry, itchy skin. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that usually starts in childhood. Itching, rash, and thickening of the skin over time are characteristic symptoms of atopic dermatitis. This is considered to be a type of allergy that is associated with inhaled allergies (hay fever) and is chronic.
Infections and infestations of the skin are another cause of itch. Genital itching or anal itching, which may accompany burning and pain, in men and women can occur as a result of genital infections such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Vaginal itching is sometimes referred to as feminine itching, and sexually transmitted diseases can also cause anal itchingand pain. Vaginal yeast infections are another cause of vaginal itching. Other common infectious causes of itch include a yeast (fungal) infection of the crotch (tinea cruris) commonly known as jock itch, psoriasis, and ringworm of the body (tinea corporis). Another type of parasitic infection resulting in an itchy sensation is the so-called swimmer's itch. Swimmer's itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, is a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to infection with certain parasites of birds and mammals that are released from infected snails in fresh and saltwater. Itch may also result from skin infestation by body lice, including head lice and pubic lice. Scabies is a highly contagious skin condition caused by an infestation by the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei that is known to cause an intense itch that is particularly severe at night.
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