Itchy skin

Itchy skin is a sensation that those affected perceive as extremely unpleasant. The causes can be both allergies and diseases. In most cases, the symptoms can be remedied by simple measures or directly prevented.

What is itchy skin?

Itchy skin (pruritus) is what we call unpleasant sensations to which we react by scratching or rubbing. The result is redness, bleeding, hyperpigmentation and lichen identification.

Itchy skin mostly occurs in connection with psychosomatic or psychiatric illnesses, whereby it can also arise from various organ diseases. The treatment and prevention of itchy skin depends heavily on the respective causes, which, due to their diversity, must be determined through various physical examinations and the elimination process.

causes

The causes of itchy skin are many. It is often triggered by dehydration or skin diseases. For example, hives, eczema, and psoriasis are common triggers. In addition, skin diseases caused by animal parasites can also be the cause. Scabies is one such condition. Other causes can be fungal infections (mycosis), cornification disorders of the skin, or a sun allergy.

If the skin itches only on individual parts of the body, other diseases and infections may be the causes. For example, an itchy anus is caused by hemorrhoids or an anal fissure, while an itchy scalp is often caused by lice or roundworms.

Liver diseases such as biliary stasis and liver cirrhosis as well as various cancer diseases can also result in itchy skin. Finally, the symptoms are also triggered by stress, pregnancy or depression and the resulting physical neglect.

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Diseases with this symptom

• psoriasis
• scabies
• Neurodermatitis
• Mycosis
• Uremic pruritus
• Thyroid diseases

• Sun allergy
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• hemorrhoids
• Candidosis
• Pemphigus vulgaris
• Liver disease

• Hives
• Cholestasis
• Burnout syndrome
• Insect venom allergy
• Bullous pemphigoid
• Hodgkin's disease

Diagnosis & course

Home remedies ↵ for itching The diagnosis of itchy skin is connected with a detailed questioning by the doctor. By limiting the itching to certain parts of the body and determining when itchy skin occurs, initial indications of possible causes can be given.

Basic illnesses, allergies and medication taken by the patient also facilitate diagnosis. A physical examination is usually carried out after the survey. The affected areas are carefully examined for any scratches, color changes and other indications. If there is suspicion that the itchy skin was caused by a serious organ disease, the liver, spleen and lymph nodes are also examined. Blood and stool tests, and possibly a bone marrow test, are also part of the diagnosis.

The course of the symptoms also depends heavily on the causes. If the itching is stress-related, the symptoms will usually go away on their own once the stressful situation has been resolved. If the skin itches due to an organ disease or cancer, the symptoms also get worse as the disease progresses.

Complications

In addition to poor hygiene, itchy skin can also be caused by diseases with serious complications. An example of itching is hives (uricaria) with the typical formation of wheals, which are usually caused by an allergic reaction of the body to a certain substance. Quincke's edema is a dangerous consequence of hives.

This leads to swelling of the deeper layers of the skin, especially in the face, hands and feet as well as the genital area. In Quincke's edema, hoarseness and changed voice are also warning signs of possible involvement of the upper respiratory tract and a possibly existing risk of suffocation. Another cause of itchy skin can be psoriasis, which usually causes no pain.

However, the itching is a psychological burden for those affected. In some cases there is also a joint involvement, so that severe pain can be added. The affected areas of the skin can often become infected with other pathogens, usually fungi or bacteria.

Another disease that causes severe itching is scabies. The constant scratching leads to the formation of wounds which, in the worst case, can subsequently become infected with bacteria, leading to superinfection. If streptococci are among the pathogens, this can lead to the pathogen spreading and inflammation of the kidneys.

When should you go to the doctor?

One or more itchy areas of skin usually indicate an allergy or a rash. Of course, the person concerned can take their own measures to alleviate or eliminate this clinical picture. Often the cause is too dry and rough skin. Moisturizers or skin soothing ointments can be very effective at this point.

However, if persistent itching persists after three to four days, a dermatologist should definitely be consulted. A dermatologist can quickly find out the cause of the itching and prescribe appropriate medication. Under certain circumstances, cracks can even occur if medical or drug treatment is completely dispensed with. A crack is a deep crack in the skin that should definitely be treated by a dermatologist.

Otherwise, a crack can ignite very quickly, as the deep crack in the skin offers ideal conditions for bacteria, fungi and viruses. If you want to avoid these complications, you should consult a doctor early on. Itchy skin can be the first indicator of serious illness, so a visit to the dermatologist should not be put off the long bench.

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Treatment & Therapy

Treatment of itchy skin is done after determining the exact causes. In some cases, simple preparations such as ointments that contain local anesthetics, cortisone or other substances help. Drugs such as cetirizine help with physical causes, while mental itching is usually treated with calming drugs and neuroleptics. Exposure to UV-B rays can also reduce itchy skin.

If the symptoms arise due to other diseases, targeted therapy with certain drugs and measures is necessary. This is initiated and monitored by the dermatologist. Itching caused by unclean and unkempt skin can often be remedied by cleaning the relevant areas.

However, infections may already have developed in scratched areas, which do not go away with simple washing. In this case, the doctor must prescribe antibiotics. It is not uncommon for a psychiatrist to be called in to determine the causes of the itchy skin. Therapy can help reduce stress and deal with depression.

Outlook & forecast

Itchy skin can occur in anyone and does not necessarily have to be treated directly by a doctor. In most cases, the itchy skin is an intolerance or an allergy, mostly related to food or certain insect bites. These intolerances manifest themselves as itching on the skin.

However, the itching disappears again when the body has broken down the substance. This leaves the itchy skin for a maximum of a few hours to a few days, so that the symptom disappears on its own. To support the skin, nourishing creams can be used that help the skin to heal. Anyone who scratches the skin risks wounds.

In a few cases, the skin becomes itchy due to poor personal hygiene. This itching does not go away on its own and will only go away with better hygiene. Simply washing with soap and shampoo will usually help remove the itchiness.

If the itching persists and is associated with severe pain, a doctor must be consulted. The itchy skin is then usually treated with medication. In most cases a positive course of the disease is possible without having to see a doctor.

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prevention

Itchy skin can be prevented by regular care with water and special creams. The latter, however, should be tailored to the individual skin type so that there is no skin irritation and thus an increase in itching.

If the itchy skin is caused by allergies, certain medications may help. It is also helpful to avoid contact with the substances and foods that trigger the allergy. Neurodermatitis and the associated itching can be contained by changing your diet, although the symptoms can still occur because sweat irritates the relevant areas.

In small children and infants, the development of itching can be avoided through extensive examinations. These determine whether there are allergies or other skin diseases. Especially since children often scratch itchy areas, special care is required here, as otherwise infections can arise, which make further treatment necessary. Accordingly, it is also recommended for adults to have preventive examinations carried out regularly and not to further irritate itchy areas.

You can do that yourself

If your skin is itchy, there are a few ways you can help yourself. In general, itchy skin should never be scratched. This usually only increases the itchiness and can cause wounds or scars. Especially with children, parents have to take care that the children do not scratch the affected areas.

In many cases, the itching on the skin occurs due to an intolerance or an allergic reaction to a certain food. In this case, the food should no longer be consumed. However, it takes a few days for the body to completely digest the ingredient and for the itching to go away. The itchy skin can also be caused by poor hygiene. Here simply increasing the shower interval and using certain care products can help.

If the skin itches after touching a plant or after being stung by an insect, care should be taken. In most cases the itching will go away on its own after a short time. However, if other symptoms occur in addition to the itching, such as headache or nausea, a doctor must be consulted.

Itchy skin must be spared. Moisturizing creams, gentle lotions, but also cooling compresses accelerate the healing process. In most cases, itchy skin gives a positive course of the disease.