Causes for Itchy Skin, Itching Skin, Skin Itch Pruritus Symptoms

Itchy skin, or pruritus, can be extremely aggravating.

Generally, skin itch relief is the aftermath of treating the root cause.  But sometimes, ascertaining the cause for your “itching skin compelling a scratch” can prove to be frustrating.

Before delving into the numerous possible causes for your skin itch, a couple of scratching points should be determined.  Consider whether your itchy skin is:

  • all over
  • in one spot
  • lasts a long time
  • becomes very intense
  • gets itchier when touched
  • itch area otherwise appears normal

Ofttimes, pruritus is accompanied by associated skin symptoms like:

Keeping these scratching appraisals in mind, let’s move on to some itchy causes.

Itching skin that’s unaccompanied by other skin changes is frequently caused by dry skin. Dry skin can be caused by:

  • aging skin
  • hot dry climate
  • central heating
  • air conditioners
  • washing too often
  • bathing in hot water
  • low humidity cold weather

Because aging reduces your skin’s ability to moisturize itself, skin dries out.

Other factors can be your cause itchy skin as well. Some skin surface related conditions that have an itching affect are:

If one of these is your cause, the itching usually affects a specific area and is accompanied by other symptoms.

Several diseases name pruritus as a symptom, including:

Itch suffering is marked by normal looking skin with itching all over.

Irritation and allergic reactions are notorious for causing skin itch, like:

Most of these will cause skin rashes too.

Having a reaction to a drug can leave you itching all over:

Medications can cause widespread rashes and itching.

Some women experience itchy skin during pregnancy, conceivably caused by skin stretching. Also, preexisting itchy skin conditions, dermatitis for one, may worsen as your fetus grows.

Rectal itching is another skin problem many experience.

Pruritus itchy skin needs to be treated and not scratched.  Because persistent scratching can lead to:

If your cause for itching is an internal disease, treating that disorder often relieves the itch.

Other recommended itch relief treatment approaches you might try:

  • rinse soap off skin completely
  • OTC antihistamines ~ allergies, hives
  • use mild, unscented laundry detergent
  • use skin mild soaps without dyes, perfumes
  • hydrocortisone cream ~ skin inflammation itch
  • slap on skin moisturizer immediately following bathing
  • apply cool, wet compresses to help reduce itch sensation
  • cool bath ~ drop in a bit of baking soda, uncooked oatmeal, colloidal oatmeal for added relief
  • wet dressing ~ apply medication to itch area and then cover with a damp cloth to assist in its skin absorption
  • don’t allow irritating or allergic reaction causing substances to touch your skin ~ nickel, jewelry, perfume, cleaning products, cosmetics

Paying a visit to a skin specialist (dermatologist) or your health care provider is advisable if your itchy skin is in concert with:

If you just can’t seem to keep yourself from scratching, then try covering the itchy area, trim your nails and wear gloves to protect the health of your skin.

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