Itchy Skin: Common Causes, Relief at Home and When to Be Seen

What it involves

MedlinePlus describes itching as a tingling or irritation of the skin that makes you want to scratch. It may affect the whole body or only one spot, and its causes range from dry skin to medicines to disease.

Who this is for

• Patients with itching all over the body and no rash they can point to
• Patients whose itching keeps returning without an obvious cause
• Patients with dry, flaky skin that itches most in winter or after bathing
• Patients who started a new medicine and then began to itch

What to expect

• Questions about when the itching began, whether it is constant or only at certain times, and where it is
• A look at the skin for bites, rashes, dryness, or irritation
• A review of medicines, allergies, and any recent illness
• A plan that may include skin care, medicine for the itch, or blood tests to look for a cause inside the body

Common causes you can see

MedlinePlus lists many skin causes of itching, including aging skin, dry skin, atopic dermatitis (eczema), contact with irritants like soaps, chemicals, or wool, hives, insect bites and stings, sunburn, and psoriasis. Poison ivy and poison oak are listed too, and the poison ivy guide covers that one. The eczema guide and the hives guide describe two of the others.

When the cause is inside the body

Itching all over the body can have a deeper cause. MedlinePlus names allergic reactions, hepatitis, iron deficiency anemia, kidney disease, liver disease with jaundice, pregnancy, and reactions to certain medicines. It cautions that unexplained itching may be a symptom of a disease that could be serious, which is why a visit makes sense when there is no clear reason. A low iron guide explains one of those causes.

Relief you can start today

MedlinePlus gives a practical list for the meantime:

• Do not scratch or rub the itchy areas, and keep fingernails short
• Wear cool, light, loose bedclothes and avoid rough clothing such as wool
• Take lukewarm baths with little soap, rinse well, and try an oatmeal or cornstarch bath
• Apply moisturizer after bathing, especially in dry winter months
• Use cold compresses, and consider over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or an oral antihistamine, watching for drowsiness

When to be seen

MedlinePlus says most itching does not need a provider, but you should be seen if the itching is severe, does not go away, or cannot be easily explained. It also advises having it checked soon if it keeps returning without a clear cause, covers your whole body, or comes with hives that keep returning. Unexplained symptoms alongside it make a visit more important.

What the visit looks like

According to MedlinePlus, the provider examines your skin and asks when the itching began, how long it has lasted, and whether it is constant or only at certain times. You may also be asked about medicines you take, allergies, and any recent illness. Depending on what turns up, blood work such as a complete blood count or the liver function tests may be part of looking for a cause.

Sources

• MedlinePlus — Itching
• MedlinePlus — Itching health topic