Pruritus (Itching) FAQs
What causes itching?
Pruritus, or itching, is an unpleasant tingling sensation that provokes the urge to scratch the skin. The cause of the sensation is unknown, but nerves that respond to chemicals released in the skin are known to be affected. There are a great many causes for itching, including: contact dermatitis, dry skin, skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, insect bites or stings, sunburn, parasites, rashes from diseases like chicken pox, and certain systemic disorders.
What are the risk factors for itching?
While everyone experiences itching sometimes, individuals with allergies, patients with other skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis, and patients with systemic disorders, such as diabetes, leukemia, hepatitis, HIV or kidney failure, are more prone to problematic itching.
How is the cause of itching diagnosed?
Most often, itching is temporary and resolves on its own. When it is persistent, however, a skin scraping or biopsy may be performed in order to enable a microscopic examination of skin tissue. Blood tests or other diagnostic tests may also be administered if an underlying reason for the itching is suspected.
How is itching treated?
Typically, simple home remedies are effective in treating minor itching. Avoiding scratching may go a long way toward keeping the problem from worsening. Similarly, wearing loose-fitting clothing of non-irritating fabrics and the application of cold compresses can provide relief. When the skin is excessively dry, moisturizing creams may be of help. When the patient is suffering from a full body rash, lukewarm baths, particularly those containing colloidal oatmeal, are often soothing.
The most effective treatment for itching is to treat the underlying cause of the problem. For itching with an allergic component, removing the allergen is successful, although sometimes the allergy is of unknown origin. Oral antihistamines or topical steroid creams may prove helpful. In more serious cases, oral or injected steroids may be administered.
When is itching cause for concern?
When itching is followed by scratching that breaks the skin, there is danger of infection. When such skin breaks become hot, red or swollen, or when they are accompanied by fever or swollen glands, a physician should be consulted since antibiotic treatment is usually required. Similarly, when red lines emanating from the site appear, this indicates an involvement of the lymphatic system and should not be ignored. Severe or persistent itching requires medical consultation since it may be a symptom of a more serious underlying medical disorder.