Itchy Skin (Pruritus) - Possible Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Written By: Dr. Sara Ali

Dr. Sara Al Ali is a dermatology & cosmetology specialist who completed her BSc and MD degrees from Arabian Gulf University, Kingdom of Bahrain. She has received the Board Certificate in Aesthetic Medicine, American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, USA.

Updated On:December 25, 2023

Read more.

blog

What is Itchy Skin (Pruritus)?

Itchy skin, medically termed pruritus, is a skin condition characterized by an irritable, uncomfortable sensation (an itch) that makes you want to scratch your skin. Itchy skin rash can occur on any part of your body. It is most often a result of dry skin, in which case moisturizing the skin can provide relief. However, it can also be caused by a medical condition or illness.

Signs & Symptoms of Itchy Skin (Pruritus)

Itchy skin is commonly accompanied by the following symptoms: 

  • Dry skin 
  • Cracked skin 
  • Redness 
  • Blisters, bumps, or spots on the skin 
  • Scaly or leathery patches 

Itchy skin can also commonly result in an itch-scratch cycle where the more you feel itchy, the more you scratch, which will only make your skin itchier. 

When To See A Doctor For Itchy Skin (Pruritus)?

If your itching is severe & persists, you should contact a skin specialist (dermatologist). You should also see a doctor if itchy skin affects your entire body, occurs suddenly & subsides frequently, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as a fever, sudden weight loss, & chills. 

Causes of Itchy Skin (Pruritus)

There are several reasons for itchy skin and these will determine how long your itchy skin will last & what kind of treatment you will require. 

  • Itchy Skin due to Skin Conditions: You can develop pruritus as a result of several skin conditions including dry skin, eczema (dermatitis), skin burns, scars, or insect bites. In these cases, the itchy skin will abate after the underlying skin condition is treated. 

  • Itchy Skin due to Medical Diseases: If you experience itchy skin on your entire body, it may be caused by a medical illness that must be treated right away. Liver disease & itchy skin occur together in many cases. Patients with liver disease often have higher levels of bile salt, which accumulate under the skin & cause pruritus. Other diseases that cause itchy skin include anemia, diabetes, kidney disease, lymphoma, thyroid, etc. 

  • Itchy Skin due to nerve disorders: Several nerve disorders often cause itchy skin. These include pinched nerves, multiple sclerosis, & herpes zoster (shingles). 

  • Itchy skin due to Allergic Reactions: In many causes of pruritus, an allergic reaction is the culprit. Substances such as chemicals, soaps, & wool can often cause skin irritation, itchy skin rashes, & severe itching. Several cosmetic products may also trigger allergic reactions in some people, resulting in pruritus. Allergic reactions can also be caused by the use of certain drugs such as opioids used in narcotic pain medications. 

  • Itchy Skin due to Parasites: One can experience itching if they have skin parasites such as head & body lice, scabies, & pinworms. 

  • Itchy Skin due to Pregnancy: A chemical & hormonal imbalance in the body can cause itchy skin in pregnant women. They may also experience itchiness on their abdomen as the skin stretches, triggering dryness & irritation. Itching during pregnancy is mostly harmless and is very common. 

Itchy Skin (Pruritus) Risk Factors

There are certain groups that are more prone to contracting pruritus and suffering from itchy skin. These groups include: 

  • People with asthma, eczema, or seasonal allergies 
  • People with diabetes
  • People with immune deficiency 
  • People with certain type of tumor 
  • Pregnant women 
  • Older people as skin dryness increases with age 

Itchy Skin (Pruritus) Complications

If your itchy skin persists for more than six weeks, you have what is called chronic pruritus and it can cause several complications including: 

  • Disruptions in daily life 
  • Disruption during sleep causing tiredness & fatigue 
  • Anxiety 
  • Depression 
  • Skin injury or infection due to intense, prolonged scratching 
  • Scarring of the skin which may further aggravate the itching 

Itchy Skin (Pruritus) Treatment

The first step in treating your pruritus or itchy skin is to pinpoint the underlying cause of it. In order to diagnose pruritus, your doctor may perform several tests including blood tests for thyroid dysfunction, liver disease, kidney disease, & chest x-rays. The doctor will then aim to eliminate the cause of the itch. 

If your itchy skin is being caused by dry skin or an allergic reaction, the doctor may recommend the following home remedies for itchy skin: 

  • Moisturizing the skin frequently. 
  • Applying cold compresses 
  • Taking a bath or showering with lukewarm water. 
  • Applying over-the-counter ointments such as hydrocortisone cream. 
  • Reducing exposure to high heat. 

To treat itchy skin caused by systemic disease, the doctor will treat the underlying condition, & the itchy skin will subside along with it or will prescribe medications to ease the itching. These itchy skin treatments may include: 

  • Oral medications such as Antihistamines. 
  • Topical creams such as hydro cortisone & moisturizer cream. 
  • Light therapy sessions. 

Prevention of Itchy Skin (Pruritus)

Itchy skin can be prevented by following these steps: 

  • Using skin moisturizers & creams daily to prevent dry skin 
  • Moisturizing the skin after taking a shower 
  • Using sunscreen to prevent skin damage & sunburns 
  • Showering/bathing in lukewarm water 
  • Using soap that won’t harm or irritate the skin 
  • Reducing the use of synthetic fabrics & wool 
  • Using a humidifier 

To understand more about the possible causes, treatment & prevention of itchy skin, get in touch with us. 

Meet our doctors from the Dermatology department

Nabila Mahmoud Eid Rashid
MBBS, MD, Ph.D
Dermatology
Palestinian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Nancy Labib
MBBch, MS, MD
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Hala Aljaber
MBBCh, MD, MSc
Dermatology
Syrian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Mousumee Nanda
MBBS, MD
Dermatology
Indian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Reem Al Kaddah
MBBS, MD
Dermatology
Syrian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Lubna Alshaltoni
MBBS, MD
Dermatology
Jordanian
Arabic, English, Urdu
BOOK NOW
Abeer Elsayed
MBBS, MSc
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Bassant Ahmed Ezzat Abou Yamama
MBBch, MSc
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English, French
BOOK NOW
Rahul Chaudhary
MBBS, MD
Dermatology
Indian
English, Hindi
BOOK NOW
Ghada Ehsan Ashour
MBBCH, MS
Dermatology
Egyptian, British
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Eman Kotb
MBBCh, MS
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Jobeetha Yoosuf
MBBS, DDSc Dermatology (UK), MSc Dermatology (UK)
Dermatology
Indian
Arabic, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Urdu
BOOK NOW
Mariana Vector Saad Uoakime
Bachelor's Degree & Beauty Therapy Diploma
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English, German
BOOK NOW
Mona Mady
MB BCh, M.Sc
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Neetu Chaudhary
MBBS, MD Dermatology & Venereology
Dermatology & Aesthetics
Indian
English, Hindi
BOOK NOW
Shruti Kakar
MBBS, MD
Dermatology
Indian
English, French, Hindi, Kannada, Punjabi
BOOK NOW
Aashim Singh Kukreja
MBBS, MD, Master in Facial Aesthetics
Dermatology
Indian
Arabic, English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu
BOOK NOW
Olivera Nikolic
MD, MMedSc
Dermatology
Serbian
Croatian, English, Macedonian, Serbian
BOOK NOW
Eman AboElnagah
MBBS, MD (Dermatology & Aesthetic)
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Yasmin Helal
MBBS, MD
Dermatology
Syrian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Nameer Abdul Majeed
MBBS, MD. Dip. In Aesthetic Medicine, Laser specialisation
Dermatology
Indian
Arabic, English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Urdu
BOOK NOW
Maha Sultan
MBChB, MSc, MD
Dermatology
Egyptian
English, Arabic
BOOK NOW
Badeh Nabil Zraik
MBBS, MD, Master's Degree in Dermatology & Venereology
Dermatology
Syrian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Kinan Ibrahim
MBBS, Arab board in Dermatology and Venereology, Syrian Board in Dermatology
Dermatology
Syrian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Hala Mohamed
MBBch, MS, PhD
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Joshuapaulline Co
BSc. Nursing, Licensed Laser Technician, NCLC Certification
Dermatology
Filipino
English, Tagalog
BOOK NOW
Edralyn Enriquez
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Philippines
Dermatology
Filipino
English, Tagalog
BOOK NOW
Amina Ashraf
BScN, Diploma in Laser Hair Reduction
Dermatology
Pakistani
Arabic, English, Hindi, Urdu
BOOK NOW
Kim Grace V Icay
BSN, Certified Laser technician
Dermatology
Filipino
Arabic, English, Tagalog
BOOK NOW
Gayatri Karad Gupta
MBBS, DNB - DVL, SCE Dermatology ( M.R.C.P -UK) & B.A.D IAFSC - Facial Aesthetics IADVL - Dermatosurgery Masters in Fillers & Aesthetic Medicine
Dermatology
Indian
English, Arabic, French, Hindi, Marathi
BOOK NOW
Reem Hanna
MBBS, MD (Dermatology & Aesthetics)
Dermatology
Syrian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Radha Nilesh Patil
MBBS, MD VDL, MSc Clinical Dermatology
Dermatology
Indian
Arabic, English, Hindi, Sindhi
BOOK NOW
Rajesh Radhakrishnan
MBBS, MD (Dermatology, Venereology and leprosy)
Dermatology
Indian
English, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu
BOOK NOW
Stefano Veglio
MBBS, MD (Dermatology), Post-graduation in Dermoscopy, Master's Degree in Botulin Toxin Injection
Dermatology
Italian
English, French, Italian, Spanish
BOOK NOW
Sarah Azeez
MBChB, Master's degree in Dermatology, Dip. In Aesthetic Med
Dermatology
Iraqi
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Belkais Marwan
BSc, MSc, MD, Dip. Aesthetic Medicine & Cosmetic Surgery
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Narges Pourheidari
MBBS, MD, Specialist, Dip. in Clinical Facial Anatomy
Dermatology
Iranian
Arabic, English, Farsi
BOOK NOW
Similar Posts
Scroll Top