Itchy Skin (Itching) - Cause, Symptoms, Cure and Prevention

Itchy skin - one of the most painful symptoms that a person can experience. Fortunately, in most cases, the competent doctor is able to identify the cause of the itching and eliminate it. Itchy skin - it is the quite frequent unpleasant sensation that causes the desire to comb the affected area of skin. Pruritus can be acute or chronic, local (felt for someone particular area of skin) or generalized. Itching in itself is not a disease - it is just a symptom of certain skin diseases, disorders of the internal organs and the nervous system. However, severe itching is capable of causing human suffering incredible. Ensure the itching is often even more difficult than the pain.

Combing leads to increased itching, redness, and inflammation of the skin. In the damaged areas can penetrate the infection that causes pustular skin diseases.

The causes of the itch

Oddly enough, the pathophysiology of pruritus is very complex. Itching is the result of a cascade of humoral and neuro-reflex responses, which can be triggered by various factors. The most common causes local itching:
  • dry skin; 
  • infection of the upper layer of the skin, such as folliculitis and impetigo; 
  • itch is one of the first symptoms of the contact, allergic and atopic dermatitis - allergic reactions to certain drugs, chemicals, plant, insect bites, etc.; 
  • itchy rash on the skin accompanied by one of the children's symptoms of infection (chickenpox, measles ); 
  • parasitic infections, such as lice (mainly itching of the scalp), itch mites (characterized by itching in conjunction with the itch moves on the skin), pinworms (cause intense itching in the anal area for children).
Genital itching occurs mainly in women. The reason for this are abundant leucorrhoea, candidiasis, trichomoniasis, irritating effect of urine in diabetes mellitus, gout, inflammatory diseases of genitals, and in some cases have pinworms, girls.
The causes of generalized itching include:
  • Diseases of the liver accompanied by jaundice and hyperbilirubinemia; 
  • endocrine disorders (diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism); 
  • certain blood diseases (iron deficiency anemia, polycythemia, and others.); 
  • mental disorders; 
  • some cancers. 
Also, produce "old itch" - unexplained intense itching in people older than 70 years without apparent reason.

Treatment:- As we have already mentioned, the itching is not an independent disease, but a symptom. That is why the presence of pruritus physician initially provide a thorough diagnosis (which may include a variety of investigations, depending on the clinical symptoms and the particular situation) and then prescribes a treatment.

The following local media can be used to weaken the itching feeling:
  • cold effect (cold showers, cold compress, towel soaked in cold water, but it should be remembered that prolonged exposure to moisture can negatively affect the skin allergic diseases); 
  • lotions with menthol and camphor (have a local anesthetic effect, provide cooling and soothing effect on the skin); 
  • antihistamines, topical (creams and ointments). 
Antihistamines oral image containing corticosteroids should not be used to consult with a physician.  Avoid exposure to heat and bright sunlight, exercise. Wear loose cotton clothing.

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