Health Encyclopedia

Itching

Definition

Itching is a tingling or uneasy irritation of the skin that makes you want to scratch the affected area.

Alternative Names

Pruritus

Considerations

Itching may occur all over the whole body (generalized) or only in a specific location (localized).

Common Causes

There are many causes of itching. The following may cause localized or generalized itching:

Insect bites and stings
Sunburn
Hives
Parasites such as pinworm (Also see:body lice, head lice, pubic lice)
Dry skin
Aging skin
Contact dermatitis (poison ivy or poison oak)
Contact irritants (such as soaps, chemicals, or wool)
Atopic dermatitis
Rashes (may or may not itch)
Superficial skin infections such as folliculitis and impetigo
Pityriasis rosea
Psoriasis
Seborrheic dermatitis

Generalized itching may be caused by:

Childhood infections (such as chicken pox or measles)
Allergic reactions
Kidney disease
Liver disease with jaundice
Reactions to medications and substances such as antibiotics (penicillin, sulfonamides), gold, griseofulvin, isoniazid, opiates, phenothiazines, or vitamin A
Pregnancy
Hepatitis
Iron deficiency anemia

Home Care

For persistent or severe itching, see your health care provider for a precise diagnosis and specific treatment instructions.

In the meantime, you can take some steps to help deal with the itch:

Avoid scratching or rubbing the itchy areas. Keep fingernails short to avoid skin damage from scratching. Family members or friends may be able to help by calling attention to your scratching.
Wear cool, light, loose bedclothes. Avoid wearing rough clothing, particularly wool, over an itchy area.
Take lukewarm baths using little soap and rinsing thoroughly. Try a skin-soothing oatmeal or cornstarch bath.
Apply a soothing lotion after bathing to soften and cool the skin.
Use moisturizer on the skin, particularly in the dry winter months. Dry skin is a common cause of itching.
Apply cold compresses to an itchy area.
Avoid prolonged exposure to excessive heat and humidity.
Take part in activities that distract from the itching during the day and make you tired enough to sleep at night.
Try over-the-counter oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), but be aware of possible side effects such as drowsiness.
Try over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream on localized itchy areas.

Call your health care provider if

Call your provider if itching is associated with other unexplained symptoms, is severe, prolonged, or cannot be easily explained.

Most itching does not require medical evaluation. Try to rule out the obvious causes of itching.

It is sometimes easy for a parent to discern the cause of a child's itching. Usually a simple visual examination will help you identify any bites, stings, rashes, dry skin, or irritation. Often the cause of itching is fairly obvious, such as a mosquito bite.

Recurrent itching without obvious cause, total body itching, and recurrent hives are all indications that the itching should be evaluated as soon as possible. Such itching may be a symptom of an underlying disease or possibly serious condition.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your health care provider will obtain your medical history and perform a physical examination.

Medical history questions documenting itching may include the following:

How long have you had this itch?
Does it itch all the time?
Does it seem to get worse, and has it spread?
What do you think caused this itch?
Have you ever had this kind of itch before? What caused it then?
Do you recall any irritant that you recently came in contact with?
Do you have any allergies or sensitivities?
What medications are you taking?
Have you started using any new products recently? What was it?
Have you used any new soaps, fabric softeners, perfumes, deodorants, fabrics such as wool, or chemicals?
Have you been around animals?
Have you eaten shellfish or nuts recently?
Have you had insect bites recently?
Do you use lotions on your skin?
Have you been in the sun recently?
What part of your body itches?
Is it all over your body (generalized itch)?
Is the itch limited to a specific area? What area?
What does the skin that itches look like?
Is there a rash? If so, are there blisters or scales?
Are you being treated for other medical conditions?
What other symptoms do you have?

If there is no localized infection or skin lesion, diagnostic studies such as blood tests, skin biopsies, or x-rays will focus on finding a systemic (whole body) cause.

Prescribed medications may include topical corticosteroids, antihistamines, or tranquilizers.

Review Date:7/21/2006
Reviewed By:Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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