Why does my body constantly itch?

The symptom of itching a certain part of the body is called pruritus in medicine. It, like pain, is an attempt by the body to convey to a person’s consciousness that there is a problem in him that requires an urgent solution. To some extent, itching can be called a protective reaction, since such mechanical stimulation of the pathological focus helps to shake off parasites, poisonous plants or stinging insects.

Often itching is caused by individual intolerance to some substance that gets either on the skin or inside the body - through the mouth or by injection. It can occur due to thermal, mechanical or electrical stimulation of skin receptors. The symptom also indicates an excess of substances in the blood other than histamine, which appears during allergies. Some of these diseases can be life-threatening.

Where does the itching sensation come from?

The imperative desire to scratch an area of ​​skin occurs when blood with a high concentration of dissolved substances flows to the pain receptors (nociceptors), spread out in the form of a network under a layer of epithelial cells:

1. histamine and/or histidine. These substances are formed in excess by immune cells when certain – specific to each organism – foreign proteins enter the body;
2. bile acids produced in the liver. They enter the skin cells and cannot leave them when a condition such as cholestasis develops - when bile cannot completely enter the duodenum and is forced to stagnate in the cells of the liver and biliary tract;
3. serotonin is a substance formed from an amino acid, which, when released, leads to a significant contraction of smooth muscles located in blood vessels and internal organs. This is a neurotransmitter, that is, a chemical compound that allows communication between nerve endings (the signal passes from nerve to nerve not like electricity, but rather like a bubble with a chemical substance, depending on the structure of which the activity of a neuron can be inhibited or activated). Its structure is very similar to the psychoactive hallucinogen LSD;
4. cytokines – molecules that enable “communication” between immune cells;
5. endorphins – natural pain-relieving molecules;
6. nitrogenous wastes that accumulate in the blood during kidney disease;
7. some other bioactive substances: thyroid hormone calcitonin, pancreatic enzymes (trypsin, kallikrein), VIP neuropeptides and substance P.

Since each person’s body has its own characteristics, no direct connection has been identified between the concentration of the above substances and the severity of the need to perform mechanical stimulation. Thus, severe itching in one individual may accompany the initial stage of renal failure, while in another it will not appear even with the terminal stage of uremia.

Only the skin and those mucous membranes, the layer of epithelial cells in which is in contact with the external environment and is located near the skin: gums, tongue, genitals, are “subject to itching”. The signal from the pain receptors located underneath them travels along type C and A-delta nerve fibers, reaches the spinal cord and, together with its structures, is delivered to the brain, to its sensitive zone.

Itching can be of a different nature: from a mild “tickling” to severe, painful. Its nature dictates to a person how to “process” its localization:

1. scratch: this is more typical for skin pathologies such as neurodermatitis or eczema;
2. rub gently: inherent in lichen planus;
3. cool (typical for acute urticaria).

However, a diagnosis cannot be made based on these characteristics alone. In determining the cause of itchy body skin, the following are important:

1. its localization;
2. the condition of the skin at the site of such sensations;
3. conditions for the appearance and relief of itching;
4. additional symptoms.

Let’s consider the combination of these factors to make it easier to get examined and choose exactly the specialist who can quickly alleviate your condition.

Types of itching

The prevalence of the symptom is the main criterion from which the diagnosis of the cause of skin itching begins. Based on this measure, pruritus (the so-called itching in medicine) may be:

1. Localized (a person can indicate a specific place where itching is felt).
2. Generalized (throughout the whole body, not necessarily at the same time).

Generalized itching

1. Diseases of the liver and biliary tract: hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatic cancer, cholestasis of pregnancy, giardiasis.
2. Kidney failure.
3. Presence of worms in the intestines.
4. Thyroid diseases.
5. Gout.
6. Diabetes.
7. Hypovitaminosis A.
8. HIV infection.
9. Oncological diseases: stomach cancer, multiple myeloma, erythremia, iron deficiency anemia, leukemia, lymphogranulomatosis, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
10. Mental illnesses: depression, phobias, mnemoderma (itching associated with the mention of biting and stinging parasites).
11. Senile itching.
12. Itching when going up to altitude.
13. Associated with neurological diseases: brain tumors, multiple sclerosis.
14. Seasonal itching.
15. For systemic pathologies, for example, periarteritis nodosa.

Localized itching

Itching accompanied by changes in the skin

This symptom indicates pathologies that are within the competence of dermatologists. That is, local changes are accompanied by skin diseases that are less dangerous than systemic diseases.

Diseases accompanied by redness of the skin

Itching and redness of the skin are more typical for inflammatory or allergic diseases. This:

1. Contact dermatitis: irritation and itching located in the area that came into contact with the allergen. The boundaries of redness are clear. To diagnose, you need to remember what new places you have been to, what new household chemicals you started using, what clothes or accessory you put directly on your skin. So, redness in the armpits may be associated with wearing a new woolen sweater/dress or clothes that are familiar, but washed with a new powder. And itching of the skin of the hands - using a new cream or other chemical product. A characteristic feature of this disease is the complete disappearance of symptoms after the allergen ends.
2. Atopic dermatitis is a disease that most often affects children, but atopic dermatitis can also occur in adults. Its causes are an allergen, most often taken orally with food. In children, redness is located mainly on the skin of the face (on the cheeks), the flexor surface of the knees and elbows. In adults: the face is excluded, wrists, knees and elbows may turn red - on their bends.

Combination of itching and rash

If such blisters protruding above the cover appear after mechanical friction of this area - dermographic urticaria

Combination of itching and skin peeling

Itching accompanies peeling of the skin in the following cases:

1. The outcome of an allergic reaction, which manifested itself as urticaria. The allergy could be caused by:

1. products;
2. medicines;
3. animal saliva;
4. household and other chemicals;
5. insect bites;
6. cosmetics.

If the itching is accompanied by a burning sensation

Burning and itching most often occur at the site of skin inflammation. This may be a reaction to mechanical irritation when shaving, using a depilator or waxing. Poorly healing inflammation in diabetes mellitus is also possible, which burns due to the pH of the tissues changing as a result of this metabolic disease. Burning and itching may be accompanied by diseases of the veins of the lower extremities - then the skin may be swollen, slightly bluish, but without any visible rash.

A combination of these two symptoms can develop in a person when a rash appears (see the corresponding section) - as an individual reaction to eczema, neurodermatitis, urticaria or other dermatitis.

Other symptoms that may indicate the cause of itching

The symptom may also indicate systemic diseases:

1. With cholestasis, in addition to itching, yellowness also occurs, if not of the entire skin, then of the whites of the eyes. Itching more often appears in places that rub with clothing, intensifies at night;
2. the smell of urine from the body, dry skin sprinkled with white “powder” and its itching, a change in the amount or color of urine indicates kidney failure;
3. itching of the skin after taking a warm bath/shower is characteristic of erythremia, a pathology when the number of red blood cells is significantly higher than normal.

However, if the skin itches for some time after swimming (shower, bath) only during the heating season, it is possible that the skin reacts this way to “technical” hot water in the tap, containing various harmful impurities. If itching is felt after swimming and in the summer, perhaps the reason is that the water is very hard, with a high content of chlorine.

Itching without other symptoms

When itching appears, and there is no dryness, no “powder”, no spots, or any changes in color on the skin, it may be:

1. disease of the hematopoietic system, in particular lymphogranulomatosis. You need to consult a therapist who will palpate a person’s lymph nodes, prescribe and interpret a hemogram and other blood tests, and refer you to a hematologist or oncologist;
2. senile itch, which appears after 60 years of age for an unknown reason. But, even if you fit into this category, you need to rule out more serious diseases;
3. mental or neurological diseases, the symptoms of which you may not notice;
4. population of the intestines with helminths, which can be excluded by analyzing stool for their eggs, as well as blood tests for antibodies to worms. Prescribing such a diagnosis is the job of an infectious disease doctor (he can be found in the clinic in the office with the abbreviation “KIZ”).

In any case, you may not notice the symptoms that a qualified doctor will pay attention to, so if itching occurs, contact him.

Treatment

Treatment for itchy skin is prescribed after an examination, the purpose of which is to identify the cause of this condition. The main tests that will help clarify the ethology will be:

1. general urine and blood tests;
2. blood glucose;
3. skin scraping to identify fungi;
4. liver and kidney tests (blood);
5. test for occult blood in stool;
6. detection of helminth eggs in feces.

While the tests are being performed, to alleviate the symptoms of itching - if there are no signs of renal or liver failure, which the doctor must tell you about - antihistamines are prescribed: "Eden", "Fenistil", "Diazolin", which do not cause drowsiness, or more powerful drugs, but with this effect (“Suprastin”, “Tavegil”).

For a localized lesion, an antiallergic ointment for skin itching can be used, for example, Sinaflan, Akriderm, Apulein, hydrocortisone ointment or other corticosteroids. Sometimes other local drugs of non-hormonal origin are prescribed - “Prograf” or “Elidel”.

If itching is caused by cholestasis, bile acid-absorbing drugs have been used successfully. When the cause of the symptom lies in a blood disease, specific drugs are used - monoclonal antibody inhibitors. Psoriasis is treated by combining local and systemic medications that normalize skin cell division.

In case of extremely severe itching, weak opiates are prescribed, and treatment is supplemented with hirudotherapy, ultraviolet irradiation of the skin and acupuncture.

Thus, the causes of itching of the scalp and body are varied. Most often, these are various allergic reactions both to a substance that has entered the body and to a substance that has touched the skin. But there may also be life-threatening kidney diseases, liver diseases, or even blood diseases. To clarify the cause and select treatment, you need to undergo a comprehensive examination.

One of the most common reasons why people consult a dermatologist is itching. At the same time, the person who applied notes that the skin itches all over the body without manifestations. In addition, the patient often cannot independently explain the origin of the unpleasant sensation. In this case, the doctor begins to find out the details: whether some specific places are scratched or the itching covers the whole body, what is its severity, whether it occurs from time to time or worries constantly, at what intervals of the day it begins to bother. The symptoms that accompany the discomfort are also of utmost importance.

Why does the body itch in different places?

Allergies are the first thing doctors associate with itching. A reaction can occur after taking a medicine, applying a cosmetic product, contact with household chemicals, and even due to increased nervous tension. Itching of the body, which occurs in different places, is not an isolated symptom. Also of concern:

1. rash of various types;
2. elevated temperature;
3. discharge from the eyes and nose.

Itching is detected in a number of other systemic diseases. The most common of them are:

1. Liver pathologies. One of the ailments, cirrhosis of the liver, in the initial stages does not manifest itself in a person with anything other than the desire to scratch the skin in one place or another. A sick person feels itching all over the body for no apparent reason, which intensifies as the disease progresses.
2. Diabetes. Most patients suffering from the disease note that the first signal of the onset of the disease was itching. Tiny blood vessels affected by the disease cease to fully nourish the skin cells, the epidermis becomes dehydrated and peels off. As a result, a person complains that his body is constantly itching in different places.
3. Kidney failure. This condition develops as a result of the progression of certain kidney diseases and is accompanied by a number of characteristic symptoms that appear much earlier than those described. Often, skin itching occurs without external manifestations when undergoing a type of treatment such as hemodialysis.
4. Multiple sclerosis. Along with a whole list of unremarkable early warning signs of the disease, itching appears. Sick people do not attach much importance to these signs, because they go away on their own. Often their appearance is associated not with illness, but with some situation: lying for a long time, serving time, etc.
5. Oncological diseases. Some types of cancer are itchy. People with malignant tumors localized in the genitourinary system complain that the whole body itches for no apparent reason. No rash or other symptoms are observed. Particularly intense irritation occurs if colon or pancreatic cancer is diagnosed.
   

In what cases is it necessary to see a doctor?

You cannot ignore the signals sent by your body. If your body itches in different places, you need to look for the reasons together with your doctor and do not wait for the sensation to disappear on its own. A visit to a specialist should be scheduled for the near future if any symptom or several signs from the list are discovered along with the itching:

1. there is depression of the general condition (fever, nausea, weakness);
2. the skin and sclera of the eyes turned yellow;
3. urination has become rare or stopped completely;
4. limbs and body swell;
5. arms and legs sometimes seem to “go numb”, “become “wobbly”, and a tingling sensation appears;
6. vision has deteriorated;
7. at night there is a feeling of heat, an unusual amount of sweat is released.

Even if it seems that the skin is itching for no apparent reason, and after a while the itching completely disappears, this is not a reason to postpone a visit to the doctor. Sometimes the disease manifests itself this way: some symptoms fade away, but others appear, and the disease moves to a new stage. It is also important to listen to your own condition and ask yourself questions: what hurts, are there any changes, are there any relatives in the direct line who suffered from cancer? Even a very attentive doctor who carefully collects anamnesis may miss any important sign signaling the onset of the disease, so it is important to independently analyze the situation.

The body itches in different places: how to eliminate itching

Laboratory examination methods help determine the diagnosis when itching is not due to allergies or any dermatological disease. Depending on the history collected and the suspicions that arise in this regard, the doctor may suggest donating blood for the following tests:

1. general (ESR, leukocytes);
2. bilirubin;
3. biochemistry.

You may also need to provide urine. Tests can help identify problems with the kidneys: general and according to the Reberg-Tareev method. Instrumental diagnostic methods will reveal the picture of a hidden disease even more clearly. As a rule, an ultrasound of the organs and possibly a biopsy are prescribed. As a result, it will be clear: everything itches for no reason, or there is a threat to health.

Pharmacy products

Even if the cause of the itching is an allergy, as the simplest of the above, a person without medical knowledge will not be able to cope with the problem on his own. In this situation, the doctor will determine the allergen using tests and prescribe treatment.

1. Allergy symptoms are eliminated with antihistamines, including: Suprastin, Loratadine, Zyrtec. The same drugs are necessary to relieve itching that occurs due to renal failure.

Regular use of hormonal drugs, especially if they are not prescribed by a doctor, but chosen independently, is unacceptable.

1. Sedatives will help relieve excessive nervousness, suspiciousness and thus help reduce the severity of unpleasant sensations. In the absence of contraindications, doctors, as a rule, prescribe: valerian, motherwort, aminazine.

People's Councils

In the intervals between courses of treatment for the disease that caused itching, you can use the remedies that have always been used by the people. Any herbalist knows the best plant for dermatological diseases and, in particular, for scratching - a string. Dried leaves, flowers and stems are crushed and brewed as tea. Allow to brew, cover with a lid, and drink warm.
Baths with the addition of various medicinal plants will help relieve nervous tension, which often in itself provokes itching, and soothe irritated skin:

1. Buy ready-made lavender extract at the pharmacy and add 1-2 tbsp to the water before bathing.
2. Prepare a decoction of chamomile and celandine in a 1:1 ratio in a water bath. To prevent the healing properties of plants from disappearing, use immediately after preparation.
3. Nettle, mint, pine needles - all of the above are useful to brew and use for washing the body.

Unreasonable itching all over the body has probably bothered every person at least once. However, if this symptom recurs regularly and does not go away over time, you should consult a doctor, as this may indicate the presence of a pathological condition of the body or normal dry skin.

In any case, it is important to figure out why the body itches, and then, together with your doctor, decide how to deal with it. In today's article we will discuss the main causes of itchy skin and learn how to quickly get rid of it at home.

Main reasons

It is generally accepted that itching all over the body is a sign of dermatological skin diseases. However, things are not always so simple. The skin may itch in the presence of hidden pathologies of various types. Therefore, it is important not to ignore this symptom, especially if it is periodic or constant. Let's look at the main reasons why the body itches in different places, as well as the symptoms that accompany them.

1. Pathologies of the kidneys and urinary system. Skin scabies can be a concern if you have kidney failure. This symptom is one of the first signs of impaired organ function. This happens because harmful substances are not eliminated by the body naturally, so the body tries to get rid of them through the skin. This phenomenon has a corresponding name - renal itching. At the same time, the patient is bothered by frequent urination, nagging pain in the lower back, excessive sweating, and chills. If the skin itches precisely for this reason, the problem can be eliminated only with proper treatment of the existing disease. External methods will be ineffective.

1. Psychogenic disorders. Often the skin itches constantly or periodically due to the development of various psycho-emotional personality disorders. For example, with chronic depression and stress, overwork, anxiety. Sometimes scabies occurs as an obsessive condition; a person feels as if he is being bitten by parasites, which makes his body itch. At the same time, the patient is constantly worried, irritable, and quick-tempered. He is plagued by insomnia and daytime sleepiness. Treatment in this case should begin with psychological work, as well as taking sedatives. In folk medicine, there are many recipes for sedative herbal remedies, which we will consider in the next section.
2. Allergic reaction. Very often, scabies occurs as a result of an allergic reaction. At the same time, the exacerbation of the symptom is necessarily preceded by contact with a product or substance that is an allergen. A characteristic accompanying sign of allergies in an adult is the rapid appearance of red spots that itch very much. The most common allergens are dust, household chemicals, citrus fruits, tropical foods, animals (most often the body itches from contact with fluffy cats). In other cases, a similar reaction of the body may occur in response to taking medications, vaccinations, or insect bites. Elimination of scabies is carried out, first of all, by taking anti-allergy drugs. If such a reaction occurs for the first time, it is important to find out what substance caused it in order to avoid negative consequences in the future.
3. Pathologies in the functioning of the liver and biliary tract. In the presence of liver diseases, the skin itches due to poisoning of the body with unprocessed substances and excess amounts of synthesized bile. As with kidney failure, these toxins try to leave the body through the sebaceous glands found throughout the body. This is what causes tedious, annoying scabies, which manifests itself most strongly in the chest, back, abdomen, legs and arms. At the same time, the patient suffers from a feeling of heaviness and pain in the right side of the chest and ribs, he is haunted by a feeling of nausea and loss of appetite, fatigue and fatigue. The color of the urinary fluid changes: it becomes much darker. The skin and eyes acquire a yellowish tint. The presence of all these symptoms may indicate the development of an exacerbation of cholelithiasis or cholecystitis.

1. Drying of the skin. The most common cause of itching all over the body is insufficient skin hydration. This phenomenon occurs especially often in winter and spring, when the body receives insufficient amounts of the necessary vitamins and microelements contained in fresh vegetables and fruits. The skin can also dry out due to lack of exposure to direct sunlight and a lack of vitamin D. In addition, in our climate zone in winter, the skin is affected by a number of negative factors that lead to its drying out: exposure to frost and cold wind, insufficient supply of fresh air, contact with synthetic materials, hard water. If the cause of annoying scabies is the constant drying of the skin, you can solve this problem by choosing the right care, as well as enriching your diet with foods rich in vitamins A, B and C.
2. Neurodermatitis. This disease can manifest itself due to the influence of negative external factors: frequent stress, strong feelings, emotional fatigue, self-administration of medications, improper, chaotic nutrition. The main cause of this pathology is the congenital weakness of the nervous and immune systems. During an exacerbation of neurodermatitis, the patient is bothered by severe itching throughout the body, localized in the elbows and knees, in the neck, and on the skin of the face. At the same time, small spots appear, which become inflamed when scratched. In addition, stool disorders and episodes of difficulty breathing are observed.

As we can see, there are many reasons why the body itches. It is difficult to independently recognize the true cause of itchy skin. Therefore, if this illness bothers you systematically and regularly, you need to seek medical help from a therapist who will help determine the nature of the symptom and refer you to the right doctor.

Treatment at home

Of course, the treatment of this disease largely depends on the reasons that caused it. For example, if the itchy skin was caused by cholecystitis, it is important to begin treatment for this disease after a complete and thorough diagnosis.

Otherwise, the scabies will not stop, and additional symptoms will only intensify. If the itching is caused by dry skin or nervous tension, to get rid of it, it is enough to choose the right skin care, take a medicinal bath or a sedative herbal preparation.

Traditional medicine contains many valuable and time-tested ways to quickly get rid of this unpleasant symptom. Such recipes will be effective and will help if you are worried, but they are not able to eradicate the main cause of this symptom.

Relaxing baths

This method is especially suitable when the body itches everywhere and it is difficult to act on it locally. It is important that the water is not too hot - this can dry out already irritated skin. Immersion in water itself will significantly relieve annoying itching and calm the nervous system.

Special herbal supplements can enhance the relaxing effect, relieve tension and soothe inflamed areas of the body. For this purpose, add 200 ml of a strong decoction of chamomile or string to hot water. This will help soften the skin and get rid of scabies for 12 hours.

It is recommended to take such baths before evening to ensure restful sleep. You can also use a decoction of chamomile or string to wipe itchy areas after leaving the bath. It is also useful for —apathy—.

Propolis

This substance is used to treat many dermatological diseases, burns, wounds and itchy rashes. Propolis promotes rapid regeneration of wounds, has an antibacterial effect, relieves pain and itching. The most commonly used is propolis ointment. It is applied in a thin layer to the affected areas and left to absorb.

The desired effect will appear within 10 minutes. After this, you need to remove the remaining ointment with a cotton pad. This remedy can be used whenever itching occurs on any part of the body. However, you need to remember: if you are plagued by frequent attacks of causeless itching, you need to seek medical help. It is also used for the treatment of chickenpox.

Melissa infusion

Very often, annoying itching causes severe irritation in a person and interferes with restful sleep or normal functioning. This is especially true for young children who become whiny and restless. First of all, the elimination of this symptom should begin with the restoration of normal nervous activity.

Often the body continues to itch due to strong emotional overstimulation. Melissa is a well-known herbal sedative with a strong effect. Despite this, lemon balm has no contraindications; it is absolutely safe even for small children. A soothing infusion from it is prepared as follows: pour a tablespoon of dried and crushed leaves into 300 ml of boiled water and leave for 5 minutes.

You can add honey to taste. It is recommended to use this drug during exacerbation of symptoms or every day in the evening. It will also help get rid of headaches and nausea.

Dear readers, how do you save yourself from annoying scabies?