Reasons when the whole body itches

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.

As medical statistics show, almost every person in the modern world is familiar with such a problem as unpleasant itching all over the body and a constant obsession with scratching the skin. According to experts, there is only one option to get an answer to the question: “Why is the whole body itching and itching and what to do” - this is to consult a doctor, especially if you are not in the habit of leaving hygiene rules in the background.

Causes of itchy skin

In order to correctly identify the cause, doctors must exclude certain pathogens of such “scabies”:

1. Diabetes mellitus of two types and other abnormalities associated with the thyroid gland;
2. Development of chronic renal failure;
3. Various blood diseases;
4. Diseases that affect the liver;
5. Infections: jaundice and others;
6. Real scabies, which you can catch even on the street.

Every day it is necessary to follow the rules of personal hygiene, however, you should not overdo it, since along with bad bacteria, soap and other products also wash away beneficial bacteria from our skin, which perform a protective function.

Can psychological reasons cause itching?

The answer is obvious: Yes! Psychologists have long said that if a person is under severe stress for a long time, experiences negative emotions for a long time, and also knows what depression is, he may develop chronic itching throughout the body. It will not be possible to get rid of such itching with the help of medications and ointments; in this case, you need to remove the psychological causes of irritation, a neurologist or psychologist will help with this.

I have an itch, what should I do?

The most basic and reliable method is to make an appointment with a doctor; only he can determine the cause and diagnosis as quickly and accurately as possible, as well as prescribe the necessary treatment.

Doctors say that a common cause of itching is poor nutrition, so doctors advise such patients to change their daily diet: remove fatty foods, large amounts of salt and pepper, and do not eat fried or spicy foods. Very often the cause of itching is poor nutrition, as we discussed above. Since the risks of skin itching with this regimen are very high, we decided to dwell on this point in more detail. How to eat so as not to itch? The answer is simple: more soups made from vegetables and cereals, it is better to replace meat with lean fish, but boil the meat rather than fry it.

A good option would be low-fat cottage cheese, kefir, fresh vegetables and fruits, and herbs. Itching simply loves a large amount of salt, so its use should be reduced; every day the dose of table salt should not exceed three grams.

How and with what to treat itching

If you know for sure that itching all over the body is not associated with any abnormalities or systemic diseases, then we advise you to adhere to simple but very effective rules, which we present below:

1. Eliminate from your diet foods that dilate blood vessels: alcohol, caffeine, hot dishes, spices, strong teas, and so on;
2. Always monitor the temperature in the room, as it should not be high, you should not be hot;
3. The third point is, of course, the most difficult to achieve, as it asks you to completely detach yourself from problems, stress and depression. Don’t do something that causes severe damage to your nervous system; if you need to change your job, change it, otherwise you will always be itching and pills will not help you.

Prevention Tips

Without consulting a doctor, it is difficult to say why the whole body itches and itches and what to do, but it is very important to understand that the condition of our skin largely depends on our lifestyle. The better a person’s life, the more beautiful and healthy he looks. Do not forget about proper nutrition, a complete cessation of smoking tobacco, including hookahs and electronic cigarettes, and do not abuse alcohol.

Fresh air has always affected the condition of human skin, in principle, just like playing sports. It is oxygen that saturates the skin with useful substances, making it smooth, silky and prevents it from aging.

Video: why people's bodies itch

In this video you will learn about the possible causes of itchy skin:

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.