Written by Barbara Shine
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Tips for relieving dry, itchy skin
[dropcap]You know the feeling: It starts as a slight tickle, and you might brush at your sleeve absently. Then it tingles, so you rub the spot a little. Then it itches irresistibly and you have to scratch, bringing on more itching and more vigorous scratching. The itch-scratch cycle is persistent, and it can affect just a small area or the whole body.[/dropcap]Itchy skin may look normal, or you may see redness, a scaly texture, or cracks, bumps or blisters. The causes of itching skin, also known as pruritis, include internal disease, an allergic reaction or a skin disorder such as eczema, scabies or psoriasis. You should see your primary care physician or a dermatologist (a specialist in skin diseases) if:
- you don’t know the cause of your itching,
- it lasts more than two weeks and doesn’t get better with self-care,
- severe discomfort interferes with your sleep or daytime activities,
- you are itching over your whole body, or you have further symptoms, such as fatigue, weight loss, fever and changes in bowel habits or urinary function
Regardless of cause, it’s important to treat itchy skin to avoid the possible complications of frequent scratching. Tissue irritated by scratching can become infected by bacteria, and affected skin also can become thick and leathery or develop permanent color changes.
To help find the cause of itchy skin, your doctor will start with a physical exam and a review of your medical history. If he or she suspects an underlying medical condition, your doctor may also look at blood tests and x-rays to uncover abnormalities in, for example, the lungs, liver, thyroid or kidneys.
Once the cause is identified, your doctor can offer treatment for any underlying disease, as well as immediate relief for discomfort. Short-term relief may be available from topical anesthetics or corticosteroid creams, oral antihistamines or lotions containing menthol, camphor or calamine.
In some cases, such as persistent eczema that does not respond to self-care or prescribed medicines, doctors use phototherapy, exposing the skin to ultraviolet light in brief sessions repeated over days or weeks. While treatment with UV light has been in use for decades, scientists are still studying the method to learn exactly how it works to heal problem skin.
For most people, itchiness without a rash is usually caused by dry skin (xerosis). Both environmental and behavioral factors are at play: overheated air in winter, air conditioning in summer, hot baths and overuse of soaps and antiperspirants, to name a few examples.
Dry skin, with or without itchiness, can be a problem for all ages, though small children and older people are at more risk. Some people also have inherited a tendency to develop dry skin. The elderly become more susceptible when age-related loss of sweat and oil glands produces skin changes.
The Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com) offers a list of self-care measures to help reduce itching and calm irritated skin. You can find additional information about itching and other skin conditions at the American Academy of Dermatology Web site, www.aad.org.
