When we look at nature, we can see that even tiny insects, birds and tons of elephants are itchy. As a part of nature, man also itches. The reason we give this natural reaction is to remove the external factors that disturb our skin. In other words, itching in the body is normal and to give an average statistic, a person itches 100 times a day.
If you think that ‘itching in the body is not a problem then’, you are wrong because sometimes this itching can go beyond the limit and come to the point where it reduces our quality of life. Itching, which occurs due to many different reasons, can sometimes be a sign of different diseases, so it is necessary to be extremely careful. What causes itching in the body, in which case it should be suspected and how it goes, let’s examine it in all details.
First, let’s make a definition; What is itching on the body?
Itching can be defined as a feeling that occurs in all or a part of our body. When this feeling comes, relief is provided by stimulating the itchy area with the hand, another limb or another object. It is a natural urge and a person may scratch an average of 100 times a day, even without any health problems.
As a health problem, itching in the body refers to an abnormal situation. The person itches so much that the quality of life decreases. Sometimes, this itching may be accompanied by redness and swelling. For this reason, suspicion may arise in cases of itching that does not go away and affects the quality of life.
So why do we itch, what causes itching in the body?
- skin dryness
- Eczema
- Scabies
- Kidney failure
- Jaundice
- Cirrhosis
- External factors and allergies
Skin dryness:
One of the most common causes of itching on the body is dry skin. Dryness and therefore itching may occur on the skin due to climatic conditions, continuous bathing with very hot water, not taking enough fluids during the day or using medication. Especially in both women and men, after the age of 40, skin dryness will increase, so itching will increase if the skin is not sufficiently moisturized.
Eczema:
Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is one of the most common skin diseases known to cause itching on the body. Yes, eczema is a disease because even though it starts as a simple dry skin, it can cause inflamed blisters, redness and flaking later on. Sometimes it can increase so much that itching in the body becomes its mildest symptom.
Scabies:
A type of mite called Sarcoptes scabiei settles on human skin and causes a condition called scabies. This discomfort creates an itching that increases especially at night. In fact, not only scabies, but also different parasites and bacteria found on our skin can cause scabies-like itching. This may be temporary, or it may become chronic due to the deterioration of the bacterial balance of our skin.
Kidney failure:
Unfortunately, kidney failure, which occurs as a result of the loss of some or all kidney functions, also causes itching in the body. It comes with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, high blood pressure, loss of appetite, as well as itching and dry skin in the body caused by kidney failure. It is an inconvenience that must be taken seriously.
Jaundice:
As the name suggests, jaundice is a condition of yellowing of the eyes and skin. It is not seen as a single disease, but as a symptom of different diseases. Along with jaundice, symptoms such as weakness, fever, itching in the body are also seen.
Cirrhosis:
Cirrhosis is a type of chronic liver disease. Due to cirrhosis, the structural functions of the liver are impaired, the organ becomes hard and shrinks. The most common symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, jaundice and itching in the body. In addition to cirrhosis, different diseases and disorders in the liver can also cause itching.
External factors and allergies:
There is no end to this title. Because your shampoo, outer gel, perfume, clothes, detergent, bed linen and many external factors that you cannot think of can cause itching from the body. Itching can also be caused by food, insect bites, pollen, drug and similar allergies.
Symptoms that create suspicion when seen with itching:
- If your itching increases at night, a skin infection is suspected. The bedding can also be an allergy caused by detergent.
- Diabetes is suspected if you start to drink a lot of water and urinate a lot along with itching.
- Cancer types are suspected if there is abnormal weight loss with itching.
- Thyroid gland disorders are suspected when palpitations and fatigue are seen together with itching.
- Liver diseases are suspected when skin color change, jaundice, dark urine color are seen together with itching.
- Urticaria is suspected when redness and swelling are seen along with itching.
What should I do when there is itching in the body, how does it go?
First of all, you should know yourself well and notice the intensity of itching in the body. For example, when the weather gets warmer, you may itch more due to sweating, or itching may increase when your shower frequency decreases. Itching due to simple allergies may also increase when you use a new detergent, shampoo, shower gel or buy a new clothing or linen.
You can find and eliminate the cause of itching by doing a few trial and error without worrying about the itching increases in the body, which is not life-threatening. However, if the itching increases with the accompanying symptoms above, it would be beneficial to seek medical support from a specialist physician.
When you go to a health institution and explain the symptoms seen with itching in the body, you are asked for a blood test, liver test, kidney test, thyroid test, and chest X-ray. According to the results of these, your doctor will determine if there is a disease that causes itching and the most appropriate treatment is started. Different tests may also be requested, depending on the doubt.
There are measures you can take against itching:
- Use water-based moisturizers regularly to prevent skin dryness.
- Avoid bathing in very hot water.
- Avoid products, foods, and clothing that you notice itchy.
- Humidify the air in the room.
- Stay away from stress.
We answered questions such as what causes itching in the body, which can be a simple reason or a harbinger of many different diseases, and how it goes. What we describe is for informational purposes only. Do not forget that you should get the most accurate and specific information about itching in the body, as in all health issues, from a specialist physician.
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