Itching

What is itching?

Itching is an irritating feeling of the skin that makes you want to scratch your skin. It may be in just one part of your body or it may be all over your body.

What causes itching?

Itching can have many causes. Some well-known causes of itching are insect bites, sunburn, and poison ivy. These kinds of itching usually go away without treatment in a few days. Another common cause of itching is fungal infection, such as athlete's foot, but it often does not go away if it is not treated.

Itching may occur with or without a rash or other changes in the skin. When there is no rash, itching all over the body may be caused by physical or psychological problems, or by the environment. Itching may be a symptom of kidney, liver, or thyroid disease; diabetes, or lymphatic cancer. Itching can also be a symptom of an allergic reaction. Anxiety, severe depression, and other emotional stress can cause itching that typically goes away when the emotional problem is under control. Environmental conditions such as dry climates can cause excessive dry skin that may produce itching.

How is itching treated?

Try not to scratch the itchy area. Scratching may relieve the itch, but it can cause more irritation and swelling. If scratching breaks the skin, it can cause an infection.

For relief from itching, try any of these measures:

Press your hands firmly on the itchy area.
Keep the area moist and cool. A cool washcloth works well.
Try an oatmeal bath product such as Aveeno.
Use calamine lotion for rashes, especially on poison ivy, sumac, or oak rashes.
Put a nonprescription 1% hydrocortisone ointment or cream on small itchy areas. Follow the directions on the package. Do not use hydrocortisone too often. It can irritate the skin and actually make itching worse. Check with your health care provider before you use hydrocortisone on babies.
Try a nonprescription oral antihistamine such as Benadryl. Use it according to the package instructions.
Keep your fingernails short and wear gloves at night to keep from injuring the skin by scratching.
Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing. Avoid scratchy, wool, and acrylic fabrics.
Avoid getting hot and sweaty.

Itching caused by fungus infections such as athlete's foot and jock itch can be treated with antifungal powders and creams. Itching from lice can often be treated with anti-lice medicines.

Contact your health care provider if you have itching that lasts for several days without getting better. You may need tests to check for medical problems that may be causing the itching.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File SKN4861F.HTM Release 9.0/2006