Why Am I So Itchy?

Itch, scratch, itch, scratch – toss, turn – repeat. Itchy skin can be maddening – especially when it keeps you awake at night. A number of my patients tell me with a straight face that they’d rather experience chronic pain than the never-ending, sleep-sabotaging misery of unrelenting itch. But unlike pain, which triggers us to withdraw from whatever’s causing discomfort, itch-transmitting nerves called C fibres lead to a satisfying release when we scratch, prompting us to dig in with the fingernails even more. Too much of this good thing can lead to worsening itch, excoriations, scars, and even skin infections – not to mention prominent under-eye circles from a poor night’s sleep.

There are dozens of possible reasons why we might itch (doctors call it pruritus, by the way). The most common cause is simply dry skin, especially during the winter months -when arid air, hot showers, and other factors conspire to cause an exceptionally irritable skin barrier.

But if you’re moisturising diligently and caring for your skin gently, yet you still feel itchy, it may be time for some detective work – ideally with the help of a dermatologist. Because there are dozens of possible reasons you might be feeling the urge to scratch.

Skin Conditions: Perhaps you are experiencing a skin disease or condition that predisposes to itching, such as eczema (common types include atopic dermatitis and nummular dermatitis), psoriasis, dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis), seborrheic keratoses, bug bites, or hives. More rare forms of itching include autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, such as lupus, dermatomyositis, lichen planus, bullous pemphigoid, or pemphigus.

Allergy or Irritation: You may have developed a skin allergy (allergic contact dermatitis) or skin irritation (irritant contact dermatitis) from a personal care product, fabric, plant (poison oak and ivy are notorious, though numerous other botanical and natural ingredients can cause similar itching), or other substance that makes contact with the skin. Sometimes, the problem is as simple as frequent hand-washing: I see itchy, rashy hands on my fellow physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers basically every day.

Infection: Some of us itch because of a skin infection – such as a fungus (tinea) or a mite (like scabies) – or a body-wide infection, such as measles or chickenpox (though no one should have to suffer from these particular diseases anymore, on account of safe and effective vaccines).

Medicine: Sometimes, the problem can be due to an oral medicine. Heart and cholesterol drugs, pain medicines, and antibiotics are among many that have the potential to cause scratch-happy tendencies.

Gluten: An intensely itchy rash called dermatitis herpetiformis can develop in some people with Celiac disease – but this skin condition is actually quite rare. (I’ve only seen 2 or 3 cases in my career.) True food allergies can certainly cause skin reactions, but gluten and other dietary factors are actually surprisingly uncommon reasons for itching.

Age: As we enter our 50’s and beyond, the skin tends to become drier, the epidermis often doesn’t function as optimally, its pH can change, there may be reduced immune function within the skin, and we are more likely to develop nerve degeneration or dysfunction – all of which may contribute to uncomfortably itchy skin.

Fingernail-induced: Sometimes, itching is our own fault. Conditions called prurigo nodularis (picker’s nodules) and lichen simplex chronicus form when we repeatedly pick or scratch at an area, causing the skin to thicken up and become even itchier – a vicious cycle with the potential to snowball out of control.

Medical Conditions: If you have no rash on the skin, but feel itchy everywhere, it may be time for some lab work. Many medical concerns can trigger itching, including problems with the thyroid, kidney, liver, blood count, an undetected infection, or even an emerging malignancy. I saw a patient last year who’d seen over a dozen doctors in a desperate attempt to get relief from unrelenting, allover itching she’d been experiencing for months – but once we detected and treated a urinary tract infection, her itching vanished within days.

The good news is that treatments available for itch are as diverse as its causes. Dermatologists often recommend starting with gentle skincare and bathing habits, including brief, lukewarm baths and showers, liberal application of moisturiser atop cortisone creams, antihistamine pills (such as fexofenadine or cetirizine, often called Allegra or Zyrtec, respectively) or lotions containing pramoxine or menthol (such as Sarna Lotion or Gold Bond Anti-Itch Lotion). A dermatologist can guide you through prescription options – so that you can give those fingernails a break and get back to sleep.