Skin itching is a common symptom of skin, allergic, infectious, metabolic, hematological, psychogenic diseases. It can be localized or spread to a significant part of the skin. Itching is accompanied by scratching and inflammation of the skin, rash, increased irritability, sleep disturbance. The etiofactors of pruritus are determined by dermatological examination (luminescent diagnostics, trichoscopy), allergy tests, laboratory tests (scraping microscopy), and skin biopsy. Treatment includes topical and systemic pharmacotherapy, physiotherapy, psychotherapy.
Skin pruritus is one of the interdisciplinary problems relevant for both dermatovenereology and allergology, endocrinology, infectology, and oncology. Some forms of itching (itching of the anus, itching of the scrotum, itching of the vulva) in the ICD-1 are considered as independent nosologies. Itchy conditions are more commonly diagnosed in women. Frequent background factors are low socioeconomic status, depression, constant stress, periods of hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause).
Depending on the course, pruritus can be acute (sudden, short-term) and chronic (long-term, debilitating), according to the area of the itchy surface - localized (local) and generalized (diffuse). According to the mechanism of occurrence, pruritus is divided into:
It is caused by diseases of the hair and scalp. It is accompanied by a feeling of tightness of the skin, scaly desquamation of the epidermis (dandruff), increased oiliness of the hair, excessive production of sebum, brittleness, and sometimes hair loss. Itching of the scalp can be provoked by improperly selected care and styling products (shampoo, conditioner, hairspray). The most common pathological causes of itchy scalp include:
Skin itching
Skin itching can be caused by dermatological and systemic diseases. In some cases, itching of the body is due to elementary non-compliance with personal hygiene: a rare bath or shower, wearing dirty clothes. On the other hand, itching of the skin can occur with infectious and parasitic dermatoses that are contagious to others. Itching dermatoses are often found in the elderly (senile itching) and pregnant women. Dermatological conditions most commonly associated with itchy skin include:
Itching of the whole body can be a side effect of taking certain drugs: ACE inhibitors, anti-gout, antiarrhythmic, hormonal drugs, opioids. Systemic diseases occurring with chronic pruritus:
Eyelids can itch with any of the listed skin, infectious and general somatic pathologies. However, more often the causes of itching in the eyes are ophthalmic diseases and visual strain. At risk of developing such a problem are people who use contact lenses, work in contact with dust and chemicals without proper eye protection, patients with allergies and immunodeficiencies. Causes of itchy eyes:
Since pruritus is caused by a variety of reasons, specialists from various medical fields are engaged in their clarification: dermatologists, parasitologists, trichologists, allergologists-immunologists, ophthalmologists, endocrinologists. The nature of itching can be assumed on the basis of the collected history, localization, the presence of skin elements (vesicles, papules, pustules, scales, excoriations, crusts). Depending on the suspected etiology, the examination may include:
Dermatologist's examination
Therapy for pruritus is carried out taking into account the established causes and concomitant factors. For this, pharmacotherapy, local therapy, physiotherapy, psychotherapy are used. Patients with pruritus need to change their eating and daily living habits: give up sugary foods, wear clothes made of synthetic and coarse fabrics, and use detergents that dry the skin. It is recommended to avoid stress, avoid scratching the skin, use neutral moisturizers.
Direct treatment of pruritus consists of the following components:
The problem of itching of the scalp often resolves when the underlying disease is in remission. In all cases, the selection of pharmacy cosmeceutical hair care products is important: shampoos, masks, oils. For complex therapy of the identified problem, a trichologist can offer mesotherapy, cryomassage, darsonvalization, laser treatment of the scalp. With dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, antifungal shampoos are used. With pediculosis, the scalp is treated with special means.
Treatment of itching in the eye area has its own specifics, it is carried out mainly using local remedies. At the time of treatment, it is necessary to abandon the use of cosmetics, wearing lenses in favor of glasses. To eliminate the causes of itching are prescribed:
If necessary, surgical interventions are performed: opening of the stye of the eyelid, removal of foreign bodies of the conjunctiva and cornea, antiglaucoma operations, cataract phacoemulsification, etc.