Skin Itch A-to-Z & The Answer! - PART 1

Define an effective strategy for dealing with your skin disorder!

You will itch at some point of your life. Sometimes a little, other times chronically. Depending on the cause, itching can be short-term (for example, heat rash during summer); or long-term chronic conditions, such as, psoriasis. Either way, it is a debilitating and embarrassing problem and sometimes these itch cures contain certain harsh creams and medications that are not always the cure for itching.

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1. Scratching damages skin health…

Excessive scratching makes skin thinner, sometimes ‘tearing away’ the outer (epidermis) skin layers. When the skin barrier is damaged (less protected) skin is more vulnerable to health issues. One common and sometimes serious health concern, is the increased risk of infection from environmental bacteria.

2. and disturbs your everyday life…

Itchy skin is very annoying and can be incredibly distracting, weather at work, whilst driving, trying to sleep and could possibly wake you up. In certain situations itching skin can be embarrassing. It’s important we can control irritated skin and discomfort rapidly and enjoy our daily activities.

3. The key is to Identify the root cause of the irritation!!!

Certain skin irritations take longer to treat, with some never fully healing; you can, however, get the itch under control quickly. Understand the root cause, and seek advice to determine the reason for irritation (e.g. Dermatitis, Eczema, etc). Plan a ‘safe’ recovery strategy for the short and longer-term to minimise treatment side-effect risks.

What is itching?

An itch is an uncomfortable sensation on the skin that urges you to scratch or rub the area for relief. The medical term for itching is pruritus. An itch is usually induced on the outermost layers of the skin (dermis) by hair, fluff, insect bites or even items of clothing.

As a result, the brain is alerted to produce histamine which triggers the inflammatory response, making your skin look red and sore. Itching and pain are closely-related sensations since the same nerves alert the brain.

Itching can occur in a certain area of the body (localized) or all over (generalised), which can either be benign (no cause for concern) or an underlying, serious medical condition. Itching is common and the uncomfortable sensation can vary in levels of intensity, if it persists, it’s advisable to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

What causes itching?

Most people will experience itching during their lifetime, but some are more susceptible to it than others.

Below are some of the reasons why we itch:

Infestations from parasites and insects
Infections as a result of chickenpox, shingles or fungal or yeast derived infections
Systemic conditionssuch as under/overactive thyroid, liver, kidney diseases and cancers
Allergies and skin reactionsto nickel, cosmetics, medication, foods, heat, sun
Pregnancy and the menopause, PUPPP, Prurigo gestationis, Obstetric cholestasis
Dermatological disorderslike dry skin, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, dandruff, folliculitis