Integrative Health Blog

Itchy skin, also known as pruritus, is a common concern among my dermatology patients. 

There are few things more aggravating than being itchy.  In fact, one of the reasons we scratch when we itch is that the pain that comes about from scratching distracts ourselves from the itch.  We would rather endure the pain of scratching than be itchy! 

Itchy Skin Can be Due to Several Factors

It is very common to experience dry skin which can lead to itchiness.  At certain times of the year such as winter and early spring itchy skin is common because we have been in low humidity, heated homes all winter. But there are a variety of possible reasons for itchy skin, other than the lower humidity in the air.  There are external factors, internal factors, as well as certain diseases that can lead to itchiness.  Skin diseases such as eczema, mycosis fungoides, bullous pemphigoid, kidney/liver problems, and infectious diseases such as HIV or parasitic diseases are a few of the possible causes.  Most of the time itchiness is not related to a serious condition, but it is always important to rule out medical causes before assuming that the skin is just dry and itchy.

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