Nancy LeBrun is an Emmy and Peabody award-winning writer and producer who has been writing about health and wellness for more than six years
William Truswell, MD, is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon and otolaryngology (head and neck) surgeon. He is president of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and treats skin cancer patients as part of his practice.
"Pruritus " is the medical term for itching, so if you have pruritic dermatitis, you itch a lot. You may feel an intense need to scratch that can set off an itch-scratch cycle that is hard to break. Pruritic dermatitis is not a disease, it's a symptom of a number of different conditions.
How you treat it depends on what's setting off the itching. Find out about the causes, symptoms, and treatment for chronic itchy skin known as pruritic dermatitis.
According to your brain, itching and pain are close relatives. Pain makes you pull back, like when you touch a hot burner. Itching makes you scratch, and may be an evolutionary development that helped our ancestors get rid of skin parasites.
In modern humans, there are many causes of pruritic dermatitis. Here's a look at some of the more common ones.
Irritant contact dermatitis means you itch when your skin is exposed to certain substances in products, materials, and fabrics. Some of the more common irritants include:
Allergic reactions that cause itching can be closely linked to or overlap with irritants, but they are due to an immune system response, which irritants aren't.
Histamine, a chemical your body releases when you have an allergic reaction, often leads to itching. An allergic reaction tends to be more severe than one from irritant contact dermatitis. The list of allergens that cause itching is long, but some common ones include:
Herbal remedies and ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine may also cause itching.
Pruritic dermatitis is a hallmark symptom of certain common skin conditions. Two of the most common are xerosis (dry skin) and eczema . Eczema is often called "the itch that rashes" because the itching precedes the rash. Common skin conditions that cause pruritic dermatitis include:
Some health conditions that affect your internal organs can cause a neurogenic itch. They lead to a reaction involving neuropeptides, which create many of the chemical signals in your brain. Up to 25% of people with chronic itching have an underlying disease associated with pruritic dermatitis.
Internal diseases that cause itching include:
Neuropathic itching is due to nerve damage. You may also have tingling sensations or numbness. Health conditions that can affect the nerves and cause pruritic dermatitis include:
Some itching can be due to mental health concerns that affect certain chemicals in the brain including serotonin and norepinephrine. Psychogenic itching can be caused by:
It's common for pregnant people to itch due to a rash that begins on the abdomen and spreads elsewhere, usually in the third trimester or shortly after giving birth. It will disappear on its own. Experts aren't sure what causes it, but it's more likely in a first pregnancy.
Itching during pregnancy can also be due to an uncommon liver condition called obstetric cholestasis. This condition requires medical treatment, so if you are itching during your pregnancy, see a healthcare provider.
Pruritic dermatitis is itself a symptom, rather than a disease or condition. You may have red or irritated skin, bumps, or rashes along with itching. Pruritic dermatitis is sometimes worse at night.
If the itching is intense, the scratching may be as well, which can lead to irritated or thickened skin. It is often worse at night and can disrupt your sleep and affect your quality of life. It can also increase anxiety and other mental health conditions such as depression and even suicidal thoughts.
With so many causes of itchy skin, it can often take a medical professional to diagnose what's causing it and recommend the appropriate treatment. If your itch doesn't go away after about two weeks, call a healthcare provider.
Treatment for pruritic dermatitis depends on what's causing it. Some common treatments include:
Pruritic dermatitis is itchy skin that does not go away. You may have scaly or dry skin, bumps, or rashes along with the itching. There are many causes of itchy skin, including irritation, allergies, skin conditions, some health conditions, and mental health conditions.
If your skin is itching, try moisturizers, cool compresses, and over-the-counter pills or creams for itching. If the itching continues to bother you, call a healthcare provider who can diagnose what's causing it and, if necessary, prescribe medications to help ease the discomfort.
Pruritic dermatitis can affect your quality of life. If itching is wrecking your sleep or if scratching is making a mess of your skin, see if you can determine what's triggering it.
If you can't address it on your own, call a healthcare provider. It may seem like itching is just something you should live with, but it's worth the time to get to the bottom of it.
A dermatitis rash is a red area on your skin with bumps or blisters. The skin may be dry and look scaly or cracked. If it's severe, the rash can ooze and crust over.
If an itch lasts for more than two weeks, it's time to call a healthcare provider. There are many causes of itching, and most aren't serious, but a professional diagnosis can help point the way to effective management and treatment.
Pruritic dermatitis can be managed with home care and medical treatment to ease the itching and prevent flares or outbreaks. Learning what's causing the itching can help you avoid triggers and understand which OTC or prescription medications can help.
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