Causes and diagnosis of itchy skin

Itchy skin causes immense irritation, and is accompanied by rashes and redness. This irritation forces you to scratch your skin that worsens the situation. Irritated skin accompanied by an uncontrollable itch is known as Pruritus. There are a number of causes of itchy skin. These can range from something ordinary, like a rash, to something serious, like kidney failure. It is advisable to consult a doctor if you don’t know the cause of your itching condition. Itching may seem like a very harmless condition but if it persists, it is recommended that you visit a doctor. Some of the causes are severe and need immediate medical help.Let’s look at some of the common causes of itchy skin.

Skin conditions
Dermatitis: It is a skin condition that causes the skin to become red, swollen, hot, and is often accompanied by pain.
Eczema: It is a long lasting and persistent skin disorder. It causes itching and rashes.
Dermatographism: It is a type of itchy rash on the skin.

Infections causing itching
Many times various types infections give rise to itching. These infections include chicken pox, lice, fungal, rashes, mites, scabies, pinworms, irritants,etc. Irritants are substances which come in contact with the skin and cause irritation, inflammation, and itching.

Internal disorders
Itchy skin is also a symptom of some internal disorders including liver disease, anemia, diabetes, iron deficiency, HIV, leukemia, thyroid disease, lymphoma, failure of kidney, pregnancy, etc. Itching issues are very common during pregnancy. In fact, 10% of pregnant women suffer from itching during pregnancy.

Psychological conditions
There are certain psychological conditions like depression, anxiety, psychosis, and trichotillomania which gives an urge to itch the body.

Diagnosis of itchy skin
Ideally, a doctor should be able to tell the reason behind your itch by knowing the symptoms. He’ll ask you a few questions to know the cause. In severe cases, a doctor will have to conduct tests to know the cause. Check out the common tests that are conducted to diagnose the cause of the itch.

  • Blood test: Blood tests help in diagnosing internal disorders and infections.
  • Thyroid test: Itching can be a result of thyroid disorder. A thyroid test is suggested to know if the cause is due to the rise/fall of the thyroid hormone.
  • Skin test: Often, the cause of the itching are skin infections and allergies. A skin test can figure out whether or not the itch is a result of some skin allergy.

    RECENT ARTICLE

  • The evolution of lift mechanism in lift chairs
  • All You Need to Know about Lift Chairs
  • The third stage of kidney disease
  • 5 great washers you should consider for your laundry room

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

  • How to pick a great comforter
    Comforters are not called that without a reason. Soft, fluffy, billowy and light-weight, these essential pieces of bedding make for a comfortable bed and promise a leisurely sleep. When it comes to choosing comforters, there are a lot of choices to pick from and buying one will need a little groundwork on your part. Comforters come in many materials and fillings and of these down is one of the most comfortable and also expensive. The light, fluffy clusters from under the feathers of ducks and geese are what down comforters are made of. The quality of such a comforter depends on the fill power, that is the amount of down used per ounce. The greater the fill power, the more the insulation and warmth of the comforter. Buying a comforter will depend in a few factors like budget, size, style, fill power and allergies. Begin with your budget and work forward from there. Decide what the outer limit of your budget is and stick to it. Next, pick a level of warmth or fill power. A fill power of 500 or 550 is good enough if you live in a warmer climate and 700 and above is perfect for those places that experience a cold snap. Comforters can come in many sizes and you need you pick one that works best for you. Choose from twins, doubles, queens, kings and California kings. If you want a comforter that two of you can comfortably use, then go for a comforter that is one size bigger than your mattress. It also makes sense to buy a comforter grid pattern across its length and width. This keeps the filling in place and prevents it from bunching up. These are called box-stitch comforters because this grid pattern keeps the down in a box pattern. Another kind of down comforter is baffled down comforter. Baffles are thin pieces of vertical fabric stitched inside the comforter to stop the down from bunching up inside the comforter. Sewn-through comforters are those where the top layer of the fabric is stitched to the bottom layer. These are less expensive than baffle-box stitch comforters because they don't allow the loft to expand to its full potential. You should also consider the thread count just like you would in a bed sheet. Thread count is the number of threads that are woven into a square inch - the finer the thread used, the higher the thread count will be resulting in a smoother and lighter material. High-end expensive comforters have a high thread count making it stronger and more durable.
  • Energy-efficient and cost-effective cabinet lights online
    Cabinet lights are increasingly being used to light up kitchen spaces. These lights are less costly, offer maximum illumination, and are available in a wide variety of colors, power ratings, shapes, and sizes. If you are a proud house owner, then you surely would want to decorate home interiors using the best lighting stuff. Surely, you may like to use high-quality cabinet lights for your kitchen space. Check online and you get a host of businesses that offer to you the best products at competitive prices. As a customer, it is important for you to set your priorities and preferences as this helps you to get the best products. You need to invest in the lighting based on your requirements.
    • Lighting Products Available at E-Stores E-commerce websites like Amazon categorize the products as night lights, spotlights, vanity lights, step lights, undercabinet lights, wall lamps, and sconces. Customers have the option to select the products through many other parameters like number of lights, material used (crystal, glass, plastic, steel, wood, and porcelain), color and finish, style whether modern traditional, transitional, rustic, shape, size in terms of height and width, power, light type like LED, incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent, metal halide, fluorescent, brands, price, condition, and sellers. Most products sold through popular e-stores come with attractive discounts.
    • Online Buying Promises the Best Deals In this regard, it is important to say that online buying of products is becoming popular by the day. There is more than one business that sells high-quality products to their customers. Customers are required to check the product reviews and compare product prices to get the best deal. Since more than one website sells the same type of products, referring to multiple e-stores offers customers plenty of options to choose from. Online shopping is becoming popular these days. Many e-stores and businesses are selling products like cabinet lights and under cabinet lights online to the customers. Online shopping is easy, effortless, and saves time and money, and customers get plenty of options to choose according to their tastes and preferences. If you are keen to invest in trendy cabinet lights, then shop online, avail attractive discounts on the product price, and get attractive deals on sale from the comfort of your home.
    • Smart Features of Modern Lighting Products Many products on sale online have automatic sensors on them, they are super bright, easy to install, and have warranty options offering the customers satisfaction with product purchase. The e-stores offer free shipment of different cabinet lights. If you want to illuminate your kitchen space with cabinet lights, then visit your nearest store or check online for trendy products, compare their prices, and add them to your cart to purchase as long as stocks last.
  • 4 Medicare dental plans that cover your dental care
    Started in 1965, Medicare programs have been providing affordable medical care to seniors. Funded by the federal government, Medicare made healthcare accessible to senior citizens who found it difficult to pay for their medical expenses with their fixed post-retirement income. With a major proportion of baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) turning 65, it is estimated that nearly 64 million people will enroll in Medicare by 2020. However, this number also includes people below the age of 65 years. Younger people who have a permanent disability, or end-stage renal disease, or cognitive impairments are also eligible for Medicare benefits. Medicare benefits include hospital insurance and coverage for outpatient care, doctors’ services, preventive services, and medical supplies, based on certain terms and conditions. All these are covered under basic Medicare plans known as Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Medicare Part D covers the cost of prescription drugs. However, this is not included in the basic plan and a person has to enroll separately for Part D. Also, none of these plans cover dental care. If you are looking for affordable dental care through Medicare, you can enroll for Medicare Part C. Part C is offered by private insurance providers that have contracts with Medicare. Also known as Medicare Advantage Plans, these cover all the benefits of Part A, Part B, and Part D along with additional services that include vision, dental, hearing, and wellness. If you are looking for top Medicare dental plans, you can enroll for Medicare Advantage or Part C. Here are some of the private insurers that have been known to offer the top Medicare dental plans. Aetna Medicare Dental Plan Aetna does not have a separate plan specifically for dental care. The Medicare Advantage Plan from Aetna covers routine dental care along with vision, hearing, and prescription drug coverage. Routine dental care includes oral examinations in a dentist’s office, dental X-rays (inclusive of panoramic and bitewing views), pulp vitality tests, and oral hygiene consultations. The cost of cleaning, scaling, and polishing the teeth is also included. Other services include bite adjustments, fillings and restorations, denture adjustments, non-surgical extractions, and minor periodontic scalings and root planings. It is important to note that not all of these services will be offered by all Aetna Medicare dental plans, and services may differ from place to place. Delta Medicare Dental Plan Delta Dental offers Dental Advantage plan through Sharp Health Plan Medicare Advantage plan. This is an HMO plan with Medicare contract that provides a comprehensive coverage that includes crowns, fillings, and dentures. This is considered as one of the top Medicare dental plans since there are no hidden costs for dental services and copays are quite low. With dentist office visits costing as low as $5 and prevention services such as cleanings costing just around $15, Medicare dental plans from Delta are one of the most affordable dental plans. You can pick any dentist from the DeltaCare USA HMO network depending in your location. There is no waiting period involved. You can avail of the benefits as soon as you enroll. Humana Medicare Dental Plan Humana Medicare Advantage plans offer dental care only with certain plans. The Medicare dental plan is known as MyOption Enhanced Dental HMO. These plans do not have any deductible and there is no waiting period for the coverage to start. Benefits offered by these plans include full coverage for basic procedures such as cleanings, fillings, crowns, and exams. Partial coverage is provided for a few major services such as extractions. However, this is applicable only when you go to dentists who are in the Humana Medicare network. UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Dental Plan UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plan provides routine dental coverage through two options: enroll in a plan with routine dental care benefits or enroll in a plan with a supplemental rider for routine dental care. Based on the chosen plan, you can avail of various dental services such as annual exams that include panoramic and bitewing X-rays. These top Medicare dental plans also include routine cleaning and polishing, non-surgical extractions, minor restorative procedures such as fillings, bridgework and crowns, denture and denture adjustments, and minor periodontal scalings.
  • Best hybrid cloud solutions for small businesses
    Communications have advanced significantly in recent years and have always been alongside wherever we go, at home, at the office, and even on mobile phones. If you want to be in contact with your employers and team members from any part of the globe, there are many hybrid cloud-based phone system companies that claim to be able to deliver full communication solutions for small businesses. Although are an ample number of providers you should choose on the basis of benchmarks like the highly flexible professional phone system, auto-receptionist, voicemail, multiparty conferencing, call queuing, recording and more. Here are some of the best hybrid cloud-based phone system companies for small businesses. Nextiva Nextiva is a mobile application cloud business that serves around 60,000 companies around the world. They outstand in amazing customer service and powerful global networking. Nextiva's hybrid cloud-based VoIP and call center technology, SIP trunking and business phone service let small businesses experience an integrated communication. Their exceptional OS system will take your business to a completely new level. Nextiva works in a very flexible manner with the customer as they offer 30 days free trial and you cancel the plan anytime for a full refund. 8x8 8x8 is one of the best hybrid cloud phone system companies for small businesses. They provide a whole communication system, it includes everything you need in one easy to manage solution. It flawlessly connects you with your employees additionally you get all the benefits of the traditional on-premise solution along with breakthrough services like a mobile app, virtual call center, unified communications, hosted PBX and business VoIP. It's affordable, flexible, has three different service plans that vary in price, and features. RingCentral Ring Central is also one of the top mobile application cloud business service that no longer follows traditional on-premises phone systems. This system brilliantly delivers advanced functionality your business needs for this workaholic world. It is best suited for both small scale and large scale business. RingCentral is reliable, flexible, easy to manage, and adapts unique features for your business. It automatically integrates with other cloud application and eliminates the need for phone system hardware. Jive Jive is a cloud business phone system that makes your business more efficient and easy to manage. Jive makes use of hosted PBX for replacing your hardware phone equipment which means that you can manage and organize your desk work and smartphone from the Jive mobile app installed on your business phone. Jive makes it easier for your employees and customers to contact your team. It offers more features than other cloud phone system could provide making your location turn into a workplace.
  • Here’s what you need to know if you plan to grow flowers in your garden
    "Where flowers bloom, so does hope." - Lady Bird Johnson Flowers are beautiful and everybody loves then. Two major reasons for loving flowers are smell and beauty. They smell great and come in many shapes, sizes and colors. Each flower is unique in its own way and that's what appeals to people the most. Flowers are not just eye candy, they play an important role for the environment. For instance, bees make honey with the help of flowers. Humans use flowers for expressing emotions, decorations, and medicinal purposes as well. If you are looking to grow flowers in your garden, you must know that flowers are also seasonal. With seasons, many things change including flowers. If you have a big event coming up, it will help if you familiarize yourself with the seasonal flowers that will be abundantly available during your event. Knowing what flowers grow in which season will help you save a lot of money as flowers that are off season cost more than the ones that are in season. Spring flowers (late winter) Season that follows winter and precedes summer. Flowers that grow in spring are Winter Aconite (also know as Eranthis); Witch Hazel; Crocus; Hellebore (commonly known as Christmas rose and Lenten rose); Camellia; Snowdrop; Chionodoxa; Pansy. (early spring) Daffodil; Iris Reticulata; Forsthia; Scilla; Pussy Willow. (mid-spring) Daffodil; Tulip; Muscari; Dogwood trees; Redbud trees; Mongolia tree; Trillium; Hyacinths; Primrose (late spring) Lily of the valley; Mangolia tree; Lilac; Spiraea; Peonies; Allium; Wood Anemone; Jack in the Pulpit. Summer Flowers Gloriosa Daisy; Coreopsis; Dahlia; Marigolds; Yarrow; Beardtongue; Pineapple Lily; Oxalis; Gloriosa Lily; Surprise Lily; Gaillardia; Peonies; Daffodils; Daylily; Zinnia; Plumeria; Bougainvillea; Lavender; Sunflower; Periwinkle; Shrub Roses; Aster; Hibiscus; Scarlet Sage; Shasta Daisy; Aster; Rose Fall flowers Crocus; Dahila; Nerine; Sternbergia; Cyclamen hederifolium; Gladiolus murielae; Begonia; Cyclamen coum; Snowdrop; Winter aconite; Heather; Heliposis; Iberis; Asters; Pansy; Sedum; Ornamental grasses. Winter Flowers Sweet Alyssum;Calendula; Honeywort; Sweet Pea; Winter-Flowering Perennials; Pansies and Violets; Pinks; Winter Jasmine; Winter Honeysuckle; Snowdrops; Hollies; Firethorn; Chokeberry. Some of the perennial flowers that are easygoing and long-lived are listed below. Plant them in fall or spring when temperature is cold as it helps them get a healthy start. These flowers are: Peruvian lily; Sweet pea; Snow Princess; Aster; Catmint; Coneflower; Coreopsis; Euphorbia; Forget me not (Mysotis Sylvatica); Gaillardia; Gaura; Geum chiloense; Gloriosa daisy; Heuchera; Lavender; Salvia leucantha.
  • 4 places where you can buy nativity sets
    Christmas is right around the corner and you can make it one of the most memorable Christmas celebrations of your life by decorating the Christmas spot in your home with a complete nativity set. You can either make a nativity set at home, or you can purchase it from any store. Either way, once you have the pretty looking set in place, your Christmas decorations will look perfectly festive and warm. If you are confused about the stores or websites where you can buy some of the most beautiful nativity sets, then you can refer to the list provided below. Amazon You can find some of the best and even the most expensive nativity sets on Amazon’s website. Some of the top brands for nativity sets include Christian Brands, FA Durmont, Willow Tree, Precious Moments, Fisher-Price, and many more. You can purchase a nativity set for approximately between $20 and $120. The website also holds different types of nativity sets that include a hanging nativity set, single piece cardboard set, wooden sets, and ceramic sets. Macy’s If you are looking for nativity scenes, then Macy’s is one of your best bets. You will find some of the best nativity scenes at Macy’s that convey the spirit of Christmas. Most nativity scenes feature three members of the holy family, shepherds, wise men, and barn animals. You can also find some meticulously hand-painted nativity scenes on Macy’s website as well as their brick and mortar stores. Also, if you are looking for some Christmas decorations with nativity scenes, you can find them at Macy’s. Altiplano On this website, you can find hand-painted nativity sets made of wood. The wooden nativity sets have an artful touch and can enhance the festive ambiance wonderfully. They are also eco-friendly and hand carved and are approximately 4 inches tall. The cost of each set starts at approximately $58 and goes up to around $96. You can contact the website to learn more about the nativity sets and their quality. Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland Nativity sets are not only available on Bronner’s brick and mortar stores, but also on their official website. This store is an ideal store for your Christmas shopping and should be on your list of places to visit if you are looking to buy Christmas nativity sets. There are three different types of nativity sets that include Fontanini collection, lighted nativities, and home nativities. You can view their website to learn more about the different types of nativity sets.