Itchy skin: Causes, symptoms, and treatment

You might experience itchiness on certain parts of your skin: on your arms or legs or all over your body. Unfortunately, it is difficult to zero down to specific causes of itchy skin.

It might occur without any external changes on the skin. But sometimes, the cause can be serious such as rashes or illness. Itchiness may be accompanied with redness of the skin, dry skin, scaly skin texture, spots, or blisters.

Itchiness may occur due to skin allergies or something as simple as your clothes. Scratching the area tends to make it itchier. It can also damage the skin or result in an infection.

You should maintain proper hygiene and wear comfortable fabrics to prevent itchiness.

What causes itchiness?
There are many possible causes of itchy skin. Some of them are:

Dry skin
If you have an itch, it is most likely due to dry skin. This condition gets worse in the winter and in dry weather. If you don’t experience any rash, blisters, or external changes on the skin, dryness is the most probable cause. Ageing, environmental factors, air conditioning, or excessive contact with water might make your skin dry.

Skin conditions, allergies, and drugs
Eczema, scabies, psoriasis, scabies, and other skin conditions cause itchiness. These conditions are often accompanied by rashes, irritation, blisters, or bumps.

You might experience itchiness due to allergic reactions with wool, soaps, or chemicals. Choose your soaps and detergents wisely. Food allergy and some cosmetics might also trigger an itch.

Itchiness in some cases could be a reaction to certain antibiotics, antifungal, or other drugs as well. Medications for narcotic pain might cause allergies with rashes and itchiness.

Diseases and nerve disorders
Underlying internal diseases such as liver disease, iron deficiency, anemia, cancer, and thyroid issues might cause itchy skin. In such cases, the whole body might be itchy. The skin might externally experience no change except on the repeatedly scratched parts.

Conditions like multiple sclerosis, pinched nerves, and diabetes mellitus which affect the nervous system too can cause itchy skin.

How to treat itchy skin?
You must consult your doctor for determining the cause of itchy skin. After a diagnosis, the following treatments can be helpful in treating you:

Prescribed medication
Once the cause is identified, you might be prescribed medications. Prescribed corticosteroid creams treat itchiness and redness. If the symptoms are minor, calcineurin inhibitors like tacrolimus and pimecrolimus may be prescribed.

Treating the internal disease
Itchy skin may be caused by underlying diseases like liver conditions, kidney disease, anemia, or thyroid problems. It is important to identify the internal causes if any and treat such a condition.

Light therapy or phototherapy
Light therapy is usually implemented if the itchiness is uncontrollable. The affected areas of the skin are exposed to specific wavelengths of UV light. Phototherapy might require multiple sessions in order to effectively cure itchy skin.

Moisturize Your Skin
You should moisturize your skin to prevent dryness and resulting itchiness. Drink lots of fluids and stay well-hydrated. Use gentle soaps and maintain good hygiene.

Itchiness can affect your life significantly for the worse. Prolonged scratching may damage your skin and cause the condition to worsen. If you experience itchy skin, consult your doctor without delay.

    RECENT ARTICLE

  • Four best mattresses for side sleepers
  • A buyer’s guide to tankless water heaters
  • Factors to Consider while Choosing the Best Shampoo for Hair Loss
  • Luxurious and smart look is now possible in any type of bathrooms

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

  • Welcome a fragrant lifestyle with Chanel perfumes
    The smell surrounding a woman is as important as the jewels she wears or her outfit. For this reason, perfumes have always held a special place in every woman's heart. And Chanel naturally tops the list! However, perfumes are expensive and hence when there is Chanel perfume on sale, you must make the best of the opportunity. Perfumes are an extension of the wearer's personality and hence you should be very careful when buying a perfume. Fragrances are important for both men and women. However, just because a perfume says it is a man's fragrance does not mean it can't be worn by women. While men's fragrances are typically sporty in nature, woman's fragrances are usually floral and fruity. Here are a few tips to help you buy the perfect perfume. Understand the different types of fragrances A fragrance is a generic term that can be categorized into perfumes, colognes, body sprays and deodorants. Of these, perfumes last the longest and need to be applied in limited amounts. Owing to the long life of the scent and its concentration, perfumes are also the most expensive of the lot. But when you see Chanel perfumes on sale across websites then you are in luck! Don't try and understand a fragrance from the description alone Every perfume is crafted from a number of different ingredients. Though these are all typically listed on the perfume bottle, the percentages used are not. Hence you may read a list of ingredients that contains a particular fragrance that you do not like and write off the perfume without realizing that the ingredient you do not like is present in a very minute amount and is not clearly identifiable. Hence, it is important to try on a perfume before committing to it. Perfumes smell different on different people Each person has a unique body odor that influences the smell of perfume being sprayed on it. For example, perfume on when you visit a store with perfume on sale, what suits you may not suit your friend. Your normal beauty regimen also makes a difference to how a perfume smells. This is because almost all body-washes and creams have their own fragrances that influence the perfume fragrance. The metals used in different jewellery can also affect a fragrance. For this reason, try testing a perfume on your forearms instead of your wrist. Give the perfume time to develop Smelling a fragrance immediately after it has been sprayed may not give it time to develop completely. Instead, give the perfume time to develop. If you are testing it on blotting paper, allow the paper to dry completely before smelling it. Take a break between perfumes Your olfactory senses can be quickly overwhelmed when you smell one perfume after another. To keep from confusing your nose with different scents, smell a box of coffee beans etc that can offset the strong notes of the first perfume before you smell another.
  • Best cat foods as per customer reviews
    To lead a healthy life, cats need nutritious food just as we humans do. The good news is that you can buy cat foods easily for your pet cat, as there are plenty of pet foods available in the market. On the other hand, too many choices make cat food selection challenging. Deciding as to which cat food is good and which is not is downright overwhelming. One of the ways that you can rely on for getting rid of any such confusion is to consider customer reviews. Based on the experiences of other buyers, you can end up making informed buying decisions. For making cat food choice easy a hassle-free task, we have shortlisted the following foods that have topped many lists of cat food reviews. Natural Balance Original Ultra Formula Natural Balance Original Ultra Formula, a premium wet food for cats, is cost-effective and made with high-grade ingredients. It provides cats the nourishment they require for their overall well-being. In contrast to many other cat foods available in the market, this one does not contain artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. This indicates that you can rely on this safe and healthy food for your lovely cat. Orijen Cat and Kitten Formula If you are seeking a cat food that can fulfill developmental and health needs of your cat, you can get the Orijen cat and kitten formula. It contains 40% richly nourishing protein and a limited quantity of low-glycemic carbohydrates. Meat used for this cat food is fresh (refrigerated, no preservatives), or raw (flash-frozen, no preservatives). The other ingredients, ranging from eggs to whole fish, present in this highly nutritious cat food provide cats and kittens every nutrient needed. Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Formula Another amazing cat food that you can lay hands on for keeping your cats happy and healthy is the Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Formula. Cats require highly digestible energy for being active, and this grain-free formula containing peas and sweet potatoes provides the same. Besides energy, this feline formula made with real roasted venison and smoked salmon offers cats a good taste of the wild. Additionally, this cat food rich in vegetables and fruits provides antioxidants to support the immune system and overall health of the cats. Lotus Canned Cat Food If you wish to serve your cat a wholesome recipe, you can get home the Lotus can cat foods. Made of natural ingredients, they aren’t just healthy but tasty as well. The protein-rich chicken, fruits, veggies, and Omega - 3 and 6 loaded oil in this cat food makes it uncommonly wholesome. As this cat food contains natural flavors and aromas, you cat would surely love it. Blue Buffalo Blue Freedom Grain-Free If you are a pet parent looking for feeding your cat with a grain-free diet, Blue Freedom is certainly one of the best cat foods that you can buy. Not just grains but this cat food also eliminates gluten. Therefore, you can be sure that this cat food wouldn’t trigger any allergic reactions in your cat. Made with the finest and natural ingredients, such as whole carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, deboned chicken, cranberries, and blueberries, it is capable of fulfilling nutrition requirements of indoor cats. Soulistic Can Cat Food Formula As the company rolls out a wide range of excellent cat food formulas for all cat breeds and ages, you can grab the one that best suits your cat’s nutritional requirements. Every cat food from this brand have a natural flavor and are rich in protein. Soulistic can cat food formula is widely appreciated and preferred by many pet owners.
  • 4 tips for a successful job interview
    One has to standout during a job interview in order to get the job. With a huge number of candidates for a particular job, it becomes important that your answers seem relevant, direct, honest and credible. Here are a few tips that will help you to prepare with best answers and have a successful job interview. Attend mock interviews One of the best ways to do well in a job interview is to attend mock interviews. There are a number of institutions that conduct these mock interviews to help understand the process of a job interview before you actually go for one. Here you get to face a panel of interviewers who would ask you some relevant questions depending on your resumes, about your educational qualifications, prior work experiences, any extra-curricular activities. You can enroll in these lessons or courses that help you prepare for best answers in job interview. If you are a fresher and looking to interview for the very first time, then these courses help with some basic job interview etiquette and how to deal with tough questions. Research online With the help of the interview, you can check out some of the best answers of job interviews that people have posted online. There are a number of websites wherein people from every profession steps in to contribute and help others with job interview questions. Read the questions and answers carefully and then prepare your own answer with focus, relevant facts and ideas. Use the smartphone for interview apps There are a number of smartphone applications that are specially designed to help you with job interview questions and answers. Here you can go through various questions and prepare accordingly. Some of these applications also have the option of customizing your search as per your industry or stream. Whether you are a web developer or a content writer, interview questions seem tricky to everyone and therefore, these apps can be helpful in many ways. Take help from friends and family Another way of preparing for the job interview is to consult your family or friends and let them ask you a few questions. This is a great way of preparing for a job interview beforehand and without investing any money. So, next time when you are heading for a job interview, keep these 4 tips handy to give best answers, standout from the rest of the candidates, and have a successful interview.
  • Here’s What You Need To Know About Smart Clothing
    Smart clothing is a type of wearable technology that is still being explored by various markets. Its fabric is implanted with interactive technology which is primarily used for tracking fitness goals. And even though it’s not mainstream as yet, it undoubtedly has a lot of potential to be the next decade’s most sought-after product. Therefore, thrilled with the possibilities of smart clothing, several manufacturers today have come up with their original products. If you are wondering how this such kind of wearable technology can be beneficial for you, then read further.
    • Ease – For some people, wearing a fitness tracker around the wrists or the arm can be extremely uncomfortable. This is because it can retain a lot of sweat around the area and cause skin irritation. On the other hand, smart clothing comes in various apparel forms which are highly inconspicuous and light. The best part about these is that brands have scaled several heights to make them incredibly comfy. So, you won’t even notice the difference between regular and smart clothing.
    • Accurate numbers – Typically, statistics projected on most wearable technology products are correct. However, at times devices can process faulty information which always fuels the debate about how reliable they can be for fitness monitoring purposes. Smart clothing has an added advantage, i.e., the sensors within are much closer to the body so that they can offer precise data about exercise regimes and pulse rates.
    • Additional data – Apart from the standard heart rate and motion tracking, currently some smart clothing brands are trying to take a comprehensive approach by monitoring the respiration rate as well. This can be extremely valuable as it gives you an insight into how you should manage your workout schedules as well as time-outs. For instance, if you do yoga exercises daily, smart clothing can be used to observe your breathing patterns, so that you can get better at executing complex postures.
    • Healthcare applications – Not just for tracking your workout regimes, such wearable technology is also making its way in the healthcare sector. It can be used for keeping an eye on the infant’s breathing patterns and heart rates. Similarly, a few companies have come up with apparels that could help detect cardiovascular diseases.
    • Convenience – Most smart clothing variants have to be washed by hand after detaching the monitoring devices from it. However, you can find products that have washable sensors, but at this point, this feature is only offered by a handful of brands. However, there is a good chance that brands in future will manufacture waterproof apparels to accommodate such consumer preferences.
    • Connectivity – Like fitness wristbands, even smart clothing effortlessly connects to your smartphone. Not just for stats, some products can also utilize a social media space for active sharing. Some brands have also incorporated the feature of GPS tracking.
    These products also termed as e-textiles, and are available in the form of shoes, bras, running shorts, suits, dresses, socks, trousers, jackets, etc. Besides fitness, smart clothing is increasingly becoming a subject of intrigue for ultra-modern fashion. So, in the coming years, they might be regular apparel to be seen on the store racks. Hexoskin, Samsung NFC suit, Owlet Smart Sock 2, Nadi X yoga pants, SUPA Powered Sports Bra, Lumo Run, Levi’s x Google Jacquard Jacket, MyZone Sports Bra, Athos, Sensoria running socks 2.0, Neopenda smart baby hat, etc. are some of the popular products that you can consider buying. All of the wearable technology products mentioned vary according to the purpose and budget. Apart from smart clothing, you can also explore different forms of wearable technology such as smart jewelry, intelligent wristbands and headbands, and smart watches, etc.
  • Things you need to know about video games
    Video games are not the sole preserve of children. Everybody loves to spend some time in front of the console, playing their favorite genre of video game. Video games are classified into genres in accordance with the characteristics of gameplay of the individual game. Every genre has its dedicated fanbase too. Video game genres The genre is defined by the type of challenge the gamer has to face in a video game. There are seven genres of video games. There are action games, action games with a mix of adventure, adventure-only games, and strategy games. Then there are games where the gamer plays a particular role such as Action RPG, MMORPG, and others. There are some simulation-type games like construction and management simulation games. The other is the sports genre of games. Games beyond the common genres There are still some video games which cannot be classified into any of the above genres. You can get party games, logic games, trivia games, card games, board games in gaming CDs and enjoy them on your computer. Criteria for selecting video games Genre When you are going to shop video games, the first criterion is obviously the genre of your choice. The racing and strategy games are mostly the first choice for boys. Girls may go for party games or others. Price After you have decided on the genre, you need to search for best prices on video games. You can search for it, both online and offline. What matters is that you need to get the best-priced video games. Hardware to play on
    • Console An essential criterion in selecting a video game is the hardware to play the game in. If you own a gaming console, then you have a plethora of choices. There are top console games like Grand Theft Auto, NBA 2K17, etc. These are blockbuster games -- designed exclusively for consoles. So when you go to buy video games, don't consider the blockbuster ones, if you don't have a console.
    • Computer To play high-quality and exhilarating video games with exciting graphics on a computer, you need high-end configuration of your computer. You can get some good games with high-end graphics. However, these games are never as good as those designed exclusively for consoles.
    • TV You may buy video games for playing them on your TV. You can turn your TV into a console and play a variety of games. You can also play body-motion TV video games like boxing games.
    So if you don't have a console, you have two choices TV and computer. There is a wide range of exciting games which can be played both on the computer and TV. With similar gaming experience, the price may become the most important criterion in selecting a particular video game. Enquire about the best prices on TV video games. Get a TV video game price list, go through it, and select one that falls under the category of best prices on video games.
  • Understanding the various types of arthritis
    Arthritis is a health condition that has several forms, which is why it can be quite confusing to comprehend it. The common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, and gout. The following article attempts to provide a brief understanding of each of these types.
    • Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is considered to be a central pain syndrome and is not an autoimmune disease. It does not cause tissue inflammation nor does it damage joints or muscles. In this condition, the brain and spinal cord perceive the pain signals differently. Burning sensation characterizes fibromyalgia. It 's hard to diagnose as there is no blood test and it cannot be viewed on imaging tests such as x-rays. The other symptoms associated with this condition are extreme fatigue, sleep problems, loss of concentration and depression.
    • Osteoarthritis Healthy joints have a layer of cartilage, and in osteoarthritis, this protective cartilage starts breaking-down or degenerating. Due to this, the bones forming the joints start rubbing against each other resulting in excruciating pain. Other parts of your joints such as bone, synovium, and ligaments can also cause pain. The level of the pain depends on the person and intensity of the osteoarthritis.
    • Rheumatoid arthritis In a healthy body, the immune system protects us from virus and bacteria. In rheumatoid arthritis, the joints and other organs come under attack from the body’s immune system. The immune system targets mainly joints called synovium, which is capable of inflicting a permanent form of bone damage. 
    • Psoriatic arthritis Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory condition. The immune system attacks the body resulting in severe inflammation and pain. The joint and the connective tissue where tendons or ligaments attach to bones are affected by psoriatic arthritis. Some foods can be used to alleviate pain and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. These are aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, capsaicin from hot peppers, Dead Sea salts, oats, Oregon grape, tea tree oil, and turmeric.
    • Gout Although this is a form of inflammatory arthritis, it does not cause inflammation throughout the body. If your body produces too much uric acid or if you are unable to eliminate the excess uric acid, crystals are formed in the joints. It has been observed that the large joint of the big toe is the affected area in most patients, but it can also affect other joints.