What’s Causing Your Itchy Skin (Pruritus)?

Causes of itchy skin

Itchiness can be generalized (all over the body) or localized to one small region or spot.

The possible causes are numerous and varied.

Skin conditions

Many common skin conditions can cause itchy skin. The following can affect any area of skin on the body:

• Dermatitis: Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin. Contact dermatitis happens when you come into contact with an allergen or irritant, such as nickel, solvents, and soaps.
• Eczema: Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin disorder that includes itchy, scaly rashes.
• Psoriasis: Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes skin discoloration and irritation, usually in the form of plaques.
• Dermatographia: With dermatographia, pressure on the skin leads to elevated levels of histamine that cause a raised, itchy rash.
• Hives: Hives are itchy, raised, discolored welts on the skin that are usually caused by an allergic reaction.
• Allergies: Skin can become itchy due to an allergic reaction to something you ate or touched.

A few causes of itchy skin that are less common include:

• bullous pemphigoid
• dermatitis herpetiformis
• lichen planus
• scleroderma

Infections and other causes that can lead to itching include:

• chickenpox
• shingles
• ringworm
• measles
• fungal rashes
• mites, including bed bugs
• lice
• pinworms
• scabies
• parasites such as filariasis and trichinosis
• HIV

Nervous system conditions

Some conditions affecting the nervous system can cause itchiness. These include:

• diabetes
• multiple sclerosis
• peripheral neuropathy
• brachioradial pruritus
• notalgia paresthetica
• meralgia
• inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
• trigeminal trophic syndrome

Other conditions

Other conditions that can cause itchy skin include:

• bile duct obstruction
• liver failure
• cholestasis
• delusional parasitosis
• peripheral neuropathy
• cirrhosis
• anemia
• leukemia
• thyroid disease
• lymphoma
• kidney failure

Medications

Examples of medications that can cause itchy skin include:

• antifungals
• antibiotics
• aspirin

Pregnancy

Some pregnant people experience itching, typically on the abdomen. Sometimes this is due to a preexisting condition, such as eczema, that is made worse by the pregnancy.

Some causes of itching in pregnancy includeTrusted Source:

• pruritic urticarial papules
• prurigo of pregnancy
• pemphigoid gestationis
• intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

29 conditions and pictures

There are many reasons your skin could itch. Here is a list of possible causes with some photos.

1. Dry skin

• Some symptoms of dry skin include scaling, itching, and cracking.
• Dry skin can be caused by outdoor temperature, certain medications, smoking, vitamin deficiencies, and more.
• Treatments can include moisturizers and avoiding known triggers.

2. Food allergy

This condition can be a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

• Food allergies can occur when your immune system reacts inappropriately to common substances found in foods or drinks.
• The symptoms range from mild to severe, and can include sneezing, itchy eyes, swelling, rash, hives, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.
• Depending on your immune system’s response, symptoms may occur minutes to hours after consuming a food that causes an allergic reaction.
• Common allergy trigger foods include cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, and soy.

3. Candida

• Candida rash usually occurs in skin folds, such as the armpits, buttocks, under breasts, and between fingers and toes.
• It may begin with an itching, stinging, and burning discolored rash with a wet appearance and dry crusting at the edges.
• It often progresses to cracked and sore skin with blisters and pustules that may become infected with bacteria.

4. Biliary (bile duct) obstruction

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

• Biliary (bile duct) obstruction is most commonlyTrusted Source caused by gallstones, but it may also be caused by injury to the liver or gallbladder, inflammation, tumors, infections, cysts, or liver damage.
• Symptoms may include yellowing of the skin or eyes, extremely itchy skin without rash, light-colored stools, and very dark urine.
• It may cause pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and fever.
• An obstruction can cause a serious infection that requires urgent medical attention.

5. Cirrhosis

• Symptoms of cirrhosis can include diarrhea, decreased appetite and weight loss, and a swelling stomach.
• A person with cirrhosis may experience easy bruising and bleeding.
• Small, spider-shaped blood vessels may be visible underneath the skin.
• Other symptoms may include yellowing of the skin or eyes and itchy skin.

6. Ragweed allergy

• Ragweed allergy can cause itchy ears, eyes, mouth, and nose.
• Other symptoms can include a scratchy or sore throat.
• Sinus pressure, congestion, and sneezing are also common.

7. Diaper rash

• Diaper rash is located on areas that have contact with a diaper.
• The skin often looks wet and irritated.
• The skin is often warm to the touch.
• Regularly changing diapers and using diaper creams can help.

8. Allergic reaction

This condition is a medical emergency. Urgent care may be necessary.

• Allergic reactions occur when your immune system reacts to allergens.
• Itchy, raised welts can appear after skin contact with an allergen.
• Severe and sudden allergic reactions may cause swelling and difficulty breathing that require emergency attention.

9. Athlete’s foot

• Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection affecting the feet.
• Symptoms of athlete’s foot can include itching, stinging, and burning between the toes or on the soles of feet.
• There may be blisters on the feet that itch.
• A person may have discolored, thick, and crumbly toenails. There may also be raw skin on the feet.

10. Irritant contact dermatitis

• Irritant contact dermatitis can appear hours to days after contact with an irritant.
• The rash develops in the area where the skin comes into contact with the irritating substance.
• The skin can be itchy and dry, and it may burn or sting.

11. Flea bites

• Flea bites are usuallyTrusted Source located in clusters on the lower legs and feet.
• The bites can be itchy, and look like a bump surrounded by a red or discolored halo.
• The symptoms can begin immediately after being bitten.

12. Hives

• Hives are itchy, raised welts that occur after exposure to an allergen.
• They can be warm and mildly painful to the touch.
• They may be small, round, and ring shaped, or large and randomly shaped.

13. Allergic contact dermatitis

• Allergic contact dermatitis happens when an allergen comes into contact with the skin.
• The skin is often itchy, discolored, scaly, or raw.
• A person may experience blisters that weep, ooze, or become crusty.

14. Rashes

This condition may be a medical emergency. Urgent care may be necessary.

• A rash is defined as a noticeable change in the color or texture of the skin.
• Rashes may be caused by many things, including insect bites, allergic reactions, medication side effects, fungal skin infection, bacterial skin infection, infectious disease, and autoimmune disease.
• You may be able to treat rash symptoms at home. But severe rashes, especially those seen in combination with other symptoms such as fever, pain, dizziness, vomiting, or difficulty breathing, may require urgent medical treatment.

15. Body lice

• Different from head or pubic lice, body lice and their tiny eggs can sometimes be seen on the body or clothing.
• This rash is caused by an allergic reaction to body lice bites.
• Symptoms may include itchy bumps on the skin.
• Thickened or darkened areas of skin can occur in irritated areas.

16. Impetigo

• Impetigo is common in babies and children.
• The rash is often located in the area around the mouth, chin, and nose.
• A person may experience an irritating rash and fluid-filled blisters that pop easily and form a honey-colored crust.

17. Head lice

• A louse is about the size of a sesame seedTrusted Source. Both lice and their eggs (nits) may be visible in the hair.
• A person may experience extreme scalp itchiness caused by allergic reaction to louse bites.
• A person may develop sores on their scalp from scratching.
• It may feel like something is crawling on your scalp.

18. Bites and stings

This condition is a medical emergency. Urgent care may be necessary.

• People may experience redness or swelling at the site of a bite or sting.
• There may be itching, soreness, and heat at the site of the bite.
• There may be pain in the affected area or in the muscles.

19. Jock itch

• With jock itch, there is usuallyTrusted Source redness or discoloration, persistent itching, and burning in the groin area.
• Other symptoms include flaking, peeling, or cracking skin in the groin area.
• The rash in the groin area may worsen with activity.

20. Ringworm

• Ringworm looks like circular scaly rashes with raised borders.
• The skin in the middle of the ring appears clear and healthy, and the edges of the ring may spread outward.
• Ringworm is typically itchy.

21. Eczema

• Eczema will oftenTrusted Source appear yellow or white with scaly patches that flake off.
• The affected areas may be discolored, itchy, greasy, or oily.
• Hair loss may occur in the area with the rash.

22. Latex allergy

This condition may be considered a medical emergency in the event of a serious reaction. Urgent care may be necessary.

• A rash may occur within minutesTrusted Source after exposure to a latex product.
• Symptoms of a latex allergy can include warm, itchy wheals at the site of contact that may take on a dry, crusted appearance with repeated exposure to latex.
• Airborne latex particles may cause cough, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes.
• A severe allergy to latex can cause swelling and difficulty breathing.

23. Scabies

• Symptoms of scabies may include an extremely itchy rash that may be pimply, made up of tiny blisters, or scaly.
• There are typically raised, white, or flesh-toned lines around the rash.
• Creams can typicallyTrusted Source clear up the scabies.

24. Measles

• Symptoms of measles include fever, sore throat, red watery eyes, loss of appetite, cough, and runny nose.
• Discolored rash spreads from the face down the body within daysTrusted Source after first symptoms appear.
• Tiny spots with blue-white centers appear inside the mouth.

25. Psoriasis

• A psoriasis rash is oftenTrusted Source a scaly, silvery, and sharply defined patch of skin.
• It’s commonly located on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back.
• Psoriasis may be itchy or asymptomatic.

26. Dermatographia

• Dermatographia is a rash that appears soon after rubbing or lightly scratching the skin.
• Rubbed or scratched areas of skin turn red or discolored, become raised, develop wheals, and may be slightly itchy.
• The rash usually disappears within up to 30 minutesTrusted Source.

27. Chickenpox

• Chickenpox looks like clusters of itchy, discolored, fluid-filled blisters in various stages of healing all over the body.
• The rash is oftenTrusted Source accompanied by fever, body aches, sore throat, and loss of appetite.
• It remains contagious until all blisters have crusted over.

28. Pinworms

• Symptoms of pinworms, or threadworms, include intense itching and irritation in the anal area, restless sleep, and discomfort due to anal itching.
• Doctors may diagnoseTrusted Source pinworms using the “tape test” to collect eggs for your doctor to examine under a microscope.
• Pinworms spread easily.

29. Poison oak, poison sumac, and poison ivy

• Poison oak, poison sumac, and poison ivy rashes are caused by skin contact with urushiol, which is an oil found on the leaves, roots, and stems of these plants.
• The rash appears within hoursTrusted Source after contact with the plant. Hyperpigmentation may last for a couple of months.
• There may be intense itching, discoloration or redness, and swelling as well as fluid-filled blisters.

Frequently asked questions

What are the treatments for itchy skin?

Treatments for itchy skin will depend on the underlying cause. Your doctor may recommend topical or oral medications. Avoiding any known triggers will also help.

Your doctor can provide an accurate diagnosis and advise on a suitable treatment plan. Contact your doctor if you don’t know what’s causing your itching, your symptoms are severe, or you experience other symptoms along with the itching.

Learn about the best remedies for itching.

How do I stop uncontrollable itching all over my body?

Many things can cause uncontrollable itching, and the medical treatment depends on the cause. That said, often staying away from the trigger can help it go away, as well as keeping your skin moisturized. Some types of itch will need medication.

The bottom line

There are many possible causes of itchy skin. Examples of skin conditions include dermatitis, psoriasis, and hives.

Other conditions that can cause itchy skin include kidney and liver problems, infections, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.

It’s best to check with your doctor to confirm a diagnosis. You doctor can help you create a suitable treatment plan, which may include a combination of home remedies and medical treatments.

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