My skin is so itchy: should I be concerned? Let’s cut to the chase and tell you that most of the time itchy skin is due to age, dry skin and cold weather. Depending on where you are itchy and how long it persists, it can suggest a more serious cause or underlying medical condition.
Typical Causes Of Itchy Skin
The typical causes of itchy skin are not usually something to be concerned about.
Dry Skin In Winter
If you live in a cold climate, most of us suffer from forced air heating in our homes which dries out our skin. The itching quickly follows. Keeping our skin moisturized is the best way to survive a long winter both inside and outside the home.
Follow these guidelines to reduce the effects:
- Take only warm baths as opposed to hot ones. The same goes for showering. It might feel invigorating, but it will only dry out your skin.
- Use a fragrance-free moisturizer after showering or bathing. It is best applied before you are completely dry. In addition, pat your skin with the towel instead of rubbing.
- Purchase humidifiers for your home to help keep the air moist.
- Use fragrance-free and mild laundry detergents to wash your clothes.
Getting Older
As we age, our skin becomes thinner and our hormone levels change, causing dry itchy skin. There isn’t much we can do about this other than to follow the above tips.
Side Effects of Certain Medications
There are a number of prescription medications that can lead to itching. They include statins, cholesterol lowering drugs, blood pressure meds, blood thinners, diabetes meds, antibiotics, and antimalarials. Speak with your doctor if you are having this reaction.
Skin Conditions
These include eczema, psoriasis, parasites, burns, scars, insect bites, and hives. Talk with Goodless Dermatology if you believe you may be suffering from a skin condition.
Less Typical Causes Of Itchy Skin
There are other instances of itchy skin about which you should be concerned.
They can cause itching without a rash. The itch can also be all over the body instead of one location. These are also signs that the itch is caused by an underlying and possibly serious medical condition.
Some of these can include:
- Nerve disorders like MS, pinched nerves, Shingles
- Internal disorders and diseases like kidney failure, liver disease, anemia, diabetes, thyroid problems, lymphoma, cancer, and iron or vitamin D deficiency.
- Psychiatric problems like anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and depression.
When To See Goodless Dermatology in Orlando or Celebration, FL
Be concerned if you experience itching accompanied by fever, weight loss, and night sweats,
Be concerned if you don’t get relief and it affects your sleep.
Be concerned if the itch lasts longer than 2 weeks.
Be concerned if it comes on suddenly and affects your whole body.
Contact Goodless Dermatology at (407) 566-1616, or request an appointment online, if your itchy skin is not being relieved by over-the-counter medications and is distracting you from normal activities.