Also called: Also called: Pruritus
Itching is skin tingling or irritation that makes you want to scratch the itchy area. It's a symptom of many health conditions. Common causes are
- Allergic reactions
- Eczema
- Dry skin
- Insect bites and stings
- Irritating chemicals
- Parasites such as pinworms, scabies and head lice
- Pregnancy
- Rashes
- Reactions to medicines
To soothe itchy skin, you can try cold compresses, lotions and lukewarm baths. Avoid scratching, wearing irritating fabrics and high heat and humidity. Most itching is not serious. However, if you itch all over, have hives that keep coming back or have itching without an apparent cause, you might require medical attention.
- Pruritus(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_pruritus.html
- Itching(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec18/ch203/ch203b.html
- Itchy Skin(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/itchy-skin/DS00847/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Itching (DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/itching-generalized/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Itching (Scalp)(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/itching-scalp/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Vaginal Itching(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/vaginal-itching/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Anal Itching(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/anal-itching/DS00453/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Dry Skin (Xerosis)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/xerosis.htm
- Grover's Disease(American Osteopathic College of Dermatology) - http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/grovers_disease.html
- Itchy Hands or Feet(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/diseaseGroups/itchyHandsFeet.htm
- Lichen Simplex Chronicus(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/lichenSimplexChronicus.htm
- Prurigo Nodularis(American Osteopathic College of Dermatology) - http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/prurigo_nodularis.html
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Pruritus (PDQ)
(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/pruritus/Patient/page2
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/cuidados-medicos-apoyo/prurito/Patient/page2 - Rashes: The Itchy Truth(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/aches/rashes.html
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Skin Problems: Dry, Itchy Skin(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/skin/treatment/814.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/skin/treatment/814.printerview.html
- Swimmer's Itch(American Osteopathic College of Dermatology) - http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/swimmers_itch.html
- Notalgia Paresthetica(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/notalgiaParaesthetica.htm
- Atlas of the Body: The Skin(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZQYMPCGJC&sub_cat=98
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Pruritus(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Pruritus%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Of pigs and pregnancy. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18926280&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Potent inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis as a novel mechanism for... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18788271&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Histamine-induced itch and its relationship with pain. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18667087&tool=MedlinePlus
- Itching -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(pruritus[majr]+OR+antipruritics[majr]+NOT+tinea+pedis[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/findaderm/
- American Academy of Dermatology - http://www.aad.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
- Itchy Bumps in Children(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/diseaseGroups/itchyBumpsChild.htm
- Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infections.html
- Skin, Hair and Nails - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skinhairandnails.html
- Symptoms - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/symptoms.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Itching is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/