Itching (pruritus) Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

What is Itching :

Pruritus is a sensation that incites skin scraping. It can be very annoying and prevent daily activities. It is very important to study an itch to rule that is not caused by a skin disease or a disease of other organs.

Itching Causes

Itching can be caused by disease of the skin, or internal diseases. In many cases you can not find a disease to explain. Some patients may experience itching of psychosomatic origin, which is known as psychogenic pruritus.

Before a recent appearance itch, the doctor must first rule out diseases of the skin. In general, these diseases cause marks on the skin leads to the diagnosis. However, there are situations in which the visible signs on the skin are very subtle or even absent. 

For example:

1. Dry skin can be a frequent cause of pruritus, especially in the elderly. Abuse of soaps and detergents on the skin can be a cause.

2. Patients with severe kidney or liver may have no apparent signs itching on your skin, but can be seen changes color or texture of it.

3. Diabetic patients may have generalized itching without obvious changes are observed in the skin.

4. Some serious diseases, such as lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes) may also present initially with itching.

Itching Diagnosis

Before an unexplained itching, the doctor will ask probably a complete blood and / or urine, and a chest radiograph. In other cases, other tests may be needed, such as stool tests, biopsies and / or tests to rule out diseases of other organs.

Itching Treatment

Treatment should be to the disease causing itching. It may also be helpful to use of drugs in creams, pills baths or alleviate it, such as corticosteroids or antihistamines. In some cases it may also be used ultraviolet (UVB).