People's physical health is a matter of great concern to everyone, but sometimes people may find themselves itching. What should be done in this situation? What exactly is the cause of itching on the body? Today, we will share with you what to do about body itching and how to treat it.
There are many causes for body itching. First, people should understand why they are itchy and find the cause before seeking the right treatment.
The cause of pruritus is not yet clear, but it is often thought to be related to certain diseases, such as diabetes, liver disease, and kidney disease; it is also related to stimulation by some external factors, such as cold, heat, and chemical fiber fabrics.
The following diseases can also often cause skin itching.
1. High concentration of bile acid
When the concentration of bile acid in the blood increases, it can deposit in the skin, causing severe itching. Therefore, when the skin is itchy and yellowish, one should go to the hospital to check the liver and gallbladder to see if gallstones are present.
If a person's blood calcium and phosphorus concentrations are too high, it can cause skin itching.
If the skin is particularly dry at this time, and is accompanied by frequent urination, urgency, lower back pain, or even urine like water, or oliguria, then kidney disease should be considered. Patients with chronic nephritis who enter the uremia stage often experience systemic skin itching due to increased uremic toxins and protein derivatives in the blood.
2. Endocrine disorders
For example, patients with hyperthyroidism, due to accelerated skin blood circulation and increased skin temperature, experience skin itching, which is more severe after sleeping; diabetic patients, due to high blood sugar, have a reduced ability to defend against bacteria and fungi, making them susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, which can also lead to skin itching.
3. Central nervous system diseases
Patients with neurasthenia or cerebral arteriosclerosis often experience paroxysmal itching; when a brain tumor patient's lesion invades the bottom of the ventricle, it often causes severe and persistent itching, and this itching is limited to the nostrils.
Certain patients with other diseases may also experience symptoms of body itching.
Therefore, when skin itching is accompanied by other symptoms, it must not be taken lightly. Don't just treat the symptom without addressing the root cause. It is best to go to the hospital to find the cause and get the right treatment.
Examination and Diagnosis
1. Skin itching is often a primary symptom of skin diseases, and can sometimes be accompanied by rashes, scratches, blood scabs, lichenification, and pigmentation.
2. Diagnosis is based on medical history, condition, etc., considering the following aspects.
(1) If skin itching is the prominent symptom and there are no other significant systemic discomforts, it is mostly a dermatological disease.
(2) Rashes caused by allergies, invasions, or poisoning from food, drugs, insect toxins, or other substances, such as paint sores, drug toxicity, flower powder sores, fish and crab poisoning, wild stool wind, water toxicity, sand mite disease, or bites from vicious insects, can usually be diagnosed through a medical history inquiry and are often accompanied by symptoms such as itching, wheals, and edema.
(3) In elderly, weak individuals with deficiency of qi and blood, skin itching is mostly due to blood deficiency and wind-dryness.
(4) Skin itching triggered by emotional fluctuations is mostly due to liver depression and blood deficiency.
3. Specialized skin examinations and immunological and biochemical tests, such as allergy tests and sensitization tests, can help clarify the diagnosis. Blood and urine tests are essential examinations.
What symptoms can skin itching be confused with?
Keloids
Keloids, also called crab claws or scars, are a type of fibroma, which is the product of hyperplasia of fibrous connective tissue.
Pruritus is more common in adults over 40 years old, especially on the lower limbs and buttocks. These people have weakened sebaceous gland function and dry skin. In winter, longer baths and more soap use make the skin even drier. As the temperature drops, the itching begins.
Treatment and Care
Mainly includes diet therapy and drug therapy. Actively treat the primary disease, such as hepatobiliary diseases, habitual constipation, diabetes, etc. At the same time, exercise should be increased to improve the body's disease resistance.
1. First, the cause should be removed. If it is caused by wind-cold or summer-heat, adjust the temperature to avoid heat and cold stimulation; if it is induced by food, avoid greasy, alcoholic, fishy, and seafood foods.
2. Itchy areas should be protected from excessive scratching, rubbing, or washing with hot water to relieve itching. Do not use strong alkaline soap for bathing. Underwear should be soft, loose, and wide, preferably made of cotton. Avoid wearing down, nylon, or woolen clothes directly against the skin.
3. Patients with genital itching should keep the area clean and hygienic, and avoid scratching unclean areas. Do not滥用 strong irritant topical medications. At the same time, actively treat the primary disease to prevent problems before they arise. Maintain a pleasant mood, avoid worry and anger, and strive for a happy spirit.
4. For treating skin itching, Western antihistamines (e.g., Terfenadine, Loratadine), calcium supplements (e.g., regular calcium tablets, or injections if necessary), and hormones (e.g., containing dexamethasone) are commonly used. Because these drugs have many contraindications and often cause drowsiness, fatigue, and other side effects that affect the patient's normal life and work, it is difficult for chronic patients to adhere to the treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine offers targeted treatment for various types of skin itching: Cang Shi Bai Ling Cream has significant effects and is less likely to relapse!
5. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that pathogenic factors such as wind, dampness, heat, blood deficiency, and insect infestation are the main causes. Treatment should be based on the principles of dispelling wind and removing dampness, clearing heat and detoxifying, nourishing blood and moistening dryness, and activating blood to resolve stasis, in order to achieve the effect of expelling pathogens, supporting the healthy qi, and stopping itching. Skin itching is difficult to treat and not easily cured. Currently, the best method is Tibetan medicine Arnebia Root Lotion. Apply 3-4 times a day for a thorough cure.
Prevention and Health Care
1. Maintain a regular life, get up early and go to bed early, and exercise appropriately. Add or remove clothing in time to avoid cold and heat stimulation.
2. Patients with generalized pruritus should reduce the frequency of bathing, avoid excessive scrubbing of the skin during bathing, and do not use alkaline soap.
3. Underwear should preferably be made of cotton, should be loose and comfortable, and avoid friction.
4. Relax mentally, avoid anger and worry, and build confidence. Actively find the cause and remove triggering factors.
5. Quit smoking, alcohol, strong tea, coffee, and all spicy and irritating foods. Moderately supplement fat in the diet.
In conclusion: The above is the relevant content about body itching introduced by the editor for everyone. From the content introduced in this article, I believe everyone has their own understanding of what causes body itching, and also knows what to do about body itching and how to treat it. Of course, the primary condition is that you know why your body is itchy.