What to do if your skin itches. Infection with immunodeficiency virus. Diseases of internal organs and systems

Human skin is penetrated by billions of nerve endings, which are very sensitive to all sorts of irritants: vibration, touch, chemical or thermal effects. A crawling insect, an insect bite, the touch of a feather, a cobweb, or a hair can cause a desire to itch, burning, tingling at the site of irritation: you want to quickly remove this unpleasant sensation by scratching the itchy skin.

Generalized itching- intolerable discomfort V surface layers dermis - can cause some diseases internal organs, allergic reactions with dermatitis. Among the symptoms of dermatological diseases, skin itching dominates, but scratching syndrome of the anogenital zone, conjunctiva, trachea, pharynx, nose, and oral mucosa often occurs. There is a distinction between itching of the whole body without rash and with rash.

Body itching without rash

Itching all over the body without rashes can occur due to the following diseases:

Rash and itching on the body

If multiple changes occur on the mucous membrane and skin, differing in color, texture, appearance from normal skin, indicate a rash. The rash can affect the arms, legs, face, stomach, and chest. These may be primary symptoms - pustules, redness, spots, goosebumps, blisters, pimples, blisters. As the disease progresses, the rash is replaced secondary elements:

• Loss of natural skin color (discoloration, darkening).
• Erosions and ulcers are the result of opening an abscess with a violation of the integrity of the skin with the capture of subcutaneous fatty tissue.
• Peeling - scales of dead epidermis.
• Crusts are the dried surface of weeping erosion, ulcers, and opened blisters.
• Scratching – superficial or deep abrasions.
• Lichenification – thickening, strengthening of the skin pattern.

Make your own diagnosis based on visible signs and the information you read, it’s not worth it. For any suspicious manifestations, you should consult a doctor to identify the underlying cause. internal pathology, which caused the scratching. A rash and a strong desire to scratch on the body are accompanied by diseases such as:

Why does my whole body itch?

When the body itches different places, it is necessary, first of all, to determine the cause of this condition. Perhaps this is a consequence of fungal, allergic, inflammatory skin diseases, pathologies of internal organs, mental disorders and neuropathic diseases. Since there are so many causes, it is important to conduct a thorough diagnosis of the body to determine the root cause.

Allergy

Allergies in the 21st century have become the scourge of humanity. The entire population of the planet suffers from this disease to one degree or another. Allergies manifest themselves in the form of swelling, rashes, scratching, which can occur varying degrees severity - from light scratching to scratching with the appearance of blood. With allergies and dermatitis, a large amount of histamine accumulates in the skin - a substance that causes scabies, tissue swelling, and dilates blood vessels. Therefore, itchy areas on the skin appear swollen and red.

Allergic itching eliminated with antihistamines, but then the allergen should be identified and eliminated. A more serious neuroallergic disease is neurodermatitis or atopic dermatitis, which is characterized by uncontrollable, unbearable localized itching. This disease develops from childhood and subsides a little in puberty, but later recurs again. Treatment of diffuse neurodermatitis is long and complex.

Stress

Common cause itching all over the body is the development of psychogenic conditions: mental trauma, overexertion nervous system, stress, when a person does not control hand movements and constantly scratches and rubs the skin. At the same time, the desire to scratch under stress does not weaken, but, on the contrary, can only intensify. Often, against the background of neuroses, periodic wandering itching occurs, when it is impossible to determine a specific place. It is possible to avoid attacks or reduce their intensity if you eliminate the factors causing stress.

Seasonal itching

Patients who complain of worsening attacks of scabies in spring or autumn can be confidently diagnosed with VSD ( vegetative-vascular dystonia). This is due to a lack of vitamins in the body. Vitamin therapy, which should be prescribed by the attending physician, will help eliminate the symptoms. If your whole body itches in winter, you should go to the doctor and find out the reasons for this condition.

What diseases cause the body to itch?

Itching throughout the body can occur in various diseases, with different symptoms:

Types of skin itching

There is the following classification according to the frequency of relapses and intensity of manifestation:

1. Spicy. It is a consequence of pathology in the body.
2. Local. It has biological reasons– bedbugs, ticks, etc. and is felt in a certain place.
3. Generalized. Unpleasant manifestations all over the body various reasons. Can be observed in liver, endocrine, dermatological, hematological, neurogenic diseases, oncology.
4. Chronic. Occurs without visible reasons and indicates dermatosis, systemic diseases during an exacerbation.

What to do if your whole body itches

Considering that there is only one itching, but there are many causes, its treatment must be approached differently. What to do if your whole body itches? You can use ointments and creams that can relieve discomfort, but if the causes lie in liver diseases or disorders endocrine system, then self-medication local means can only aggravate the problem and complicate further treatment. Indeed, in this case, itching on the skin is just the tip of the iceberg, under which lies a serious illness, possibly fraught with tragic consequences.

Diagnostics

Determining the root cause will require diagnosing the itchy areas. First contact a dermatologist to prescribe tests and a detailed examination. If the dermatologist finds it difficult to name the cause, consultation with a therapist, endocrinologist, allergist, gastroenterologist and other specialists will be required. Principles of treating itchy skin:

• eliminating the cause;
• local treatment;
• systemic treatment.

Drug treatment

Depending on the reasons that caused unpleasant symptoms, prescribe treatment for itching of body skin. For allergic scratching, it is prescribed antihistamines: Zirtec, Loratidine, Erius, Zirtec, Suprastin, Tavegil. Additionally, it is recommended to take sedatives: Novo-Passit, valerian, mint tea, motherwort tincture, because constant desire scratching disrupts sleep and makes the patient irritable. Complex manifestations are treated only under the supervision of a doctor.

However, this will take some time, and you want to relieve the itching as quickly as possible. Therefore there are general recommendations:

1. The diet should not contain salty, hot, spicy foods. It is not advisable to drink strong tea, coffee, alcohol.
2. If an elderly person has body itching (senile, worse in the evening and at night), then iodine preparations will alleviate the condition.
3. Take warm baths with sea ​​salt.
4. Wipe the skin with calendula tincture in alcohol, lubricate antihistamine ointments based on menthol.

Folk remedies

Along with drug therapy Treatment with folk remedies for body itching is used:

• Quick effect achieved by taking baths with decoctions of plants: nettle, chamomile, mint, celandine, pine needles.
• Pruritoceptive (insect bites) are removed with coconut oil baths. To do this, dissolve 50 g of oil in a water bath and pour into warm water. The procedure time is 15 minutes.
• Lemon juice works great for itching, but it should not be applied to areas with damaged skin.
• Vaseline will help quickly relieve itching, as it will additionally moisturize and soften.
• To soothe irritations, you should use basil. It contains vitamins A, C, P, which are very important for skin health. You need to wipe the irritated areas with a clean fresh leaf or prepare a decoction of basil and make lotions.
• Used as applications Apple vinegar, celandine (do not use celandine for chemical and sunburn).

How to treat body itching

If a diagnosis is made, the disease that became the cause is determined, the appropriate medicine is prescribed for itching of the body skin:

1. For renal itching: UVB therapy, Cholestyramine, Activated carbon, Thalidomide, Naltrexone, Ondansetron, Capsacin cream, Tavegil.
2. Itching due to cholestasis is treated with ursodeoxycholic acid, Cholestyramine, Phenobarbital, Rifampicin, Naloxone, Naltrexone, Nalmefene, Fexadine, Trexyl, Tavegil.
3. Endocrine diseases: skin needs to be moisturized hormonal drugs, compensation for diabetes mellitus.
4. Hematological diseases: iron supplements, Aspirin, Cholestyramine, Cimetidine.
5. Senile (senile): drugs with a calming effect (sedatives).

Local treatment

Local treatment includes treatment of the skin surface in areas of inflammation. These can be compresses, lotions of 3-5% vinegar, talcum powder, morning and evening hygiene. Among medications effective ointment:

• Lokoid;
• Triderm;
• Ultraproct;
• Belosalik;
• Baneocin;
• hydrocortisone ointment (has a lot of contraindications).

Antihistamines

In the treatment of diseases with manifestations of itching, drugs that block the production of histamine are often used. Antihistamines:

1. Atarax. Active substance– hydroxyzine hydrochloride.
2. Berlicourt. Prescribed to eliminate any signs of allergies. The active ingredient is triamcinolone.
3. Desazon. The active ingredient is dexamethasone.
4. Diazolin. Prescribed for psoriasis, eczema, urticaria, insect bites.

Etiotropic therapy

This is a treatment aimed at eliminating microbial, viral, bacterial, infectious agent. All antibacterial drugs(antibiotics), sulfonamides, nitrofuran drugs are etiotropic. Etiotropic agents include interferons, antidotes, immune globulins, probiotics, bacteriophages, anthelmintics. Etiotropic therapy drugs are used for complications of hereditary disease, poisoning, herpetic infections different organs.

How to remove body itching at home

Treatment at home is aimed at eliminating the symptoms, but you need to work with your doctor to combat the cause of the strong desire to scratch the skin. As temporary help you can use:

1. Burdock roots. You need already dried roots to then obtain the powder using a coffee grinder. Pour 2 tbsp into a saucepan. l. powder, pour 1 liter of water. Cook for half an hour. When it cools down, you can make gauze compresses by applying to the irritated area. The effect should occur within half an hour.
2. Alcohol tincture elecampane. You can prepare it at home, for which you take 1 tbsp. l. finely chopped roots, pour them into a suitable dark glass bottle, add 50 ml of alcohol. The tincture is prepared for 10 days, after which you need to make an aqueous solution with the tincture and wipe the itchy skin. According to people's reviews, the effect occurs immediately.
3. Needles. You will need young buds and pine needles in the amount of one glass. Pour a liter of boiling water over them and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Wash with the cooled broth, wipe the skin, make compresses and lotions. The result is felt quickly.

Video: why the skin on the body itches

Itching on the skin is an unpleasant sensation that every person has experienced. Why does the body itch in different places? The causes can be both natural processes in the body and dangerous diseases.

Severe itching is one of the most terrible torments for a person. Long scratching provokes inflammation, tissue swelling, burning and even pain. Frequent scratching of the skin leads to pustular infections.

Most common reasons

The process of itching is quite complex. Scientists have studied this process, but a 100% cure that would eliminate the pathology completely and not temporarily has not yet been invented.

Itching all over the body is difficult physiological process, which is a whole chain of humoral and neuro-reflex reactions. They can arise for many reasons and are practically beyond human will.

In most cases, the causes of the pathology are minor. They go by pretty quickly. The reasons may be as follows:

1. 1. Severe dryness of the skin. It occurs in people who have very sensitive and thin skin. With external irritating influences, it becomes even drier; lack of moisture leads to loss of elasticity and, as a result, to microtraumas and itching.
2. 2. Insect bites. When biting, many blood-sucking insects secrete a special substance. When it gets under the skin, it causes a short analgesic effect and helps the insect remain invisible. The downside is that this substance causes an allergic reaction in humans, which is accompanied by severe itching and tissue swelling.
3. 3. Skin irritation. Mild itching and burning appears if the skin is irritated. This can happen by various reasons, but most often due to microdamages on the skin.
4. 4. Itching during wound healing. There is even a sign: if the wound starts to itch, it means it will heal soon. In a sense, this is true. Upon recovery upper layers skin and epidermis, not only new skin and tissue appear, but also new ones are formed blood capillaries, vessels and nerve endings. This process is accompanied by an increased release of histamine, which provokes itching.

Various itching is the first sign allergic reaction. A similar reaction, in which itching and rash appears, most people call urticaria. Hives can occur with food allergies, allergies to household chemicals, clothes and cosmetics, medicines.

Separately, it is necessary to mention temperature allergies. It is rarely accompanied by changes in the skin. In people who suffer from temperature allergies (in most cases this is cold), the skin open areas the body begins to itch and burn severely when the temperature changes.

Skin diseases

Constant severe itching on different areas skin - this is the most common symptom of skin diseases. In such diseases, pathology, as a rule, arises either due to allergic cause, or contact with skin dangerous bacteria or fungi. Some skin diseases are highly treatable, but some of them can only be partially cured by eliminating the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms.

Itchy skin in diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a dangerous and, in most cases, chronic disease in which metabolic processes in the body are disrupted. At diabetes mellitus blood sugar levels increase significantly, and due to disruption metabolic process The human body is literally clogged with various toxins and waste.

At constant high sugar Small sugar crystals begin to accumulate in the blood in the body. Most often this happens in small vessels and capillaries. Thus, diabetes mellitus leads to disruptions in the functioning of most systems: kidney function deteriorates, vision decreases.

Due to damage to small vessels, only a small amount of the oxygen, water and nutrients. As a result, the skin begins to itch. This happens because it becomes dry, flabby, and frequent peeling and irritation occurs.

Few people know that diabetes is one of the most dangerous diseases for the skin. Every day the skin receives great amount microtraumas, 99% of which a person does not even notice. These are scratches, micro cuts, small scratches, ruptures, microburns, etc. B in good condition the skin is ready to cope with them with the help of its own products and, as a rule, most irritations and scratches heal within a day or even a few hours. But in diabetes mellitus, due to metabolic disorders, the skin does not receive enough nutrients, it local immunity weakens and may disappear completely. This leads to prolonged healing, irritation and inflammation of even microtraumas. Because of this, skin itching occurs.

Scratching if you have diabetes can be quite dangerous. Scratching leads to even greater injury to the skin. Due to the lack of immunity there, a large number of bacteria and fungi enter the wound. They may cause infectious diseases skin, as well as the formation of abscesses and boils. Diabetes mellitus can cause more than 30 different diseases that cause itchy skin. The most dangerous of them is considered to be neurodermatitis. It can occur even before the main symptoms appear and is therefore quite difficult to diagnose.

Manifestations during pregnancy

Most women have experienced this during pregnancy. unpleasant phenomenon like itching all over the body.

Itching on the body during pregnancy can appear at any stage and in different places. Most women note that already at the beginning of pregnancy in the first months they feel not only discomfort in their breasts, but also severe itching. This is due to the fact that during pregnancy the breasts grow, the skin stretches and small lesions may occur throughout the surface of the breast.

Later in pregnancy, women experience itchy nipples. This is due to the same reason as itching all over the chest. At about 4-6 months, a woman may begin to feel itching on the abdomen, which is also associated with strong stretching of the skin during its growth. To avoid stretch marks and increased itching, it is recommended to lubricate the stomach with special creams or natural vegetable oils. Itching of the skin on the abdomen may increase as it grows. Can cause causeless itching in women hormonal background. This occurs due to the large amount of estrogens.

Severe itching in a pregnant woman may be a reason for an unscheduled visit to the doctor. Most often, itchy skin is a symptom of some disorder. The appearance of sharp and very severe itching on the arms, abdomen, back, thighs and buttocks may be the first sign of an allergic reaction. During pregnancy immune defense The woman’s body adapts to the needs of the child and cannot always work correctly when necessary. Even products that formerly a woman could use normally, during this period they can cause severe food allergies. Allergies may also be associated with any detergent or type of cosmetics. In pregnant women, local skin irritation with rash and itching due to the fabric of clothing.

If you experience constant itching on your arms and legs without rashes, you need to do blood and urine tests. Severe skin irritation may be a symptom of the “return” of some chronic diseases blood and liver. During pregnancy, women quite often suffer from thrush. This fungal disease leads to irritation of the genitals and can cause itching on the labia, groin and near the anus.

In order to avoid itching during pregnancy, you need to carefully monitor your personal hygiene, choose cosmetics with natural ingredients, underwear only made from natural fabrics, and drink the optimal amount of fluid per day.

How to quickly get rid of pathology?

Itching is pretty unpleasant feeling. To get rid of it, you must first identify its cause. This does not work out right away. What to do if your whole body itches? The following measures will help temporarily overcome itching.

Exposure of skin to temperature contrast. If the itching is local, it is better to treat it with extreme cold. Ice wrapped in a towel, frozen foods, or chilled metal objects are suitable for this purpose. Cold quickly dulls irritated nerve receptors and tightens pores. In addition, when exposed to cold, blood circulation slows down significantly, which prevents the release and spread of histamine, a hormone that causes irritation and itching on the skin.

If the itching spreads throughout the body, it is necessary, on the contrary, to apply heat. A hot shower or bath will significantly increase blood flow in the body. Together with the blood, histamine will move quite quickly throughout the body. This promotes its rapid breakdown and elimination from the body.

Baking soda is the cheapest and most accessible quick remedy if your body starts to itch. Lotions with soda - known remedy from itching from mosquito bites. A warm bath with soda will help get rid of unpleasant redness and burning.

To do this, you need to take a bath of water and pour about 1 pack into it. baking soda. You need to take a bath for 20 minutes. After taking a bath, you need to let the skin dry for some time on its own so that the soda falls off.

Itching in patients can occur for various reasons, which can only be determined by the attending physician after an in-person examination and tests. Because this symptom may be associated with very dangerous diseases, it is important to immediately consult a specialist if there is systematic itching. Folk remedies and traditional medicines can be used to eliminate the disease.

Among the main causes of pathology are the following:

With itching of the whole body, the following problems can be diagnosed:

• disruptions in the functioning of the endocrine system;
• nervous tension, including depression and constant stress;
• development of cancer;
• defeat meninges and some zones;
• kidney and liver diseases;
• insufficient amount of vitamin D and iron in the body;
• insufficient tone of the gallbladder;
• scabies;
• severe stress and nervous overexcitation.

Attention! If the cause of itching is associated with disturbances in the functioning of internal organs, you should first begin to eliminate the underlying cause of the pathology. To ease your own state You can additionally use the tips below.

Anti-itch tinctures

Herbal tea against scratching

For treatment, you should mix herbs such as chamomile, lemon balm, soothing mint, and linden flowers in equal proportions per tablespoon. These components are mixed into one mixture. After this, all the herbs should be poured with boiling water in an amount of 1 liter. Received medicine insist for 20 minutes. As soon as it passes required time add 45 ml to the solution natural honey and mix the solution thoroughly. After adding bee product you should strain the tincture through a gauze bandage. The drug is taken 50 ml 10 minutes before the main meal. The duration of the course of therapy is 21 days.

Juniper against itching

To prepare the medicine, take crushed juniper and place it in alcohol. For every 50 g of plant component you should take 0.25 liters of good vodka or pure medical alcohol. The resulting solution should be infused in glass bottle in a dark place for seven days. The resulting product should be added 5 ml to the bath.

With an intensive course of therapy, you should take 10-minute baths for ten days before going to bed. After this, to prevent relapse of the disease, you should take such relaxing and soothing baths weekly. Should not be used this remedy during pregnancy without consulting your doctor.

Attention! Before using these tinctures, you should make sure that they are well tolerated. To do this, take the first dose and monitor the body's reaction. If there is no increase in itching, intestinal disorders, redness and skin problems, you can continue therapy.

Anti-itch baths

The medicinal series

To prepare such baths, you should take two tablespoons of dry herb, you can further crush it, and pour herbal component 100 ml boiling water. The plant mixture is brewed for 15 minutes, after which half of the solution should be poured into the bathtub and sit in it for 10 minutes. After the procedure, you should wipe the skin with the remaining tea leaves; it is better to do this with cotton swab. At the end of all manipulations, it is advisable to let the skin dry naturally, because cold air will also enhance the result and reduce itching.

Calendula and chamomile

For cooking medicinal decoction You should take a tablespoon of calendula and chamomile and boil them in a water bath for five minutes. For this amount herbal mixture you should take 500 ml of water. As soon as the solution reaches room temperature, it should be poured into the bathroom and a session should be performed. The patient should remain in the water for 15 to 30 minutes, constantly maintaining the same temperature of the water.

Soda bath

Very effective method. To carry out the procedure, take a full bath and dissolve two tablespoons of baking soda in it. Once it is completely dissolved, you should spend 15 minutes in water. After this, you should get out of the bathroom and let your skin dry naturally. After the procedure, it is important to go to bed immediately. During treatment, it is recommended to sleep only on natural fabrics and choose cotton nightwear. Soda baths are done only once a day.

Vinegar baths

This procedure can only be carried out if healthy heart and the absence of problems on the female side. For a full standard bath, take 100 ml of apple cider vinegar with a concentration of no more than 6%. The session lasts 5-10 minutes, after which the skin should be allowed to dry naturally. The procedure is carried out half an hour before going to bed.

Attention! It is advisable to maintain an optimal temperature of +37 degrees during the procedure, since this is exactly what temperature regime provides maximum results. A total of 10-15 procedures are performed per course.

Rubbing for itchy skin on the body

Vinegar against itching

To eliminate pathology, you should take apple cider vinegar at a 6% concentration. Soak a cotton swab in it and wipe the affected areas. If necessary, you can make a vinegar compress. To do this, take clean gauze, which is thoroughly soaked in the solution and squeezed out. The cloth should be applied to the itchy area for 5-7 minutes. You can repeat these procedures up to two times a day.

Cabbage and agave

For every 100 ml of freshly squeezed cabbage juice you should take 10 ml of aloe juice. Usually the most good effect renders a plant that is more than three years old. By combining vegetable and plant juice, they should treat all itchy areas of the skin. The procedure can be performed an unlimited number of times until the itching is completely eliminated.

Baking soda

A universal remedy that can relieve itching of any nature. For cooking medicinal solution you should take 200 ml warm boiled water and add two teaspoons of baking soda to it. The components should be thoroughly mixed and applied to the affected areas using a cotton swab. You can use soda water up to six times a day until itchy skin is completely eliminated.

Currant, cherry and birch

To prepare the medicine, you should take five freshly picked leaves from the trees. They are poured with two liters of boiling water and left for two hours. After this, 15 ml should be added to the resulting solution salicylic acid. Infusion can be used to wipe itchy skin up to six times a day until the pathology is completely eliminated.

Attention! Vinegar wipes should be carried out with great care to prevent intoxication of the body. Such procedures should be used locally, since when treating the entire body there is a high risk of poisoning.

Video - Itchy skin. Causes

Antipruritic drugs

If necessary, therapy can be supplemented with traditional medications. Their dosages and prices can be found in the table.

Attention! About the feasibility of use medical supplies should check with your doctor as they may big list contraindications.

Hormonal ointments against itching

Advantan

Third generation hormonal ointment, which begins to eliminate pathology within the first 15 minutes after use. Advantan ointment should be applied no more than once a day, and the drug should be applied only to itchy areas of the skin. Therapy with the drug can be continued for 12 weeks, as this corticosteroid is quite safe for patients. The cost of medicinal ointment is 800 rubles.

Lorinden A

The drug is used only locally, and the patient is allowed acute period for itching, apply the medication to the affected areas up to three times a day. As soon as acute stage will be removed, the number of applications should be reduced to once a day. The duration of therapy using Lorinden A in severe cases cannot last more than three weeks. With mild itching, the patient can be completely cured in 5-7 days. The cost of the medicine is 300 rubles.

Sinaflan

The drug belongs to the first generation hormonal ointments, so you should not use it for more than seven days in a row; in severe cases, use Sinaflan ointment for no more than 10 days. Depending on the severity of the itching, patients can use the drug one to three times a day. There is no need to pre-cleanse the skin. A noticeable result from the effects of the ointment occurs within 5-30 minutes. The cost of Sinaflan is 80 rubles.

It is possible to use this medication even on the skin of the face with severe itching, but the course of treatment in this case cannot last more than one week. When treating itchy skin on the body, the duration of therapy can be increased to 14 days. Flucinar should be used twice a day, carefully distributing the medicine over itchy areas. The cost of the medicine is 300 rubles.

Attention! These drugs can be highly addictive, so you should strictly adhere to the prescribed course and not exceed permissible dosage. Wherein hormonal ointments give the fastest and most lasting results.

If you are faced with the problem of itching, immediately try to find out the cause of the symptom in order to prevent the development dangerous conditions body and possible complications. Once the cause of the disease has been accurately established, it will be possible to restore the patient’s health much faster using traditional and folk remedies.

Dryness, prolonged sun exposure, bites, diseases of internal organs, infections, allergies - any of these factors can cause irritating itching of the skin, which you want to get rid of as quickly as possible. Special ointments, usually containing camphor, menthol and other soothing ingredients, help relieve itching. The most undesirable is the itching associated with bacterial infection, try not to disturb the skin: scratches and cuts become a pathway for infections. Prolonged itching, especially in combination with skin trauma, should be a signal to seek medical help.

How it manifests itself

Itching occurs as an irritated skin condition that causes the desire to scratch the affected area. He can be local(V limited area) or widespread all over the body. In some cases, the body itches at night, preventing you from sleeping peacefully.

Itching that covers the entire surface of the body is more difficult to cure than local itching. Sometimes skin damage is observed in the area of ​​its manifestation: bumps, blisters, redness and other abnormal conditions.

Changes in the skin may indicate a serious illness (for example, scabies, lichen, eczema, etc.), so you should show them to a dermatologist; urgent medical attention may be required.

Why does it occur

Itching is caused by many reasons. Very often it is a psychological problem, the result of anxiety or stress. In turn, itching that occurs for other reasons can cause anxiety or provoke stress, increasing the problem and discomfort. Pay attention to the main causes of itching:

Diabetes, shingles, irritation from fabrics or cosmetics, worsening living conditions, pregnancy and many other factors. However, most people do not have serious illnesses and can get rid of the itching with a little effort.

How to relieve itching

Trying to get rid of itching, some victims scratch the affected areas with their nails; at first this leads to noticeable relief. But then the itching intensifies due to scratches from scratching. Damage provides access to infections, and prolonged scratching may cause dark spots and lumps to appear on the skin. Therefore, you should try not to scratch the itchy skin at all, although, as practice shows, most people do not have enough endurance for this.

Itching can be relieved by exposure to cold. The same nerve endings are responsible for these sensations, so cold relieves itching. Use any available means for this.

• Apply a clean cloth dampened with cold water to the affected area;
• Take a cold shower;
• A cool bath with the addition of oat decoction is effective against itching;
• Apply ice packs or home-frozen ice cubes wrapped in plastic wrap.

Hot showers are not recommended; they only provide temporary relief. In the future, the itching will intensify due to dry skin and a feeling of tightness caused by hot water. Cooling creams and ointments can be used as an alternative to cold. with camphor and menthol. They act on nerve endings and stop itching, but a short time. Therefore, the cream must be used frequently and reapplied as soon as the effect wears off.

Sometimes ointment is used against itching with hydrocortisone, there is a high probability of getting a backlash, since this component is intended for a specific effect, for example, for eczema and seborrhea. And even for these diseases, over-the-counter ointment is completely useless because it has a low concentration active substance(1%). Hydrocortisone has no effect on insect bites at all; use the ointment only on the recommendation of a doctor.

Also used to relieve itching antihistamines medicines sold without a prescription. Similar drugs cause drowsiness and should not be used when working with complex equipment or driving a car. It should be noted that new generation antihistamines have virtually no sedative effect, some of them are available without a doctor's prescription.

If you have tried all the remedies and the itching does not go away, lumps or dark spots have appeared, do not sleep at night - it is time to seek medical help. The doctor will diagnose and prescribe treatment for the underlying disease that caused the itching, along with soothing ointments and, if necessary, recommend antihistamines.