Itching All Over the Body

Itch is an intense, distracting irritation or tickling sensation that elicits an urge to scratch the skin. Pruritus is the medical name of itching. Itching can be localized to certain areas of your body or all over your body. Here are the causes and remedies to get rid of itching all over body.

Common Causes of Itching all Over the Body

Body itching is most commonly caused due to extreme dry skin. Stress and anxiety are also known to be the causes of this problem. Itching all over the body is much common if your skin is over-exposed to the sunrays and gets sunburn. Some severe causes of itching include liver or kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, cancers and blood diseases. Allergic reactions commonly lead to severe itching. Body itching is often a reaction to oral or topical medications.

Itching can also be a result of insect stings and bites from mosquitoes or fleas. Infections and infestations are other causes of itching all over body. Swimmer's itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, is a type of parasitic infection, caused by an allergic reaction to infection by certain parasites of birds and mammals that are released from infected snails in fresh and saltwater. This also causes skin rash along with the itching problem. Itching can be caused due to skin infestation by body lice, including head lice and pubic lice. Hepatitis, iron deficiency and pregnancy are other causes of itching.

Causes of Itching All Over the Body During Pregnancy

Body itching is a very common problem experienced by women during the pregnancy period. Here are some reasons due to which women experience itching during this period.

• The hormones are in flux during the pregnancy period. These hormones, which are responsible for mood swings and food cravings are also responsible for itching.
• Skin stretching is another cause of itching all over during pregnancy.
• In the third trimester, some women get red itchy skin bumps and pustules on their abdomen known as pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) which can be a cause of itching during this period.
• Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy may interfere with the transfer of bile to the liver and lead to build-up of bile salts. This can cause intense and painful itching without any skin rash.
• Some pre-existing skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or allergies that are worsened due to pregnancy can lead to body itching.

If you are pregnant, you must always consult your doctor before you continue to take any previously prescribed medication for relieving itching problem. Remember that wrong intake of drugs and medicines can prove harmful for your baby.

Causes of Itching All Over the Body at Night

Entire body itching problem during the night can often interrupt your sleep. Here are some factors that cause body itching during night.

• Cirrhosis of the liver creates bile byproducts that travel to the skin leading to extreme itching problem that becomes intense at night.
• Inflammation of skin due to psoriasis can flare up at night due to stress or due to friction from rough bed covers.
• Skin becomes dehydrated during menopause which causes body itching at nights when fluids are not consumed.
• Taking a very hot shower before going to bed can make your skin dry, which can further lead to intolerable itching at night.
• Allergic reaction to specific fabrics which cover mattresses or bedding can cause itching of skin at night.

Itching all over body, which is accompanied by rash is usually due to parasitic or fungal infection. Itching along with a skin rash can also be caused due to diseases like chickenpox or measles. Moreover, skin disorders, like eczema, psoriasis or dandruff can lead to this problem.

How to Deal with Body Itch?

• Avoid scratching or rubbing over the itchy skin. You must strictly keep your fingernails short to avoid damaging the skin from scratching.
• Use lukewarm water while bathing and use very little soap. Rinse thoroughly and dry your skin completely after you bathe.
• Apply a soothing lotion after bathing to soften and keep your skin cool.
• Dry skin is a common cause of itching, so keep your skin well moisturized.
• Wear loose clothing made of fabrics that will not irritate your skin. The same should be followed with bedclothes.
• Avoid prolonged exposure of your skin to heat and humidity.
• Apply ice over the itchy area to avoid the urge of scratching.

Remember the above-mentioned precautions are helpful in getting rid of body itching problem. But if the problem doesn't subside even after trying the remedies, do consult a dermatologist to know the exact cause and get the right treatment.