Itching Skin All Over

Itching skin all over can be a symptom of skin diseases like eczema or chickenpox. It can also occur as a side effect of certain medications like aspirin. To know more about skin itching, read on...
Itching skin all over! Well, in such cases, it won't be wrong to conclude itchiness at its harshest. Itching sensation restricted in certain areas of the body such as the hand, can be somehow tolerated but when the entire body is affected with this itchy feeling, performing day-to-day routine can be a living hell. Scratching the skin only gives temporary relief, may be for a few seconds or minutes. This is because itchiness is persistent and with too much scratching, the skin only becomes red and inflamed.

Causes of Skin Itching All Over Body

A person affected with itching skin all over has to first find out the underlying cause, in order to get rid of this skin problem. Following are some of the causes that make the whole body itchy:

Skin Problems
An extremely itchy skin all over could well mean the onset of skin problems like eczema, chickenpox and measles. These skin diseases are typically marked by the development of blisters, pimples or papules, which are nothing but elevated structures that invade the superficial skin. Although, a skin condition like eczema is limited to the face or hands, in severe cases the entire body may show the formation of skin rash and cause intense itching. Measles or chickenpox, initially trigger itching sensation all over the body, and eventually within a day or two, bumpy structures erupt over the entire body.

Other Causes

Many times, people experience itchy sensation all over the body for days but strangely they do noT show any signs of skin rash. Keep in mind that the skin issues like measles are not the only factors that could bring this annoying problem. Itchy skin can be present even without the presence of blisters. It is discussed below:

Liver Diseases
Internal diseases such as liver problems can also be the culprit behind this sudden itchiness over the skin. People suffering from diseases like jaundice, often grumble about itching skin all over. In some cases, liver problems also show additional symptoms in the form of excessive sweating. Studies show that malfunctioning of the liver makes the skin dry. This is because, liver problems interfere with the normal flow of fluids in the body. As circulation of body fluids gets disrupted, the skin may lose its natural moisture and become extremely dry and itchy.

Kidney Diseases
When the renal function gets affected, don't expect the skin to remain healthy. One of the many symptoms of kidney diseases is itching skin all over. Persistent skin dryness that leads to excessive itching all over the body can be due to kidney problems. When the kidneys are not functioning efficiently, the person may experience itchiness that affects the whole body.

Thyroid Problems
Itching skin all over can also occur as a consequence of thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid glands situated in the neck area, produce hormones that regulate the body's metabolic rate. Thyroid diseases that cause insufficient or too much production of thyroid hormones, are notorious for turning the skin irritated and itchy.

Medications
Side effects of certain medications does not always manifest in the form of skin rash. Aspirin, a commonly recommended tablet to relieve pain that accompany medical conditions like common cold and sore throat, may lead to an itchy skin all over the body devoid of any bumpy structures. This generally results from overdose but even normal dosage can bring itchiness all over the body without any symptoms of eruptions on the skin.

Persistent itching skin all over cannot be neglected and many times is related to thyroid or liver dysfunction. Timely medical intervention and some itchy skin remedies are essential to put an end to excessive skin itching at the earliest. Treating the underlying condition is the key to eliminate skin dryness and restore healthy skin.
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Last Updated: 10/4/2011
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