Itch causes

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Causes

The feeling of itchiness can be caused by a movement of hair or the release of a chemical (histamine) from cells under the skin. Itchiness is regarded as protective, as it helps creatures remove parasites that land on their skin.

Itching can be caused by:

• Xerosis. This is the most common cause, frequently seen in winters. Associated with older age, frequent bathing in hot showers or baths, and high temperature and low humidity environments.
• Skin conditions (such as psoriasis, eczema, sunburn, athlete's foot and many others). Most are of an inflammatory nature.
• Insect bites, such as those from mosquitos or chiggers.
• Allergic reactions to contact with specific chemicals, such as Urushiol from Poison Ivy or Poison Oak.
• Hodgkin's disease
• Jaundice (bilirubin is a skin irritant at high concentrations)
• Polycythemia, which can cause generalized itching due to increased histamine
• Scabies or infection with lice or worms
• Thyroid illness
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Dandruff (an unusually large amount of flaking is associated with this sensation)
• Drug Side Effect- acetaminophen, Bicalutamide, caspofungin acetate, Docetaxel, Doxorubicin Hydrochloride, Diphenoxylate hydrochloride and atropine sulfate,

Ergotamine tartrate, Ethambutol, Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen, Ketorolac tromethamine, Meropenem, Mometasone furoate,Naproxen sodium, Piroxicam, permethrin, Ribavirin, Tacrolimus, Trimethoprim, Von Willebrand factor

• Iron deficiency anemia
• Parasitic infections
• Psychiatric
• Medication:
  • Allergy - (due to reaction of an individual's immune system to certain chemical compounds)
  • Aprepitant
  • Butorphanol
  • Ceftazidime
  • Diphenoxylate hydrochloride and atropine sulfate
  • Photodermatitis – (sun)light reacts with chemicals in the skin, leading to the formation of irritant metabolites
  • Directly (e.g. morphine)
  • Other drugs- Ofloxacin, Tretinoin ,capsaicin, Rifampin
  • Lovaza
  • Sorafenib
  • Triazolam
  • Tazarotene
  • Travoprost
• Cholestasis
• Related to pregnancy:
  • Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPP)
  • Gestational pemphigoid
• Drug side effects: Acamprosate calcium, Acetaminophen, Acetylcysteine, Conjugated estrogens, Betamethasone valerate, Betamethasone dipropionate, Ipilimumab,Spironolactone, Hydrochlorothiazide, Ivermectin, Tolbutamide