Itch causes
|
Itch Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Itch causes On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Itch causes |
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, Acitretin, Aldesleukin, Alitretinoin, Azficel-T, Bicalutamide, caspofungin acetate, Cetrorelix, Clocortolone pivalate, D-Aminolevulinic acid, Denileukin diftitox, Docetaxel, Doxorubicin Hydrochloride, Diphenoxylate hydrochloride and atropine sulfate, Ecallantide, Epirubicin , Gallium Citrate Ga 67, Halcinonide, Hydrocortisone butyrate, Penciclovir, Ergotamine tartrate, Ethambutol, Histrelin, Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen, Hydroxyprogesterone caproate, Idursulfase, Imiglucerase, Ketorolac tromethamine, Lidocaine (cream), Meropenem, Mometasone furoate,Naproxen sodium, Nivolumab, Panitumumab, Piroxicam, permethrin, Ribavirin, Sinecatechins, Sulconazole, Tacrolimus, Thallous Chloride Tl 201, 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
- Sargramostim
- Sertaconazole
- Siltuximab
- Sodium aurothiomalate
- Sorafenib
- Triazolam
- Tazarotene
- Travoprost
- Cholestasis
- Related to pregnancy:
- Drug side effects: Acamprosate calcium, Acetaminophen, Acetylcysteine, Betamethasone dipropionate, Betamethasone valerate]], Cetrorelix, Conjugated estrogens, epinastine hydrochloride, Betamethasone valerate, Betamethasone dipropionate, Felbamate, Fosphenytoin sodium, Ipilimumab,Spironolactone, Hydrochlorothiazide, Ivermectin, Tolbutamide,taliglucerase alfa .