On this page
Basics
- Summary
- Start Here
Learn More
- Related Issues
- Specifics
See, Play and Learn
- No links available
Research
- Clinical Trials
- Journal Articles
Resources
- Find an Expert
For You
- Children
- Patient Handouts
Summary
What is itching?
Itching is an irritating sensation that makes you want to scratch your skin. Sometimes it can feel like pain, but it is different. Often, you feel itchy in one area in your body, but sometimes you may feel itching all over. Along with the itching, you may also have a rash or hives.
See Also
Dry Itchy Skin ReliefWhy Do Mosquito Bites Itch? Plus 10 Tips for Itch ReliefPreventing and Treating Eczema Itch: Tips from ExpertsCan Bathing With Baking Soda Help Eczema? | MyEczemaTeamWhat causes itching?
Itching is a symptom of many health conditions. Some common causes are:
- Allergic reactions to food, insect bites, pollen, and medicines
- Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin
- Irritating chemicals, cosmetics, and other substances
- Parasites such as pinworms, scabies, head and body lice
- Pregnancy
- Liver, kidney, or thyroid diseases
- Certain cancers or cancer treatments
- Diseases that can affect the nervous system, such as diabetes and shingles
What are the treatments for itching?
Most itching is not serious. To feel better, you could try:
- Applying cold compresses
- Using moisturizing lotions
- Taking lukewarm or oatmeal baths
- Using over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or antihistamines
- Avoiding scratching, wearing irritating fabrics, and exposure to high heat and humidity
Contact your health care provider if your itching is severe, does not go away after a few weeks, or does not have an apparent cause. You may need other treatments, such as medicines or light therapy. If you have an underlying disease that is causing the itching, treating that disease may help.
Start Here
- Pruritis (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- What Makes Us Itch? (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) Also in Spanish
Related Issues
- Scratching the Surface on Skin Allergies (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) - PDF
Specifics
- Grover's Disease (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
- Itchy Hands or Feet (VisualDX)
- Lichen Simplex Chronicus (VisualDX)
- Prurigo Nodularis (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
- Xerosis (VisualDX)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Pruritus
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- American Academy of Dermatology
- Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish
Children
- Itchy Bumps on the Skin in Children (VisualDX)
- Rashes (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Itching (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Lichen simplex chronicus (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Urticaria pigmentosa (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
