Definition of Itching:

Itching is a tingling or irritation of the skin that makes you want to scratch the affected area.

Considerations:

Itching may occur all over the whole body (generalized) or only in one location (localized).

Common Causes:

There are many causes of itching, including:

• Aging skin
• Atopic dermatitis
• Contact dermatitis (poison ivy or poison oak)
• Contact irritants (such as soaps, chemicals, or wool)
• Dry skin
• Hives
• Insect bites and stings
• Parasites such as pinworm, body lice, head lice, and pubic lice
• Pityriasis rosea
• Psoriasis
• Rashes (may or may not itch)
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Sunburn
• Superficial skin infections such as folliculitis and impetigo

Generalized itching may be caused by:

• Allergic reactions
• Childhood infections (such as chickenpox or measles)
• Hepatitis
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease with jaundice
• Pregnancy
• Reactions to medications and substances such as antibiotics (penicillin, sulfonamides), gold, griseofulvin, isoniazid, opiates, phenothiazines, or vitamin A