The 15 Causes of ITCHING You've Never Heard About

Dr. Eric Berg 04/21/2024

Ever wake up feeling like your skin has turned into a high-definition map of the Sahara? Itchy skin. It's more than just an annoyance. Sometimes, it feels like a mystery wrapped in an enigma, tucked inside something incredibly irritating. Why today? Why ever?

You've tried lotions and potions, maybe even sang lullabies to those angry little patches, hoping they'd calm down.

Despite your arsenal of remedies and serenades for those furious spots, you're seriously pondering if embracing the life of a perpetual scratcher might be your calling.

Itchy skin could be playing messenger and telling tales of things happening under the hood - from silent battles with unseen allergens to your body whispering (or yelling) about its internal struggles.

Sure, dry air might be the culprit, or perhaps that new detergent is singing siren songs for sensitive skin. But what if I told you there were worlds beyond these familiar foes?

Worlds where unexpected guests make themselves home under your epidermis or deep within where blood flows and organs reside.

Uncommon Causes of Itching Explored

You know that feeling when your skin won't stop itching? It's the worst. And while you might think it's just a simple case of dry skin or an allergic reaction, there could be some lesser-known reasons behind your scratchy situation.

Let's explore the uncommon causes of itching and some conditions and environmental factors that might be the culprits

Lice, Scabies, and Other Parasitic Invasions

Tiny parasites like lice and scabies can cause severe itching. These pesky critters burrow into your skin and lay eggs, leading to an infestation that will have you scratching nonstop.

If you suspect you might have lice or scabies, you must see a doctor ASAP. They can prescribe medications to eliminate the parasites and relieve your itchy symptoms.

Diabetes illustration

The Hidden Itch of Diabetes

Did you know that diabetes can cause itching? Yep, it's true. Circulation problems and peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) associated with diabetes can lead to itchy skin.

Living with diabetes and constantly dealing with itchiness necessitates a discussion with your healthcare provider. They provide substantial support by regulating glucose levels and tackling foundational circulatory or neural complications.

Polycythemia's Role in Skin Sensations

Polycythemia leads to an overproduction of red blood cells, causing your bloodstream to become overcrowded. This excess can thicken your blood, slowing down circulation and reducing oxygen supply to your skin. The result? Itchy, irritated skin.

Treatment for polycythemia often involves medications to reduce the number of red blood cells in your body. This can help improve circulation and alleviate itching.

Parathyroid Gland Complications

Your parathyroid glands regulate calcium levels in your body. When these glands aren't functioning properly, it can lead to calcium imbalances that cause itchy skin.

If you suspect a parathyroid issue might be behind your itching, your doctor can run tests to check your calcium levels. Treatment may involve medications or surgery to address the underlying parathyroid problem.

Uremia and Advanced Kidney Disease

In advanced stages of kidney disease, a condition known as uremia arises when substances such as urea accumulate in the bloodstream and on the skin. This buildup can cause severe itching that is often resistant to traditional treatments.

Talk to your doctor if you have kidney disease and are experiencing persistent itching.

Dietary Changes and Supplements for Relief

Itching can be a real pain, but did you know what you eat (or don't) can worsen it? Yep, it's true, especially if you have liver issues. Let's examine how your diet and some essential supplements can help you find relief from the itch.

The 15 Causes of ITCHING You've Never Heard About

Impact of Dry Skin on Itching

Dry skin is a primary culprit when it comes to itching. And if you're not producing enough bile or you're low on vitamins A and D, that could be why your skin is so thirsty.

Studies show that vitamin A deficiency can lead to dry, rough skin. Vitamin D? Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of our skin's protective layer, without which we're more susceptible to having parched and easily irritated skin.

Without enough of it, your skin can become dry and prone to irritation. So, what can you do? Ensure you're consuming a sufficient amount of these essential nutrients in your meals. Load up on foods like:

Sweet potatoes
Carrots
Spinach
Fatty fish like salmon
Egg yolks

You might also consider taking a vitamin A or D supplement if you do not get enough from your diet alone. Just be sure to talk to your doctor first.

The Role of Bile Salt Supplements Like TUDCA

If liver problems are behind your itching, bile salt supplements like TUDCA could help. Here's why: When your liver isn't working right, it cannot produce enough bile salts. Without enough bile salts, your body cannot properly digest and absorb fats.

This can lead to a buildup of toxins in your skin, which can cause itching. Bile salt supplements like TUDCA can help replace the bile salts your liver isn't making.

This can help relieve itching by allowing your body to better digest and absorb fats, reducing the buildup of toxins in your skin.

In one study, 79% of patients with itching due to liver disease found relief after taking a bile salt supplement for just two weeks.

Talk to your doctor first if you're considering a bile salt supplement. They can help you determine the correct dosage and ensure it won't interact with any other medications you take.

Approaching this decision is important because getting the balance right is vital for your health. So, always consult a healthcare professional who can guide you based on your needs.

Understanding the Psychological Effects of Itching

Itching is more than just a physical sensation. It has a profound psychological impact that can affect our daily lives.

When we experience an itch, our first instinct is to scratch it. But why does scratching feel so good, even if it's only a temporary solution?

Scratching's Temporary Relief Through Serotonin and Dopamine Release

Scratching an itch temporarily relieves serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters associated with pleasure and reward.

When you scratch an itch, your brain releases these feel-good chemicals, creating a brief sense of satisfaction. However, this relief is short-lived, and the itch often returns, leading to a scratching cycle.

Chronic itching can lead to prurigo nodularis, where the skin becomes thickened and itchy due to repeated scratching. This condition can significantly impact the quality of life.

Interestingly, research has shown that scratching can increase the intensity of an itch. This is known as the itch-scratch cycle. The more you scratch, the more you itch, and the more you itch, the more you scratch.

Breaking this cycle can be challenging, but it's crucial for managing chronic itching. Mental and emotional elements can significantly influence the sensation of itchiness. Worry, stress, and different feelings often worsen the sensation of itchiness.

At times, the urge to scratch might stem from deeper mental health issues like OCD or lingering sadness. Treating the underlying psychological issue can often help alleviate the itching.

Employing cognitive-behavioral therapy often proves successful in controlling persistent itchiness by altering thought and behavior patterns. CBT helps patients identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors contributing to itching.

Practicing mindfulness and engaging in relaxation exercises can significantly lessen stress and worry, thereby mitigating the intensity of itchiness.

Besides mental strategies, tangible remedies exist to alleviate itchiness. Moisturizers, cool compresses, and over-the-counter antihistamines can relieve mild to moderate itching.

For more severe cases, prescription medications such as corticosteroids or immunomodulators may be necessary.

If chronic itching impacts your quality of life, talking to your healthcare provider is essential. They can help determine the underlying cause and work with you on a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Don't let discomfort take over; reach out for support and find relief today.

Conclusion

So, we've trekked through the uncharted territories of itchy skin together. This journey has been eye-opening, from pesky parasites to silent whispers of internal imbalances.

Our skin is much more than a simple barrier—it's a storyteller, revealing tales about our overall health and well-being.

And let’s not forget the allies we found along the way—diet changes and supplements promising relief from within, painting a picture where food becomes more than just sustenance but medicine for our dermis.

We discovered how bile salts like Tutka aren't just hard-to-pronounce words in a health blog but potential saviors for those battling liver-related itchiness.

The twist? The mind plays its own game when it comes to itching. Scratching releases serotonin and dopamine—nature’s feel-good duo—but only gives us a reprieve from our scratchy saga.

Calming an itch involves more than just applying lotions or steering clear of itchy fabrics; it's really about listening to what your body is trying to tell you.

Whether you're decoding messages sent by your liver or exploring psychological battles fought at the surface of your skin—you're now armed with knowledge that reaches far beneath the epidermis.

You step into this quest, possibly feeling like an amateur dermatologist at best; you walk away as something closer to an enlightened guardian of your skin story—and perhaps others.

This isn’t just scratching the surface; it’s understanding what lies beneath each itch with newfound respect and curiosity.