Pruritus (proo-RIE-tus) is the medical term for itchiness. The condition causes you to feel the need to scratch your skin to get relief. There are several possible causes for pruritus that include an underlying medical condition, contact with an irritant or a reaction to a medication.
• Itching (MedLine Plus) 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. A succinct guide to resources for various subtopics and possible remedies.
A mini-encyclopedia on itching and itching-related terms. Among possible remedies listed: Try over-the-counter oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), but be aware of possible side effects such as drowsiness.
• The primary NIH organization for research on Itching is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
• What Makes Us Itch? (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
"Itching can be caused by many different things including allergies, insect bites, dry skin or illness.
"While most itches are merely bothersome or uncomfortable, excessive scratching can damage your skin’s protective barrier and expose your body to germs and infection.
"Itch and pain are closely linked in the brain. The reflex to pain is to withdraw. The reflex to itch is to scratch. This reflex is a protective response developed to help animals remove parasites from their skin. That’s why even a slight movement of hairs is enough to make you want to scratch.
"Itching is often triggered by histamine, a chemical in the body associated with immune responses. It causes the itch and redness you see with insect bites, rashes and skin dryness or damage.
"Histamine is released by the body during allergic reactions, such as those to pollen, food, latex and medications." [And more. Worth a read.]
• How to relieve itching (Medical News Today, Charlotte Lillis, 12-21-23) Common causes of itchy skin include insect bites, allergies, stress, and skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Itchy skin, also known as pruritus, can be uncomfortable and frustrating. Some home remedies may help remedy itchy skin, including applying essential oils, wet wraps, and colloidal oatmeal
Applying menthol (an essential oil found in plants of the mint family).
Cooling the itch. Wet wrap therapy (applying water-soaked fabric wraps made of gauze or surgical netting to areas of itchy skin).
Colloidal oatmeal ("finely ground oatmeal that a person can dissolve in water. The resulting solution forms a protective barrier on the surface of the skin, which helps to seal in moisture. See Yareli Colloidal Oatmeal Powder for psoriasis
Apple cider vinegar.
Moisturizing. (Moisturizers, such as creams and lotions, can help hydrate the outermost layer of the skin. They are essential for managing skin conditions that cause itching and dryness.)
Baking soda. (The NEA recommends adding one-quarter of a cup of baking soda to a warm bath. An alternative option is to mix the baking soda with a little water to form a paste, which a person can apply directly to itchy areas.)
Avoiding irritants. Possible irritants include: Hot water. Temperature and humidity changes. Fragranced skin care products. Wool and synthetic fabrics. Stress (try yoga and mindfulness meditation).
Can apple cider vinegar help with eczema? (Medical News Today) Some people use apple cider vinegar to improve the symptoms of eczema. However, it can irritate the skin and may not be suitable for everyone.
• Atopic Dermatitis (NIAMS)
"Atopic dermatitis, often referred to as eczema, is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that causes inflammation, redness, and irritation of the skin. It is a common condition that usually begins in childhood; however, anyone can get the disease at any age. Atopic dermatitis is not contagious, so it cannot be spread from person to person.
"Atopic dermatitis causes the skin to become extremely itchy. Scratching leads to further redness, swelling, cracking, “weeping” clear fluid, crusting, and scaling. In most cases, there are periods of time when the disease is worse, called flares, followed by periods when the skin improves or clears up entirely, called remissions.
"Researchers do not know what causes atopic dermatitis, but they do know that genes, the immune system, and the environment play a role in the disease. Depending on the severity and location of the symptoms, living with atopic dermatitis can be hard. Treatment can help control symptoms. For many people, atopic dermatitis improves by adulthood, but for some, it can be a lifelong illness."
• Bathing and Eczema (National Aleczema Organization)
"Establishing a bathing routine that works for your skin is important for daily eczema management and care....
"People with eczema, especially atopic dermatitis, tend to have very dry skin in general. A skin barrier that is inflamed or dry is vulnerable to bacteria and allergens, which can make eczema symptoms worse.
Taking a bath or shower is helpful for eczema. Whether you have mild or severe eczema, a regular bathing and skincare routine can strengthen your skin barrier and help you retain moisture."
• Scratching and allergic skin inflammation (NIH Research Matters, 2-25-25) Researchers found how scratching can worsen allergic skin symptoms but also protect from infection. The findings could explain why the instinct to scratch an itch might have evolved in the first place. Targeting mast cells or the neurons that promote their activation could prove to be a promising approach for treating itchy inflammatory diseases like dermatitis and eczema.
• Itchy Skin (pruritis) (Mayo Clinic)
• Neuropathic Itch (NIH) Itching is a tingling or irritation of the skin that makes you want to scratch the area. Itching may occur all over the body or only in one location. (Prose academic.)
• Common neuropathic itch syndromes (Anne Louise Oaklander, PubMed) "Patients with chronic itch are diagnosed and treated by dermatologists. However, itch is a neural sensation and some forms of chronic itch are the presenting symptoms of neurological diseases. Dermatologists need some familiarity with the most common neuropathic itch syndromes to initiate diagnostic testing and to know when to refer to a neurologist. This review summarizes current knowledge, admittedly incomplete, on neuropathic itch caused by diseases of the brain, spinal cord, cranial or spinal nerve-roots, and peripheral nerves."