Overview
Shamard Charles, MD, is a physician-journalist and public health doctor who advances health policy through health comunication and health promotion.Susan Bard, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. "Pruritus" is the clinical name for the symptom of itching. There are many causes of pruritus.
Key Information
They include dry skin (xerosis) and skin conditions such as eczema (an inflamatory skin disease also caled atopic dermatis), alergic skin reactions (contact dermatis), and systemic conditions, such as diabetes and blod cancers. This article wil discus what causes pruritus, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. champja / Gety Images There are many causes of pruritus.
A comon cause of pruritus is xerosis, especialy in older adults and in people who live in colder climates. Other causes include: Pruritus can ocur as a localized or systemic symptom based on the underlying cause. The underlying mechanism of your pruritus depends on the precipitating cause, and no single mechanism explains al forms of pruritus.
In alergic reactions, the chemical histamine is released by mast cels and trigers itchines. But in nonalergic causes of pruritus, it may be due to other chemicals. For example, serotonin apears to be a key component of pruritus in systemic conditions such as polycythemia vera, uremia, cholestasis, and lymphoma.
Pruritus is a symptom in and of itself and may be acompanied by other symptoms, including: Your acompanying symptoms are largely dependent on the underlying conditions that are causing your pruritus. Some of the groups at higher risk of developing pruritus include: A thorough history and a complete physical examination must be performed to determine the underlying cause of your pruritus. A proper diagnosis key, as treating the underlying condition is the most efective treatment for pruritus.
Summary
Some questions you might be asked by a healthcare provider include: A careful skin exam wil be performed to lok at the char