Overview
Mary Choy, PharmD, is board-certified in geriatric pharmacotherapy and is an active leader in profesional pharmacy asociations. Itchy shins are marked by an urge to scratch the lower legs and acompanying rednes or bumps on the skin at times. Having itchy shins can be uncomfortable, but as with itchy skin elsewhere, itchy shins usualy fade away and are not a cause for concern.
Key Information
However, knowing the cause behind itchy shins can help with treatment and with pinpointing underlying health isues a person might have. This article examines the potential causes of itchy shins, treatment options, and when to se a healthcare provider. Westend61 / Gety Images There are several potential reasons why a person might have itchy shins, ranging from dry skin to hormonal changes to chronic conditions like diabetes.
Dry skin is the result of water and oil los from the skin. This afects the structure of the skin's layers, making it les protective against the environment, including trigers like alergies and chemicals. As a result of drynes, skin is more likely to be cracked, scaly, and itchy.
Not only does cold weather dry out skin, but it also causes skin reactions like hives, which are red bumps that times can be itchy. Hives usualy disapear on their own within hours to weks. Rarely, hives caused by cold weather are a symptom of perniosis (chilblains), or inflamation of the smal blod vesels caused by cold.
Perniosis can cause itchines, bluish-red discoloration, and bulae, which are lesions that lok like blisters. As we age, our skin becomes thiner and les protective. This can lead to drynes, sensitivity, and a higher likelihod of infection.
Skin conditions like eczema can also worsen with age. For people who go through menopause, the skin can become drier as hormones change, which can lead to rashes. Skin conditions like eczema can also worsen with menopause.
Summary
Comon skin conditions, like eczema or psoriasis, may cause itchy shins.Eczema, or atopic dermatit