![]() ![]() I often describe it to patients as a sort of extension of dry skin which has penetrated further into the skin’s layers, resulting in patches of itchy, inflamed and cracked skin. Eczema (atopic dermatitis)Įczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a really common cause of itching in both children and adults. Going forward, try to adopt habits that will prevent the contact dermatitis from recurring, such as wearing gloves to do household cleaning, or using hypoallergenic beauty or washing products. Next, the skin inflammation should be treated with a week’s course of an emollient and steroid cream, see your doctor or pharmacist, who will be able to advise you. The first approach to tackle contact dermatitis is to identify the trigger and avoid it. Household cleaning products such as washing up liquid or cleaning sprays.★ Contact dermatitis causesĬommon causes of contact dermatitis include: Common sites are the hands and face and the skin usually feels itchy or sore. The result is patches of red, dry and inflamed-looking skin, sometimes with tiny blisters called vesicles. Contact dermatitisĬontact dermatitis is inflammation of the skin as a result of something it has recently come into contact with. Remember to dry your body or hands well after washing - paradoxically, leaving moisture on the skin will actually dry it out overall. See your pharmacist who will be able to advise you on this. ★ Dry skin treatmentĪ good unperfumed moisturiser (also called emollients) will do the trick to repair dry skin and using a soap substitute can also help. Having very hot baths or showers regularly can also dry out the skin. The combination of the harsh cold outdoor air and dry heat indoors dries out the skin. ★ Dry skin causesĭry skin is more prevalent in the winter months when the colder outdoor temperatures lead people to spend more time in the door heated environment. Dry skin can of course affect anyone, but the elderly are more prone to it. There is usually no specific rash to see but the skin of the arms and legs particularly, may look generally dry and a little flaky. Is associated with other symptoms such as feeling unwell, having fevers, night sweats or losing weight.įrom contact dermatitis to fungal infections, itchy skin can have a number of causes and treatment options:ĭry skin is a really common cause of itching, often affecting the whole body.Comes on suddenly with no obvious cause.Is severe, stops you from sleeping well or interferes with daily living.Has been going on for two weeks or more and hasn’t resolved with home treatment measures.Broadly speaking, itching can be the result of a skin disorder (such as dermatitis), a skin infection, an allergy, or more rarely an imbalance of chemicals in the body: When to see your doctor about itchy skinĪs a general rule, it’s best to see your doctor if the itching: As with all health conditions, it's important to know what the underlying condition is, to be able to treat it effectively. But itching is at best annoying and at worst debilitating – it can interfere with daily life and can be responsible for huge psychological distress.įamily GP Dr Lara Batchat outlines the common causes of itching. Although breaking the itch-scratch cycle is important, often people are told just not to scratch, as though they have control over it. ![]() Unlike pain, itching can be easy for others to dismiss as ‘just a bit of irritation’. Itching, or pruritis to medics, is a really common symptom which, as a GP, I feel often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. ![]()
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