Itchy Skin
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Itchy
The skin is itchy and has scratches
Skin itching that worsens at night
Itch is mild
Itching
Scratching the skin
Nighttime itch is worse
Persistent, mild itch
Itch
A scratch
Itch improves during the day
Itch is minor
About the Symptom
Skin itching is an irritating and uncontrollable sensation that makes a person wants to scratch to relieve the feeling. Most itching is not serious. To feel better, you could try: Applying cold compresses Using moisturizing creams Taking lukewarm or oatmeal baths Using over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or antihistamines Avoiding wearing irritating fabrics, and exposure to high heat and humidity
Possible Causes
Generally, Itchy skin can be related to:
- Scabies
A highly contagious disease caused by Scabies mites. It can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact or contact with the clothes or furniture of infected individuals.
- Dyshidrotic Eczema
This refers to a skin inflammation where small blisters develop on the fingers, palms, and soles.
- Crab Louse
An infestation caused by tiny insects living in pubic hair, resulting in itching. It is often sexually transmitted, but can also be acquired by using infested towels or beds.
- Pruritus
- Id reaction
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Prurigo Nodularis
- Lip Licker's Dermatitis
- Contact Dermatitis
- Asteatotic Eczema
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have itchy skin?
- When did you first notice your itchy skin?
- How often do you experience itchy skin?
- How is your itchy skin now?
- Have you scratched your skin until it was damaged?
Reviewed By:
Sarita Nori, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Sarita Nori was drawn to dermatology because of the intersection of science and medicine that is at the heart of dermatology. She feels this is what really allows her to help her patients. “There is a lot of problem-solving in dermatology and I like that,” she explains. “It’s also a profession where you can help people quickly and really make a difference in their lives.” | Some of the typical skin problems that Dr. Nori treats include skin cancers, psoriasis, acne, eczema, rashes, and contact dermatitis. Dr Nori believes in using all possible avenues of treatment, such as biologics, especially in patients with chronic diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. “These medications can work superbly, and they are really life-changing for many patients.” | Dr. Nori feels it’s important for patients to have a good understanding of the disease or condition that is affecting them. “I like to educate my patients on their problem and have them really understand it so they can take the best course of action. Patients always do better when they understand their skin condition, and how to treat it.”
Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- There is itching throughout the body
- Itch is worse at night compared to the day
- Itching on the soles of the feet
- There are scratches on the skin
- Itching on the back of the hand
- I have itching on my forehead
- Scratched skin
- Minor itch
- I have a whole body itch
- Itch worse at night
- Mild itch
See full list
User Testimonials for Itchy skin
Female, Teens
Ubie helped by matching my symptoms to something that was a serious diagnosis. Apart from asking multiple questions it was quite accurate as the dermatologist had a similar analysis. My symptoms included itchy patchy skin with many red rashes, swelling, and irritated skin texture. My dermatologist finally diagnosed me with eczema.
(Feb 1, 2025)
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FAQs
Q.
The "Needle Prick" Sensation: Why Your Skin Feels Like Pins and Needles When You Aren't Even Moving
A.
Pins and needles when you are not moving is usually paresthesia, most often from anxiety-related skin crawling, mild nerve irritation, or vitamin B12, B6, or B1 deficiencies. Other contributors include circulation changes, blood sugar imbalance, hormonal shifts, and some skin conditions, and many cases are manageable once the cause is identified. There are several factors and red flags to consider that may change your next steps, such as symptoms that persist or worsen, are one sided, occur with weakness, vision or speech changes, bladder or bowel issues, or sudden severe neurological symptoms; see the complete guidance below for what to do next.
References:
* Mendelsohn AB, Brannagan TH 3rd. Paresthesias: an update on etiologies and management. Med Clin North Am. 2019 Mar;103(2):339-351. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2018.10.007. PMID: 30716654.
* Novak P. Small fiber neuropathy: a systematic review. Muscle Nerve. 2016 May;53(5):671-80. doi: 10.1002/mus.25055. Epub 2016 Mar 29. PMID: 27040430.
* Lalic T, Djordjevic G, Jevtovic Stoimenov T. Neurologic complications of vitamin B12 deficiency. Acta Clin Croat. 2017 Mar;56(1):15-20. doi: 10.20471/acc.2017.56.01.03. PMID: 28527845.
* Zollinger G, Hauer S, Gasser T. Numbness, tingling, and sensory loss. Handb Clin Neurol. 2022;186:143-152. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-99742-1.00008-0. PMID: 35926615.
* Ghasemi M. Cryptogenic sensory polyneuropathy: a review. Curr Opin Neurol. 2021 Aug 1;34(4):534-541. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000000949. PMID: 34213904.
Q.
The "Down There" Itch: Why Shaving or Your Leggings Are Causing Chronic Skin Peeling
A.
Shaving and tight leggings often cause chronic groin and inner thigh itching and peeling by creating friction, trapping heat and moisture, and disrupting the skin barrier, leading to dermatitis or fungal infections. Relief usually comes from pausing hair removal, switching to breathable loose clothing, keeping the area dry, and using the right treatment for the cause, while persistent or severe symptoms should prompt medical care. There are several factors to consider; see below for key clues to tell dermatitis from fungus, warning signs that need attention, and step-by-step next actions.
References:
* Chen J, Wang Y, Yao S, Wu D. Complications of female genital hair removal. J Clin Aesthetic Dermatol. 2014 Dec;7(12):19-24. PMID: 25484024.
* Gupta M, Singh O, Kumar B. Dermatological problems caused by tight-fitting clothes: a review of the literature. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2022 Nov-Dec;88(6):830-835. doi: 10.4103/ijdvl.ijdvl_1156_21. PMID: 35992983.
* Lewis FM, Shah M. Pruritus vulvae: a practical guide. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2020 Jan;45(1):7-13. doi: 10.1111/ced.14013. Epub 2019 Nov 19. PMID: 31745917.
* Farrell AM, Kim S. Vulvar Contact Dermatitis. Dermatitis. 2022 May-Jun 01;33(3):e115-e117. doi: 10.1097/DER.0000000000000782. PMID: 35500057.
* Ogunyemi D, Olowoyeye A, Patel R, Gopinath K. Pseudofolliculitis Barbae. 2023 Apr 17. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. PMID: 32644717.
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Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Tivoli YA, Rubenstein RM. Pruritus: an updated look at an old problem. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2009 Jul;2(7):30-6. PMID: 20729968; PMCID: PMC2924137.