#WHOLE BODY ITCHING REASON SKIN#
#WHOLE BODY ITCHING REASON PROFESSIONAL#

When you lose these cells, their ability to inhibit itch also is lost.” “What exactly Merkel cells do has not been clear, but our findings suggest they help control the itch response. “As the number of Merkel cells went down, problems with touch-related itch went up,” Hu said. Not having as many Merkel cells made itch problems more likely when the animals were poked with a hairlike nylon device that scientists use to study itch responses. They also found fewer of these touch receptors in animals with dry skin.

#WHOLE BODY ITCHING REASON SKIN#

Studying mice, the scientists discovered that the number of touch receptors called Merkel cells in the skin declined as the animals aged. “It can be more than a nuisance, and there are no drugs available to treat this type of itching, so we wanted to identify the underlying causes in hopes of finding better ways to treat it.” “Itching caused by touch becomes more common as we age and is especially problematic for people with dry skin or who already suffer from chronic itching,” said senior investigator Hongzhen Hu, PhD, an associate professor of anesthesiology who conducts research as part of the university’s Center for the Study of Itch. The fewer the receptors, the more likely it is that touching will induce itching. Their research, published May 4 in the journal Science, indicates that itching caused by touch is directly related to the number of touch receptors embedded in the skin. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis have discovered, in mice, why a touch can cause such severe itching and, in the process, identified some possible therapeutic targets. What’s worse, anti-itch treatments, including hydrocortisone, don’t provide much relief for this type of itching. It’s also important to maintain a healthy diet, get plenty of sleep every night, and exercise regularly.Īny underlying medical conditions should also be addressed.For some people, particularly those who are elderly, even a light touch of the skin or contact with clothing can lead to unbearable itching. Here are a few things you can try:Ī therapist can provide behavior modification therapy and other strategies to lessen anxiety. Since stress can aggravate the itch, you’ll also need to take steps to lower your stress levels. Keep your fingernails trimmed so that if you do scratch, you’re less likely to break the skin.When itching is impossible to ignore, put on some gloves or cover your skin to prevent yourself from scratching.Try over-the-counter products such as corticosteroid cream, calamine lotion, or topical anesthetics.Avoid rough clothing, hot baths, harsh sunlight, or anything else that contributes to itchiness.Run a humidifier to help keep your skin moist.Use hypoallergenic, fragrance-free moisturizer every day.Here are some things you can do on your own to help relieve itching: light therapy sessions may help get itching under control.oral selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a type of antidepressant that may ease chronic itching in some people.corticosteroids or other soothing creams or ointments.Psychologists can also help with dermatological problems related to anxiety. If your skin is seriously affected, you might also need to see a dermatologist.

#WHOLE BODY ITCHING REASON PROFESSIONAL#

A mental health professional can help you learn to manage anxiety, which can alleviate that aggravating itch. So, it’s worth seeking treatment.Īside from your primary care physician, you might benefit from seeing a specialist or perhaps two. No matter the cause, unrelenting itching can have a negative impact on your overall quality of life. Treatment depends on the specific causes of anxiety and itching.

On the other hand, the skin condition and relentless itching may have come first, prompting the anxiety. Not only that, but the scratching probably won’t do much to relieve the itch. This can leave you with irritated, broken, or bleeding skin. The itch can happen at the same time as symptoms of anxiety or it can occur separately.Įven if the cause of your itching is anxiety, serious skin problems can develop if you scratch too much or too vigorously. You might feel it only intermittently or it could be quite persistent. You can experience this sensation anywhere on your skin, including your arms, legs, face, and scalp.

This can affect your nervous system and cause sensory symptoms like burning or itching of the skin, with or without visible signs.

When anxiety kicks in, your body’s stress response can go into overdrive. Your brain is always communicating with nerve endings in your skin. The weight of mental or emotional stress can also lead to some serious itching. Just think about how a brief moment of embarrassment can cause you to blush or how being nervous can make some people break out in hives. Anxiety is related to a number of skin problems. Anxiety, especially if it’s chronic, can affect your health in many ways.

Whole body itching reason