What’s Causing My Skin to Itch?

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Itchy skin, also known as pruritus, is an irritating and uncontrollable sensation that makes you want to scratch to relieve the feeling. The possible causes for itchiness include internal illnesses and skin conditions.

It’s important to see a doctor for itchiness if the cause isn’t obvious. A doctor can find the underlying cause and provide treatments for relief. Several home remedies such as over-the-counter creams and moisturizers work well for itching.

Conditions that cause itching, with pictures

There are many reasons your skin could itch. Here is a list of 30 possible causes.

Warning: graphic images ahead.

Dry skin

Scaling, itching, and cracking
Most common on the legs, arms, and abdomen
Can often be solved with lifestyle changes

Read full article on dry skin.

Food allergy

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

Occurs when your immune system reacts inappropriately to common substances found in foods or drinks
Symptoms range from mild to severe and include sneezing, itchy eyes, swelling, rash, hives, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing
Depending on your immune system’s response, symptoms may occur minutes to hours after consuming a food that causes allergic reaction
Common allergy trigger foods include: cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, and soy

Read full article on food allergies.

End stage renal disease

An autoimmune disease that displays a wide variety of symptoms that affect many different body systems and organs
A wide array of skin and mucous membrane symptoms that range from rashes to ulcers
Classic butterfly-shaped face rash that crosses from cheek to cheek over the nose
Rashes may appear or worsen with sun exposure

Read full article on end stage renal disease.

Candida

Usually occurs in skin folds (armpits, buttocks, under breasts, between fingers and toes)
Begins with itching, stinging, and burning red rash with wet appearance and dry crusting at the edges
Progresses to cracked and sore skin with blisters and pustules that may become infected with bacteria

Read full article on candida.

Biliary (bile duct) obstruction

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

Most commonly caused by gallstones, but may also be caused by injury to the liver or gallbladder, inflammation, tumors, infections, cysts, or liver damage
Yellowing of the skin or eyes, extremely itchy skin without rash, light-colored stools, very dark urine
Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever
Obstruction can cause serious infection that requires urgent medical attention

Read full article on biliary (bile duct) obstruction.

Cirrhosis

Diarrhea, decreased appetite and weight loss, swelling belly
Easy bruising and bleeding
Small, spider-shaped blood vessels visible underneath the skin
Yellowing of the skin or eyes and itchy skin

Read full article on cirrhosis.

Ragweed allergy

Itchy, watery eyes
Scratchy or sore throat
Runny nose, congestion, and sneezing
Sinus pressure

Read full article on ragweed allergies.

Diaper rash

Rash located on areas that have contact with a diaper
Skin looks red, wet, and irritated
Warm to the touch

Read full article on diaper rash.

Allergic reaction

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

Rashes occur when your immune system reacts to allergens on the skin
Itchy, raised welts that appear minutes to hours after skin contact with an allergen
Red, itchy, scaly rash that may appear hours to days after skin contact with an allergen
Severe and sudden allergic reactions may cause swelling and difficulty breathing that require emergency attention

Read full article on allergic reactions.

Athlete’s foot

Itching, stinging, and burning between the toes or on the soles of feet
Blisters on the feet that itch
Discolored, thick, and crumbly toenails
Raw skin on the feet

Read full article on athlete’s foot.

Contact dermatitis

Appears hours to days after contact with an allergen
Rash has visible borders and appears where your skin touched the irritating substance
Skin is itchy, red, scaly, or raw
Blisters that weep, ooze, or become crusty

Read full article on contact dermatitis.

Flea bites

Usually located in clusters on the lower legs and feet
Itchy, red bump surrounded by a red halo
Symptoms begin immediately after being bitten

Read full article on flea bites.

Hives

Itchy, raised welts that occur after exposure to an allergen
Red, warm, and mildly painful to the touch
Can be small, round, and ring-shaped or large and randomly shaped

Read full article on hives.

Allergic eczema

May resemble a burn
Often found on hands and forearms
Skin is itchy, red, scaly, or raw
Blisters that weep, ooze, or become crusty

Read full article on allergic eczema.

Rashes

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

Defined as a noticeable change in the color or texture of the skin
May be caused by many things, including insect bites, allergic reactions, medication side effects, fungal skin infection, bacterial skin infection, infectious disease, or autoimmune disease
Many rash symptoms can be managed at home, but severe rashes, especially those seen in combination with other symptoms such as fever, pain, dizziness, vomiting, or difficulty breathing, may require urgent medical treatment

Read full article on rashes.

Body lice

Different from head or pubic lice, body lice and their tiny eggs can sometimes be seen on the body or clothing
Rash caused by an allergic reaction to body lice bites
Red, itchy bumps on the skin
Thickened or darkened areas of skin are common in irritated areas

Read full article on body lice.

Impetigo

Common in babies and children
Rash is often located in the area around the mouth, chin, and nose
Irritating rash and fluid-filled blisters that pop easily and form a honey-colored crust

Read full article on impetigo.

Head lice

A louse is about the size of a sesame seed, and both lice and their eggs (nits) may be visible in the hair
Extreme scalp itchiness caused by allergic reaction to louse bites
Sores on your scalp from scratching
Feeling like something is crawling on your scalp

Read full article on head lice.

Bites and stings

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

Redness or swelling at the site of the bite or sting
Itching and soreness at the site of the bite
Pain in the affected area or in the muscles
Heat around the bite or sting

Read full article on bites and stings.

Jock itch

Redness, persistent itching, and burning in the groin area
Flaking, peeling, or cracking skin in the groin area
Rash in the groin area that worsens with activity

Read full article on jock itch.

Ringworm

Circular-shaped scaly rashes with raised border
Skin in the middle of the ring appears clear and healthy, and the edges of the ring may spread outward
Itchy

Read full article on ringworm.

Eczema

Yellow or white scaly patches that flake off
Affected areas may be red, itchy, greasy, or oily
Hair loss may occur in the area with the rash

Read full article on eczema.

Latex allergy

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

Rash may occur within minutes to hours after exposure to a latex product
Warm, itchy, red wheals at the site of contact that may take on a dry, crusted appearance with repeated exposure to latex
Airborne latex particles may cause cough, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes
A severe allergy to latex can cause swelling and difficulty breathing

Read full article on latex allergies.

Scabies

Symptoms may take four to six weeks to appear
Extremely itchy rash may be pimply, made up of tiny blisters, or scaly
Raised, white or flesh-toned lines

Read full article on scabies.

Measles

Symptoms include fever, sore throat, red, watery eyes, loss of appetite, cough, and runny nose
Red rash spreads from the face down the body three to five days after first symptoms appear
Tiny red spots with blue-white centers appear inside the mouth

Read full article on measles.

Psoriasis

Scaly, silvery, sharply defined skin patches
Commonly located on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back
May be itchy or asymptomatic

Read full article on psoriasis.

Dermatographia

Rash that appears soon after rubbing or lightly scratching the skin
Rubbed or scratched areas of skin turn red, become raised, develop wheals, and may be slightly itchy
Rash usually disappears within 30 minutes

Read full article on dermatographia.

Chickenpox

Clusters of itchy, red, fluid-filled blisters in various stages of healing all over the body
Rash is accompanied by fever, body aches, sore throat, and loss of appetite
Remains contagious until all blisters have crusted over

Read full article on chickenpox.

Pinworms

Most common type of intestinal worm infection in the United States
Highly contagious
Symptoms include intense itching and irritation in the anal area, restless sleep and discomfort due to anal itching, pinworms in stool
May be diagnosed using the “tape test” to collect eggs for your healthcare provider to examine under a microscope

Read full article on pinworms.

Poison ivy

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

Caused by skin contact with urushiol, which is an oil found on the leaves, roots, and stems of the poison ivy plant
Rash appears approximately 4 to 48 hours after contact with the plant and may last up to to a month after exposure
Intense itching, redness, and swelling as well as fluid-filled blisters
Often appears in streak-like lines where the oil brushed against the skin

Read full article on poison ivy.

Poison oak

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

Caused by skin contact with urushiol, which is an oil found on the leaves, roots, and stems of the poison oak plant
Rash appears approximately 4 to 48 hours after contact with the plant and may last up to a month after exposure
Intense itching, redness, and swelling as well as fluid-filled blisters

Read full article on poison oak.

Causes of itching

Itchiness can be generalized (all over the body) or localized to one small region or spot. The possible causes are numerous and varied. It may be a result of something very serious, such as kidney failure or diabetes (though uncommon), or can come from something less severe, such as dry skin or insect bites (more likely).

Skin conditions

Many skin conditions that are common can cause itchy skin. The following can affect any area of skin on the body:

dermatitis: inflammation of the skin
eczema: a chronic skin disorder that includes itchy, scaly rashes
psoriasis: an autoimmune disease that causes skin redness and irritation, usually in the form of plaques
dermatographism: a raised, red, itchy rash caused by pressure on the skin

Infections that cause itching include:

chickenpox
measles
fungal rashes
mites, including bed bugs
lice
pinworms
scabies

Irritants

Substances that irritate the skin and make it itchy are common. Plants such as poison ivy and poison oak and insects such as mosquitoes produce substances that cause itching. Some people get itchy when in contact with wool, perfumes, certain soaps or dyes, and chemicals. Allergies, including food allergies, can irritate the skin as well.

Internal disorders

Some internal diseases that may be very serious cause itching. The following diseases may cause generalized itching, but the skin usually appears normal:

bile duct obstruction
cirrhosis
anemia
leukemia
thyroid disease
lymphoma
kidney failure

Nervous system disorders

Other diseases can cause itching as well, especially those that affect the nerves. These include:

diabetes
multiple sclerosis
shingles
neuropathy

Medications

The following common medicines often cause rashes and widespread itching:

antifungals
antibiotics (especially sulfa-based antibiotics)
narcotic painkillers
anticonvulsant medications

Pregnancy

Some women experience itching when pregnant. It usually occurs on the breasts, arms, abdomen, or thighs. Sometimes this is due to a preexisting condition, such as eczema, that is made worse by the pregnancy.

When to seek medical help

See your healthcare provider if:

you don’t know what’s causing your itching
it’s severe
you experience other symptoms along with the itching

It’s important to see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis when the cause isn’t obvious because some of the causes of itching are serious, yet treatable, conditions.

Diagnosing the cause of your itch

Your healthcare provider will give you a physical examination and will ask you several questions about your symptoms, such as:

How long have you had the irritation?
Does it come and go?
Have you been in contact with any irritating substances?
Do you have allergies?
Where is the itching most severe?
What medications are you taking (or have recently taken)?

You may need to undergo more tests if your healthcare provider can’t determine the cause of your itching from your answers and a physical exam. Tests include:

blood test: may indicate an underlying condition
test of your thyroid function: can rule out thyroid issues
skin test: to determine if you’re having an allergic reaction to something
scraping or biopsy of your skin: can determine if you have an infection

Once your healthcare provider has pinpointed the cause of your itchiness, you can be treated. If the cause is a disease or infection, they will suggest the best course of treatment for the underlying problem. When the cause is more superficial, you may receive a prescription for a cream that will help relieve the itching.

Home care for itching

At home, there are several things you can do to prevent and relieve itchy skin. Try:

using a good moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated
avoiding scratching, which can worsen the itch
staying away from soaps, detergents, and other substances that contain perfumes and color dyes
taking a cool bath with oatmeal or baking soda
trying over-the-counter anti-itch creams
taking an oral antihistamine

Shop for moisturizers.

Most itching is treatable and doesn’t indicate a serious problem. However, it’s best to check with your doctor to confirm a diagnosis and treatment.