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Itching is often accompanied by the appearance of a different type of rash. But this does not happen in all cases. In this case, the discomfort from that does not become less. In addition, this phenomenon sometimes speaks of certain diseases, the success of which therapy largely depends on how timely it was started. Most of the possible causes are not related to dermatology and can pose a serious health threat.
Why itch without rash
Itching of the whole body may appear from time to time or accompany the person constantly, be insignificant or very pronounced. To get rid of this symptom to the end it will be possible only by determining which reason provoked its development.
Seasonal phenomenon
Itching of the whole body, which is accompanied by dry skin, can occur in any season, various factors can affect this:
- In the summer months, the skin can itch due to photodermatitis (diseases caused by high sensitivity to sunlight), sunburn, vitamin E deficiency.
- In winter, the cause of discomfort can be hypothermia or an allergic reaction to thermal underwear.
- In autumn, this symptom manifests itself as a result of wearing insulated clothing, as well as a stressful state due to lack of sun.
- In the spring months, itching is a sign of vitamin deficiency.
In the autumn-winter period, discomfort on the skin can provoke dry air in the room due to the functioning of the heating systems. In this situation, it is necessary to humidify the air to a level of at least 60%. A humidifier can help with this. If there is no such device in the house, you can use a conventional spray gun by spraying it with water in the room.
Age phenomenon (senile itching)
Over the years, the skin undergoes significant changes. Elasticity is lost, the skin becomes dry. In old age, the symptom of itching of the body occurs quite often. It is usually felt after a person removes clothes.First, the back begins to itch, then the itching goes to the whole body. In addition, at this age, the kidneys and liver begin to work in slow motion, due to which the blood is not sufficiently purified.
As a rule, this itching is not very pronounced and does not cause any inconvenience. You can get rid of discomfort with good moisturizers.
Drug reaction
Medication can provoke the occurrence of itching on the body without rashes. This phenomenon is a negative reaction of the body to the active components of the drug, resulting from individual intolerance. In most cases, this happens after taking antibacterial drugs, aspirin, hormonal contraceptive pills, anabolic steroids. As a rule, discomfort is eliminated when a person takes an antihistamine.
Pregnancy
More than 30% of expectant mothers suffer from itching of the whole body, with no other signs. This is due to changes in the level of hormones, which always happens when the body is rebuilt during pregnancy.In addition, the skin of a woman carrying a baby is gradually stretched. The less elastic it becomes, the more pronounced the discomfort it will experience. As a rule, itchy skin without rash is observed on the abdomen, mammary glands, buttocks. This phenomenon does not require treatment, it usually passes on its own after the birth of the child. However, it is necessary to report this to the doctor, since such a symptom may indicate a developing disease of the endocrine system, liver, and kidneys.
Pruritus
If there is no rash, and the body is itchy, it’s not necessary to wait for everything to go by itself - the cause of this condition is quite serious:
- Skin diseases. Accompanied by redness, itching, rash. However, in the early stages, the body may itch without any other symptoms. If the appropriate measures are not taken on time, the disease can become chronic.
- Xerodermia. Hereditary disease that is successfully treated. Accompanied by dryness and roughness of the skin.
- Diabetes. Itching in this disease appears due to an increase in the concentration of glucose in the blood and excessive dryness of the skin.The increase in unpleasant sensations occurs when the glucose level jumps, therefore, when such a sign arises, it is necessary to take measurements and drink medicine.
- Liver disease. Often there is an itchy sensation without a rash on the background of liver pathologies. Moreover, itching manifests itself long before the rest of the symptoms make themselves known. First, palms and feet begin to itch, then it moves to the whole body.
- Psychoneuroses. The main cause of itching in such a situation is considered a stressful state. He may appear even after a slight excitement. Any part of the body can itch. The main thing in time to detect this phenomenon, to prevent the development of depression.
- Renal failure. Itching of the whole body is observed in 90% of people who suffer from kidney disease. Especially pronounced symptom after hemodialysis.
- Diseases of the blood. With a lack of iron, itching appears in almost all patients. It is localized in the groin, pelvic organs, chest. In addition, there are such clinical manifestations as pallor of the skin, dizziness, distortion of taste.
- Oncological diseases. A severe itching may signal the development of a cancer. In particular, this symptom should be focused on those who have hereditary predisposition, since the disease is not accompanied by specific signs in the early stages. The body is most pruritic in cases of skin, intestinal, pancreatic cancers, less pronounced with kidney tumors.
- Infectious diseases, parasitic microorganisms (HIV, helminths). In a third of cases, the reason that the body begins to itch, are parasitic microorganisms. HIV also causes itching without any other symptoms.
- Autoimmune diseases. The process by which healthy cells are destroyed and replaced by patients is accompanied by severe itching. The tissues of the affected organ mutate. The risk of developing the disease is higher with hereditary predisposition. The success of treatment depends on the timely installation of the diagnosis.
Diagnostics
In the event of such a symptom as itching without rash, it is necessary to contact a medical institution, namely a dermatologist, as soon as possible.Although, as a rule, his advice alone is not enough. If the doctor suspects the presence of any disease, he will give direction to narrow specialists - an immunologist, an endocrinologist, an allergist, a gastroenterologist.
First of all, the doctor listens to the patient's complaints, finds out the smallest details of his condition:
- Body temperature;
- chair;
- weakness;
- insomnia;
- a sharp decrease or, on the contrary, weight gain;
- headaches;
- increase or decrease in blood pressure;
- blurred vision;
- vomiting.
For accurate diagnosis, the following measures are taken:
- general laboratory tests (urine, feces, blood);
- genital swab;
- Ultrasound;
- coagulogram;
- MRI;
- ECG;
- CT scan.
Attention! Before being examined by a doctor, antihistamines should not be taken and manipulations should be carried out to relieve the symptom, otherwise it will not be possible to correctly determine the cause and select the necessary treatment.
What to do?
To solve the problem, an integrated approach is needed. In general, itching and other discomfort disappear only after the provoking factor has been identified and eliminated.Therefore, therapeutic measures should be aimed at combating the underlying disease.
In addition, there are general recommendations that will help improve the condition. They include the following:
- Strictly follow the rules of hygiene. It is advisable to use children's cosmetics for care, so as not to provoke even more irritation of the skin by chemicals. After taking a shower or bath, you should use a moisturizer - for example, apply cosmetic oil on the skin.
- Take a bath with herbal infusions for the night. Chamomile, string, essential oil of pine needles are good for this purpose.
- Tea with mint will be useful, as it has a mild sedative effect, milk with honey, and evening walks in the fresh air.
- Wear things from natural materials, especially underwear.
- Adjusting the diet, removing spicy food and sweets from it, and including fish and lean meat, vegetables and fruits (except citrus fruits), should use no more than one egg per day.
- If the doctor prescribes - take vitamin complexes.
Drug therapy
Depending on the disease that triggered the itch, certain drugs may be prescribed. Consider some of them:
- If the appearance of the symptom is due to allergies, seasonality or age, then the doctor may prescribe a means that reduces the sensitivity of the skin, eliminates the slight itching. These include the following preparations in the form of creams and ointments: Levomekol, Doxepin, Ketotifen. In addition, antihistamines can be used, for example, Suprastin. It should be borne in mind that among their side effects is drowsiness.
- When violations in the liver, drugs are used that reduce the adverse effects of bile - Rifampicin, Metronidazole. As well as means restoring the cells of this organ - Essentiale, Kars, Rezalyut.
- When itching caused by a deficiency of vitamins and essential trace elements, taken vitamin complexes - Alphabet, Vitrum.
- With chenille itching and with diseases of the endocrine system, such agents are prescribed that relieve dryness and itching of the skin - Sinaf, Tavegil, Hydrocortisone.
Folk remedies
Supplementing the basic therapy is allowed with alternative medicine recipes. Only it is necessary to first agree on this issue with your doctor.
Effective anti-itch remedies:
- Vinegar. We must take 9 percent table vinegar, combine it with clean water in a ratio of 1: 1. The resulting tool to handle problem areas of the skin.
- Pion. A healing broth is prepared from the plant. For this you need 1 tbsp. raw materials pour one liter of boiling water, cover with a lid and leave to insist for half an hour. Wipe areas of the body that itch, or apply as lotions.
- Periwinkle. Plant leaves pour cool water at a ratio of 1:20. Put on medium heat, wait until it boils, remove from heat and insist for 60 minutes. Wipe the skin or use as a lotion.
- Camphor oil. Treat the problem area of the skin. Use is convenient only for local pain.
- Ointment of menthol. It is used in the same way as the previous tool.
- Soda solution. Regular baking soda is diluted in clean water. The resulting composition is processed itching places.
- Lemon. Squeeze the juice from one citrus.Add 250 ml of water. Wipe problem areas of the skin.
Why itch without rash appeared, only a specialist will be able to answer. Only he is able to establish the cause and select the appropriate therapy. Therefore, do not delay and let the situation take its course, and even more so to self-medicate, it can only aggravate the condition. If you find these signs, you should immediately seek medical help.
Video: treatment of severe itching of the skin in adults
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