Itch causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Ogechukwu Hannah Nnabude, MD

Common causes of itch include skin diseases, systemic diseases, allergies, medications, insect stings among many others

The feeling of itchiness can be caused by a movement of hair or the release of a chemical (histamine) from cells under the skin. Itchiness is regarded as protective, as it helps creatures remove parasites that land on their skin.

Causes of itching listed in alphabetical order:

• Allergic reactions due to contact with specific chemicals, such as Urushiol from Poison Ivy or Poison Oak.
• Cholestasis ^[1]
• Skin conditions (such as psoriasis, eczema, sunburn, athlete’s foot, Dandruff and many others). Most are of an inflammatory nature.
• Diabetes Mellitus^{[2] [3]}
• Drug Side Effect: acamprosate calcium, acetaminophen, acetylcysteine, acitretin, aldesleukin, alitretinoin, aprepitant, azficel-T, betamethasone valerate]], bicalutamide, butorphanol, capsaicin, caspofungin acetate, cetrorelix, Ceftazidime, clocortolone pivalate, conjugated estrogens, D-Aminolevulinic acid, denileukin diftitox, docetaxel, doxorubicin Hydrochloride, diphenoxylate hydrochloride and atropine sulfate, ecallantide, epinastine hydrochloride, epirubicin , ergotamine tartrate, ethambutol, felbamate, fosphenytoin sodium, gallium Citrate Ga 67, halcinonide, Histrelin, hydrochlorothiazide, hydrocodone bitartrate, hydrocortisone butyrate, Hydroxyprogesterone caproate, Idursulfase, imiglucerase, ipilimumab, ivermectin, ketorolac tromethamine, lidocaine (cream), meropenem, mometasone furoate, morphine,naproxen sodium, nivolumab, ofloxacin, omega-3-acid ethyl esters, panitumumab, Penciclovir, piroxicam, permethrin, ribavirin, rifampin, sargramostim, sertaconazole, siltuximab, sinecatechins, sodium aurothiomalate, spironolactone, sulconazole, tacrolimus,taliglucerase alfa tazarotene, thallous Chloride Tl 201, tolbutamide, travoprost, tretinoin, triazolam, Trimethoprim, Von Willebrand factor
• Hodgkin’s disease ^{[4] [5]}
• Iron deficiency anemia ^[6]
• Insect bites, such as those from mosquitos, ants, and ticks.
• Jaundice as (bilirubin is a skin irritant at high concentrations)
• Parasitic infections
• Photodermatitis – sunlight reacts with chemicals in the skin, leading to the formation of irritant metabolites
• Polycythemia, which can cause generalized itching due to increased histamine as a result of higher numbers of mast cells
• Psychiatric
• Related to pregnancy:
  • Gestational pemphigoid
  • Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPP)
• Scabies or infection with lice or worms
• Thyroid disease ^[7]
• Uremia ^[8]
• Xerosis which is dryness of the skin, is the most common cause of itching and is frequently seen in winters. Associated with older age, frequent bathing in hot showers or baths, and high temperature and low humidity environments.

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