Itchy skin can be a nuisance, especially if you’re worried about flaking on people. But if you’re left itching constantly and without relief, it could be a sign of an issue in your body.
There are a lot of things that cause the skin to itch, and the following might just be the culprits behind your itchy skin:
Stress
Stress can cause the skin to itch because it takes away your ability to cope with it. When you’re stressed, your sympathetic nervous system gets activated, which causes your brain to overcompensate and sends you into fight-or-flight mode.
This leaves your adrenal glands pumping out cortisol. Cortisol can lead to inflammation and irritation in the skin, so when you’re stressed, it can cause itchy skin.
Seasonal Allergies
Due to the seasonal fluctuations, your body can’t regulate its temperature and starts to overheat. When it’s hot out, this can cause the skin to itch.
However, if you’re allergic to your new home and haven’t properly acclimated to the changing weather, the heat can become even more irritating to the skin and cause it to itch. There are hundreds of itching treatment remedies available on the internet to treat itching (eczema).
Environmental Allergies
Environmental allergies are usually triggered by pollen. Many common pollen types—such as tree pollen—are seasonal and don’t make their way indoors. Other types can be found in all seasons and can cause a rash of symptoms in people with allergies to those types.
Allergies
Depending on your allergy, it may also cause symptoms like eczema or psoriasis. You may also develop these issues if you have an environmental allergy.
Certain Medications
Certain medications, such as prescription and over-the-counter drugs, can also cause itching. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, such medications include asthma medications, some antihistamines, contraceptives, and estrogen birth control pills.
The reason your skin itches is that your body is likely trying to self-treat your allergy or irritant.
Radiation
Medical imaging can also make the skin itchy. Medical imaging uses x-rays and ultrasound to visualize the body, but exposure to these medical imaging agents can cause your body to react in ways that aren’t ideal for long-term health. This exposure can lead to dryness, itching, and skin damage. If the exposure to these imaging agents is too much, you could end up with a rash on your skin or itchy skin.
Medications
Antihistamines are another common drug that can be triggering itchiness. According to the Mayo Clinic, they may cause your body to produce antibodies, which may cause itchiness and dermatitis.
A Yeast infection
Any type of infection can cause itchiness, but a yeast infection is one of the worst. A yeast infection is an infection in the skin or vagina that’s caused by yeast. These types of infections are usually due to an overgrowth of yeast, and yeast can grow in just about any area of the body where there’s skin.
While an overgrowth of yeast is common in places that have higher humidity or where the skin is moist, like a damp bathing suit or a sweaty foot, yeast infections can also happen when you’re healthy and not exposed to a lot of moisture.
Antibiotic
Antibiotic medications can sometimes cause itchiness, especially if you take them too long and have poor compliance. Antibiotics are great when you need them, but antibiotics that aren’t used for medical purposes are often prescribed for short-term use and aren’t well-tolerated by the human body.
When these medications are taken for longer than necessary, the chemicals can build up and cause damage to the body’s natural bacteria, which in turn can lead to itchiness and rashes.
Chafing
A cut or scrape can also cause the skin to be itchy. This can be caused by, for example, wearing a tight-fitting bathing suit or sports bra. If you have a cut or scrape, it’s important to clean and dress the wound. Always wash the area before dressing the area.
Treatment
While itchiness and rashes are common, they are treatable but these are not the type of pimples. If you suspect that you have an STD or you’re dealing with an itchy rash, you should see your doctor.
They can prescribe antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory drugs to treat the infection, and also provide other resources, including counseling, to help you make sure you’re safe and you’re living a healthy lifestyle to prevent any future rashes.
Norah is a food and sports lover. She likes to do yoga and body weight exercises. She completed her high school and doing college in Amsterdam.