What is itching ?
Itching is the sensation created thereby tending to scratch the itchy place, scouring or pushing on it. The function of itching consists in that one removes parasites and other animals, plants, and particles of other foreign things of the skin; they might be dangerous or sickening.
It was assumed that itching had an extremely slight variation of pain. But in 2009 proved researchers from the University of Washington that itch and pain signals take different paths in the nervous system. They are so fundamentally different sensations. Crabs reduces the stimulus of the nerves which is sent to the brains.
What causes itching ?
There are many causes of itching; the best known are a persistent sensation of moving light touch on the skin and itching caused due to an allergic reaction to foreign protein body charged with insect bites in the skin. However, there are dozens of other known causes. Dermatologists distinguish itchy skin diseases and itching without skin lesions. Itchy skin diseases include
-Xerosis cutis (dry skin)
-Eczema, itching in virtually 100% of the cases,
-Psoriasis, itching in 84% of cases
-Hives
-Prurigo parasitaria eg flea bites.
Itching without abnormalities of the skin can have many causes.
-Jaundice (icterus), itching in more than 75% of the cases, at the time of the diagnosis less
-Diabetes mellitus (diabetes), pruritis in 3% of the cases,
-Parasitic infections of the skin, or the gastro-intestinal tract such as Strongyloides
-Anemia (anemia), itching is common
-Senilitas (old age), with the increase of years, the skin drier.
-Toxicodermie: as a side effect of drugs, mostly antibiotics.
-AIDS
Itching also occurs in:
-Cancers with solid tumors, do not often
-Herpes zoster, itching in almost half of the cases,
-Excessive thyroid hardworking, itching in about 5% of cases
-Anorexia, itching in 58% of cases
-Polycythemia, itching in about half of the cases, at the time of the diagnosis less
-Pregnancy, itching in 58% of cases
Itching may be caused by damage to, or pinching of the nerves. For example, the disorder brachioradiale pruritus has been described, wherein pinched nerves and itching caused in the vicinity of the Brachioradialis. Itching can also be psychosomatic; they can occur after a "major life events" (death, divorce, dismissal, etc.), along with depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Prolonged or intense itching can seriously disrupt the quality of life, as pain can. It drives many people to despair.
Itching treatment
General measures
If a cause is found, treatment thereof designated.
-Regular greasing of the skin
-Avoiding heat (not to the sauna)
-Avoid alcohol on the skin
-Avoid spicy meals, large volumes of hot drinks and alcoholic beverages
-In the case of a skin disease of the skin gently drying (after washing)
-In the case of eczema, house dust avoidance
-Cold shower; this may also provoke pruritus by a drying effect on the skin
-Cold, cool skin, is often experienced as pleasant
-Avoid stress