Itching, otherwise known as pruritus, is a common symptom of many conditions. Nerves in the skin become activated and trigger a scratch reflex, then scratching may or may not relieve the itching. Inflammation involving histamine and several inflammatory mediators can intensify itching and pain.

The most common causes of itching are dry skin or contact with an irritant. Local itching may also result from eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, insect bites (scabies, lice), or infections such as Candida, tinea, and herpes.

Generalised itching may be a symptom of liver conditions such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and jaundice, or indicate that the liver is metabolising something toxic. Thyroid conditions, diabetes, kidney failure (uraemia), blood disorders, iron deficiency anaemia, polycythaemia, malignancy, and pharmaceutical drugs are also possible causes.

Severe pruritus is conventionally treated with anti-histamines or corticosteroid creams. It may also be classified as psychogenic if it does not respond to superficial treatment, which indicates counselling.

Treatment

General

Check for environmental irritants, sensitivity to synthetic textiles and fabric dyes, toxic workplace chemicals, detergents, personal care products, and cosmetics. Only use organic soaps and cosmetics. Parasites such as worms (anus), scabies or lice should be ruled out along with other infections.

The skin can be difficult to treat if the problem is not caused by an external factor which can be easily identified and removed. The itching may result from deeper problems of metabolism and detoxification, something we call encumbrance, and the skin is merely acting as a channel of elimination. This also suggests that the other channels may be acting insufficiently or are overburdened (bowel, urine, breath, skin, lymphatics).

The conventional medical approach is to suppress skin eruptions with creams which drives the energy producing the symptom inwards, temporarily out of sight. This pleases the patient initially but may result in an on-going cycle of  flair-ups, with a declining effectiveness of the creams. Prolonged use of the creams also has side-effects.

This strategy may also cause more serious trouble later as the suppressed energy finds expression in a new symptom arising from deeper organ systems somewhere out of sight—energy cannot be destroyed. For example, suppressed eczema often results in asthma, which is then treated as an entirely separate disease with ventolin.

Tea tree oil may be affective to stop itching, as with apple cider vinegar or jojoba oil, while the cause is being identified.

Diet

The modern urban diet can contain many additives, preservatives, flavours, and agricultural residues which cause an array of skin symptoms. Check for food sensitivities such as dairy, eggs, or gluten with an eliminate-and-challenge diet or an IgG test. The diet should contain adequate amounts of skin nutrients: B-vitamins, vitamins A and C, omega-3, protein, and zinc. Olive oil can be rubbed in the skin and used as a lubricant.

Herbs

Anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic herbs are used topically such as chickweed, aloe vera, chamomile, golden seal, and marigold. Strong infusions can be made and applied cool, or oils and creams made with olive oil and beeswax, or from tinctures mixed in a vitamin E cream base. Marigold flowers and chickweed can be dried and steeped in warm olive oil to make a good soothing, anti-itch oil or cream.

Vaginal dryness and itchiness can be treated with aloe vera gel, and dryness due to menopause with black cohosh.

There are several useful herbs to encourage detoxification and the clearance of wastes through the channels of elimination: dandelion, milk thistle, yellow dock, sarsaparilla, red clover, clivers, Oregon grape, and burdock.

Tissue Salts

Ferrum phos is for treating any acute inflammation. Calcium sulph  treats abscesses, acne, ulcers, and boils with purulent discharge. Silica is for infected eruptions and fungal infections.

Homeopathy:

Apis-m—itching hives, red wheels; itching, burning, stinging, hot, red, swollen; prickly heat; skin alternately dry and sweaty; worse  at night.

Arse-a—very itchy, burning skin; pimples, eczema, vesicles burn; psoriasis with scales; worse scratching, cold; hair loss; better heat.

Causticum—itching skin; skin cracks, ulcerates; sore in skin folds; bleeding warts; effects of burns.

Graphites—cracked, extremely dry skin; burning, raw in folds of skin; dry or moist eruptions (eczema); exude a gluey moisture or bleed; worse from heat.

Merc-s—moist, crusty eruptions; ulcers, boils, and pimples; itching at night in bed, burning; excess perspiration.

Psorinum—any eruption; dirty, rough, oily skin; eruptions in folds; intolerable itching worse heat of bed; scratches until skin bleeds; recurs every winter; very chilly person.

Rhus-t—hot, burning skin; vesicular eruptions, herpes; urticaria; worse hairy places; sensitive to cold air.

Sepia—rough, hard, cracked, blotched skin; itching from ringworm; itching eruptions in folds of limbs; urticaria worse open air; sallow face.

Silica—suppurating skin conditions, itching and burning; boils, ulcers, and pustules; fungal infections; worse daytime and evening.

Sulphur—almost any kind of eruption; dry, rough, scaly skin; itching worse at night, warmth of bed, washing, scratching, air; scratching causes the skin to burn; crops of boils or pimples.

Disclaimer: this article is intended for the purpose of general education only, and is not a substitute for diagnosis, treatment advice, or a prescription that is given in a consultation with a qualified physician.