Itching is one of the most common dermatological complaints, and it can manifest itself not only in patients with dermatoses, but also in a wide range of general diseases. This is an unpleasant sensation, which is accompanied by a continuous need for reciprocal mechanical irritation of the skin. It can significantly affect the general condition and quality of life of patients, causing insomnia, anxiety, and in severe cases even leading to depression and suicidal thoughts. In addition, there are different types of pruritus, which you can read about further on estet-portal.com.
Types of pruritus depending on the pathological conditions of the body
The type of itching is determined by the causes of its occurrence. Allocate itching - paresthesia, which is a feeling of tingling, mild burning, crawling. It develops with increased pain sensitivity of the skin and decreases with stroking or light pressure on the itch. The main causes of pruritus read on estet-portal.com. Biopsy itching leads to deep damage to the skin. As a result of prolonged itching and scratching, excoriations, pigmentation, scarring, lichenification and pyoderma occur.
Peculiarities and types of pruritus in syndromes of different origin:
- Cholestatic (hepatic) itching is one of the most painful and persistent symptoms of chronic cholestasis.
Hepatic itching occurs in 100% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis of the liver and in almost 50% is the reason for visiting a doctor. Often precedes all other symptoms of cirrhosis.
Usually, itching is generalized, more pronounced on the limbs, thighs, abdomen, and with obstructive jaundice - on the palms, soles, in the interdigital folds of the hands and feet, under tight clothing.
- Uremic itching - occurs in chronic renal failure, may be local or diffuse, more pronounced on the skin of the neck, shoulder girdle, extremities, genitals, nose. Itching is intense, worse at night or immediately after dialysis, and also during the summer months.
- Diabetic pruritus often occurs in the anogenital region, ear canals, in some patients it is diffuse.
- Hyperthyroid pruritus is observed in 4-10% of patients with thyrotoxicosis, diffuse, soft, intermittent.
- Hypothyroid pruritus caused by dry skin, generalized, sometimes very intense, up to excoriations.
- Menopausal itching is observed mainly in the anogenital region, in the axillary folds, on the chest, tongue, palate, often has a paroxysmal course.
Types of pruritus in hematological and lymphoproliferative diseases
Hodgkin's disease is characterized by a generalized or local type of pruritus, its foci are determined above the lymph nodes. Iron deficiency anemia is accompanied by the appearance of anogenital itching, with polycythemia, itching on the head, neck and extremities is characteristic. With polycythemia, there is a stabbing or burning appearance of skin itching, acrogenic itching may precede the disease by several years.
Paraneoplastic pruritus sometimes appears several years before the onset of the disease. It can be local or generalized, of varying intensity.
For some forms of cancer, there is a specific localization of itching:
- with prostate cancer - itching of the scrotum and perineum;
- with cervical cancer - vaginal itching;
- with cancer of the rectum - perianal area;
- with a brain tumor infiltrating the bottom of the IV ventricle, itching in the nostrils.
Psychogenic itching is often associated with depression, anxiety. It is characterized by the absence of skin changes, it is widespread or limited to some symbolic, significant zone for the patient, it increases in stressful situations, conflicts. Sleep, as a rule, is not disturbed, patients often describe their sensations in a bizarre, exaggerated way. This type of skin itching is relieved when taking sedative or antipruritic drugs, it is much worse stopped by external means.
Senile itching occurs in almost 50% of people over 70 years old, more often in men, and occurs in the form of night attacks. Diagnosis of skin itch types and methods of treatment of skin itching read on our website.
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