Can Chronic Itchiness Be a Sign of Disease?

Itchy, inflamed skin can be caused by many things including insect bites, poison ivy, hives and allergic rashes like eczema and dermatitis. It can take time and treatment, but usually the itchiness from these conditions will calm down and go away. However, chronic itchiness with no clear cause could indicate a more serious condition called neuropathic itch.

What Is Neuropathic Itch?

“Neuropathic itch is a persistent itch that is often accompanied by other sensations like tingling, burning or stinging,” says Yongjin Chen, MD, PhD, a family medicine specialist at University Hospitals. “It may be limited to a particular area of the body but can also feel like ‘all over’ itchiness. Scratching and topical treatments provide little relief, and the relentless itchiness can significantly impact both physical and emotional well-being.”

Often a Symptom of Underlying Disease

Neuropathic itch occurs when the itch-sensing nerves in the skin are damaged or injured. The damage can be triggered by a variety of medical conditions, including:

• Arthritis or degenerative disk disease
• Autoimmune connective tissue disease (ACTD)
• Brain or spinal cord lesions
• Certain types of cancer
• Diabetes
• Liver or kidney disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Shingles

Many of these conditions can cause nerves to become so inflamed and damaged, they send excessive signals to the brain that trigger chronic itchiness.

Treatment of Neuropathic Itch

Experts estimate that extreme itchiness without an obvious cause can be a symptom of underlying disease in up to 50 percent of patients. In addition, the constant itch-scratch-itch cycle can be very damaging to the skin and escalate to more severe health problems.

“My advice to anyone experiencing chronic itch is to see their primary care doctor,” says Dr. Chen. “The first step in treating the itch is to determine if there is an underlying disease causing the symptoms. If a medical condition is identified that has itchiness as a potential symptom, managing that condition will be an essential part of the treatment plan.”

“In addition, although itchiness is not considered a type of pain, some chronic pain medications like gabapentin may help relieve the itch. The application of cold compresses or menthol salves can also calm the itch-sensing nerves and provide some relief in the short term.”

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University Hospitals has a team of primary care physicians at convenient locations across the region with the experience and training to evaluate chronic itch, find the underlying cause and develop an effective treatment plan.