Causes of itchy skin
An itch is often caused by a condition affecting the skin, but it can be a sign of a more serious underlying problem.
In some cases, it may not be possible to identify a specific cause.
Skin conditions
Skin conditions that can cause itching include:
dry skin
eczema – where the skin is dry, red, flaky and itchy
contact dermatitis – inflammation of the skin that occurs when you come into contact with an irritant or allergen (see below)
urticaria – also known as hives, welts or nettle rash; urticaria is triggered by an allergen and causes a raised, red itchy rash to develop
lichen planus – an itchy rash of unknown cause
psoriasis – a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales
dandruff – a common skin condition that causes dry white or grey flakes of dead skin to appear in the scalp or hair
folliculitis – a skin condition caused by inflamed hair follicles
prurigo – small blisters (fluid-filled swellings) that are very itchy
Images of skin conditions
These images show some examples of common skin conditions.
All of these images are sourced from DermNet.
Dry skin
Eczema
Contact dermatitis
Hives (urticaria)
Lichen planus
Psoriasis
Dandruff
Folliculitis
Prurigo
Allergies and skin reactions
Itching is sometimes caused by an allergen , irritant or other environmental factor, including:
cosmetic ingredients, such as preservatives, fragrances, hair dye and nail varnish hardeners
certain metals, such as nickel or cobalt in jewellery
rubber – including latex
textiles – particularly the dyes and resins that are contained in them
some plants – such as chrysanthemums, sunflowers, daffodils, tulips and primula
an allergy to certain foods or types of medication (for example, aspirin and a group of medicines called opioids)
prickly heat – an itchy rash that appears in hot, humid weather conditions
sunburn – skin damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays
Images of allergies and skin reactions
These images show some examples of allergies and skin reactions.
All of these images are sourced from DermNet.
Parasites and insects
Itching can be caused by the following pests:
the scabies mite, which burrows into the skin and causes a skin condition called scabies
head lice , pubic lice or body lice
insect bites and stings from bees, wasps, mosquitoes, fleas and bedbugs
threadworms – small worm parasites that infect the bowels of humans and can cause an itchy bottom
trichomonas vaginalis – a tiny parasite that causes a sexually transmitted infection (STI) called trichomoniasis
Images of skin problems caused by parasites and insects
These images show some examples of skin problems caused by parasites and insects.
All of these images are sourced from DermNet.
Scabies rash
Head lice
Insect bites
Infections
Itching may be a symptom of an infection, like:
chickenpox or another viral infection
athlete’s foot – a fungal infection that causes itching in between the toes
ringworm – a fungal infection that causes a ring-like red rash to develop on the skin and can cause an itchy scalp
vaginal thrush or thrush in men – yeast infections that can cause itching in and around the genitals
Images of skin infections
These images show some examples of skin infections.
All of these images are sourced from DermNet.
Chickenpox
Athlete’s foot
Ringworm
Other conditions
Itching can be a sign of an underlying condition that may affect the inside of the body without necessarily causing any other obvious symptoms.
Itching can be a symptom of:
haemorrhoids (piles) – enlarged and swollen blood vessels in or around the lower rectum or anus
an overactive thyroid or underactive thyroid – where the thyroid gland in the neck produces too much or too little thyroid hormone
iron deficiency anaemia – where a lack of iron in the body leads to a reduction in the number of red blood cells
polycythaemia – where you have a high concentration of red blood cells in your blood
liver-related conditions, such as primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatitis
long standing kidney failure
in rare cases, certain types of cancer, including liver cancer , pancreatic cancer , leukaemia and Hodgkin lymphoma
Occasionally, itching can be linked to a psychological condition such as depression or anxiety.
Menopause
Itching is also a common symptom after the menopause, which is where a woman’s periods stop as a result of natural hormonal changes as she gets older.
Changes in the levels of hormones, like oestrogen, that occur during the menopause are thought to be responsible for the itching.
Pregnancy
Itching often affects pregnant women and usually disappears after the birth. A number of skin conditions can develop during pregnancy and cause itchy skin. They include:
pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) – a common skin condition that causes itchy, red, raised bumps that appear on the thighs and abdomen (tummy)
prurigo gestationis – a skin rash that appears as red, itchy dots and mainly affects the arms, legs and torso
obstetric cholestasis – a rare disorder that affects the liver during pregnancy and causes itching without a rash
Speak to your midwife or GP if you have:
itching during your pregnancy
any unusual skin rashes during pregnancy
Further information on treatments for itching