12 Reasons Your Skin Is So Itchy–and When to Talk to a Doctor

This is one of the most common causes of itchy skin, and one that usually doesn’t come with a rash. Dry skin is especially common in older folks or people who smoke, spend too much time in the sun, or overuse skin products. It’s also prevalent in the winter and in dry environments.

Dry skin feels rough and flakes, but you shouldn’t see any red bumps or welts, which are usually a sign of something else. Dry skin often itches, but not always.

Your first strategy against dry skin is to moisturize three to four times a day. Limit the time you spend in the bath or shower, as this can further dry your skin.

A common next step is 1% hydrocortisone skin cream, available over the counter. If that doesn’t help after about a week, see your doctor; she may prescribe a stronger steroid cream or an antihistamine pill.

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This type of itchy rash usually shows up where you came into contact with something you’re allergic or sensitive to, be it a chemical, paint, wool, or a fragrance. You may also have swelling or blisters that pop and leak fluid.

“Very commonly, [allergic contact dermatitis] looks just like eczema, but the distribution suggests there’s more of an external trigger,” says Dr. Patel.

Contact dermatitis can also be hard to identify because it can show up 72 hours or more after the exposure. In some cases, it may even turn up unexpectedly, even if you’ve been using the same product–like your favorite shampoo–for years.

“We don’t fully understand why, [but] the immune system is not stagnant over time,” says Dr. Patel.

Treat mild reactions with moisturizer and an over-the-counter topical corticosteroid and antihistamine. Talk to a doctor if you have a more severe case with a larger rash or swelling. Do your best to determine what you reacted to–so you can avoid it in the future.

RELATED: 31 Everyday Things You Didn’t Know You Could Be Allergic To

Itching can be a side effect of many medications. The symptom can also come with rashes or eczema-like dry skin. “Medication allergies generally present as rash and itching,” explains Dr. Patel.

Some of the culprits are painkillers (both over-the-counter and prescription), antibiotics like penicillin or sulfa drugs, and certain psychiatric and anti-seizure medications.

Talk to your doctor if you take any of these meds and experience itchy skin. You may be able to find a substitute or change the dose–but never stop or adjust prescribed medications on your own.

If you have to stay on the medication, OTC antihistamines and ointments may help.

RELATED: 9 Potential Side Effects of Opioid Medications

Like the kidneys, the liver is also involved in clearing toxins from your body. That means problems with the liver can also cause buildups that lead to itchy skin. The itching can be mild or severe, widespread or limited to certain areas (like the palms of the hands or soles of the feet). It can also come and go.

Itching related to liver disease tends to be worse before your period, when you’re under stress, and at night.

Moisturizers and warm baths may help mild itchiness, while more severe itching calls for medication.

RELATED: 5 Surprising Facts About Your Liver

Shingles is the vicious, blistery rash that can strike people who’ve had chickenpox earlier in life.

Chickenpox itself is a considerable source of itchy misery, but the itching associated with shingles usually comes after the hallmark blisters are gone.

“The skin has healed but there is residual itching in the area because the nerve is irritated,” explains Dr. Fonacier.

The varicella-zoster virus causes both chickenpox and shingles, and there’s no cure. The pain of shingles can be relieved by some medications, but easing the itch is a little trickier.

Topical solutions may help, but never put creams on lesions that are still active, says Dr. Fonacier. Talk to your doctor about other remedies.

RELATED: 5 Home Remedies for Shingles

In rare cases, itching can be a sign of cancer, usually a blood cancer.

One example is polycythemia vera, which affects the bone marrow. People with this disease might experience itchiness after a warm bath or shower along with other symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.

Sézary syndrome, a type of lymphoma, can come with rashes, scaly skin, and itching as well.

People with pancreatic cancer may also itch–not from the cancer itself, but from a tumor blocking the bile duct.

Talk to your doctor about your symptoms–including if you have itchy skin while being treated for cancer, as some cancer treatments themselves can cause itching.