Symptoms of Itching

Itching is an unpleasant skin sensation that makes you want to scratch. How it looks and feels helps point to the cause.

What you may notice

• A crawling, prickling or burning feeling on the skin
• An urge to scratch that grows with scratching
• Redness, bumps, blisters or dry flaky skin
• Scratch marks, thickened skin or darker patches from long scratching
• Broken skin that may ooze, crust or become infected

Patterns that give clues

• Worse at night: common with scabies, eczema and dry skin
• Between fingers and around the waist: typical of scabies
• Itching with raised wheals that come and go: hives
• Itching in folds, groin or between toes: often fungal
• Itching all over with no rash: may be dry skin, but can reflect liver, kidney or thyroid problems
• Itching of one patch with burning or tingling: nerve-related causes or early shingles

Signs of infection from scratching

Pus, spreading redness, warmth, increasing pain or fever need medical care.

Warning signs

See a doctor soon if itching lasts more than 2 weeks, disturbs sleep, covers the whole body, or comes with yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, pale stools, weight loss, night sweats, tiredness or swollen glands.

Emergency signs

Itching with swelling of the lips, face or tongue, breathing difficulty or dizziness may be a severe allergic reaction. Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department at once.

Key point

Note where the itching is, when it is worse and what else you notice. This helps the doctor find the cause faster.

Before your appointment

Note when the itching began, where it is, what makes it better or worse, and whether it is worse at night. List all medicines, creams, herbs and soaps you use, and any new foods or products. Mention others at home with itching, rash, weight loss, night sweats, yellow eyes, dark urine or tiredness. Bring photos of any rash that comes and goes. Ask about tests, the safest treatment and the signs that need urgent care. Call 112 for swelling of the face or lips or trouble breathing.