Why does your back itch every day: causes and their solutions

Itchy skin on the back causes a lot of anxiety, forcing you to periodically satisfy the severity of the symptom by scratching the area of ​​irritation, which requires determining the basis of the process and implementing appropriate therapeutic measures.

The development of symptoms may be the result of various causal effects, which include local damage to the dermis by an infectious pathogen, an allergic reaction, an internal process of inflammation, etc. A dermatologist

, after performing the necessary types of examination.

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Answers to frequently asked questions about itchy skin:

• Which doctor treats itchy skin?
• What organs are affected by skin itching?
• Why is itchy skin dangerous?
• What tests should be taken for itchy skin?
• What diet is needed for itchy skin?
• What diseases does itchy skin indicate?
• Itchy skin for no apparent reason?
• What parasites cause itchy skin?
• What microorganisms cause itchy skin?
• How to get rid of itchy skin?
• Should a patient with itchy skin be isolated?
• Skin itching due to gastrointestinal diseases?
• What are the main causes of itchy skin?
• How to distinguish allergic itching from parasitic itching?
• How to prepare for an appointment with a dermatologist?
• How to get checked for skin diseases?
• What diseases does a dermatologist treat?
• What tests should be taken by a dermatologist?
• What diagnostics can a dermatologist perform in the clinic?
• Where to go with a skin disease?

Reasons why your back itches every day?

Itchy back
Itching of the back is a fairly common problem for which people turn to a dermatologist. If you start to understand this problem yourself, then common problems are the following factors:

Body hygiene problem:

• Most often, this is caused by profuse sweating.
• To avoid this, you just need to prevent pores from forming on your body, and if this cannot be avoided, go to a less hot place and, if possible, take a shower or wipe your body with a damp towel (napkin).

Clothing made from synthetics:

• Your skin doesn't breathe and a rash appears.
• Sweat corrodes the epidermis, causing itching.

Detergents:

• Another reason is more common in young children, but can also affect an adult.
• It is associated with washing powder or shower gel. These products contain alkali.
• Not all people react equally to the components of these products, so you need to carefully choose them.

There are also people who can be affected by how clean the air is around them. It will be very difficult for people sensitive to dirty air to adapt.

Another fact: most people with allergies do not know about it until a certain age, and suffer from discomfort, their backs itch. Allergy is a disease, and it may not appear immediately. And just in this case, discomfort can occur in different parts of the body. In any case, you need to see a dermatologist. Only he can identify health problems and establish the true causes of discomfort.

Useful tips

Systemic treatment is often not necessary if the skin condition improves.

If your skin becomes dry, stop using soap; bathing in warm rather than hot water, lubricating the skin after bathing and at night, applying a damp cloth for 15–20 minutes, then applying cream or ointment.

For damp skin - protective cream (zinc paste), drying dressings with Burov's liquid (aluminum acetate 8%, diluted 1:10–1:20).

Local anti-itch remedies

Zinc oxide has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antipruritic effects, and is used in concentrations of 10–50% in creams, liniments, lotions, ointments and pastes that are effective in the treatment of localized forms of itching.

Menthol, when applied to the skin and mucous membranes, dilates blood vessels, causing a feeling of coldness and then numbness, significantly reducing itching. It is used in powders, ointments, and lotions in concentrations of 1–10%.

Camphor , when applied to the skin, produces a warm sensation followed by mild anesthesia, which reduces itching. It is used in the form of liniments, lotions and ointments in concentrations of 2–20%.

Important

It should be remembered that products with menthol and camphor cannot be used simultaneously on one area of ​​the skin.

Calamine , a lotion containing zinc carbonate (calamine), zinc oxide and a small amount of phenol, is widely used in the treatment of itching and atopic dermatitis.

Treatment of constant itching of the back, skin on the back: methods

Itchy back
Constant itching of the skin on your back can turn into a serious and painful problem. To avoid or alleviate it, it is enough to know several ways to quickly eliminate this unpleasant symptom:

• Patting and tapping the itchy area can relieve the itch, but never scratch.
• Apply a cool compress to the irritated area.
• You should take a cool shower.
• Do not wear clothes made of synthetic or woolen materials. They may irritate the skin.
• Use moisturizers for dry and flaky skin.
• The pharmacy also sells over-the-counter antihistamine and steroid creams that can help relieve itching.

Important: If the itching on the back is constant, and also if there are additional symptoms (rashes, fever, headache), you should consult a therapist or dermatologist. It is important to determine the root cause.

Conventionally, three groups of reasons can be distinguished:

1. General (insect bites, dry skin, poor hygiene, excessive sweating, allergies, infection, hormonal changes).
2. Dermatological.
3. Associated with various pathologies.

Depending on what is causing your itching, you may be referred to a specialist for further evaluation and specific treatment. And for those who want to help themselves now and eliminate itching, you can use the best advice from herbalists:

• Rub sandalwood oil into your skin. It cools and soothes the skin.
• You can rub your back with Menovazine. Peppermint oil, which is part of the product, has a good sedative.
• Experts also recommend drinking a few drops of aloe vera juice in the morning on an empty stomach. It nourishes and moisturizes skin cells.
• A lotion made from flaxseed oil and lemon juice helps effectively - 1 part lemon juice and 3 parts flaxseed oil, mix and rub.
• It is useful to apply cream with chamomile or calendula to the affected areas.

These ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce swelling of the skin, as well as rashes and bumps, and help the healing process.

Diagnosis of urticaria

Before starting treatment, it is important to understand what exactly a person has such a strong allergic reaction to.
Only by removing this provoking factor from your usual life can you not be afraid that the symptoms of urticaria will appear again, and this is possible even after proper therapy. Most often, this type of allergy appears to food. It is possible to determine what exactly caused the rash by a blood test: the level of IgE antibodies to a mixture of food allergens is detected. First of all, you need to diagnose the presence of an allergic reaction to:

• nuts;
• vegetables and legumes;
• citrus fruits and fruits;
• seafood;
• cereal and sesame flour;
• fruits and melons;
• baby formula;
• fish;
• meat;
• mushrooms;
• loose leaf tea;
• goat milk.

In addition to food, allergic manifestations can also occur to other substances that surround us almost everywhere in life:

• mold fungi;
• pollen from early flowering trees;
• pollen of late-flowering trees;
• weed pollen;
• epithelium of domestic animals;
• house dust;
• house dust mite;
• poultry feather.

To identify the exact type of allergen, allergy tests are performed on certain foods.
It often happens that rashes appear due to seasonings and herbs used in cooking: paprika, cumin, cloves, basil, ginger, tarragon, thyme, marjoram, dill, bay leaf, black pepper, vanilla. Some types of fish may also be allergenic: cod, halibut, mackerel, and squid meat. But sometimes an allergic reaction in the form of urticaria develops to such familiar products as:

• cucumber;
• apricot;
• cherry;
• tomato;
• plum;
• grape;
• persimmon;
• carrot;
• beet;
• watermelon.

All tests are carried out only by a specialist laboratory technician. You cannot independently determine the presence of an allergy in the form of urticaria to a particular food product or substance. This can be life-threatening, since it is possible to develop not only Quincke's edema, but also anaphylactic shock.

My back has been itching for a year now: causes, solutions

Itchy back
Itchy skin is a discomfort that can be associated with both skin diseases and abnormalities in the functioning of the liver, kidneys and other organs. Itching is a symptom known to almost everyone. It is estimated that this affects 12-20 percent of the population. This feeling may occur periodically, for example in the case of skin sensitization or irritation, or it may continue over a long period of time and increase in severity. What are the causes of itching if your back has been itching for a year? Find the answer below.

Itchy skin is an annoying feeling that makes you constantly scratch your body at the point of discomfort. Depending on the cause, itchy skin may appear completely normal, or it may be rough and red, with bumps and blisters on its surface.

• Constantly scratching the skin from scratching can lead to worsening of the skin condition and an increase in the area of ​​itching.
• Severe scratching often leads to lacerations, bleeding and infection, making the situation even worse.

In this case, avoiding scratching will help eliminate the feeling of itching. If this feeling is strong, then rubbing with Menovazine . However, do not delay going to the doctor to find out the cause of this discomfort.

More reasons:

• Dry skin - caused by a certain skin disease (for example, psoriasis) or decreased skin hydration caused by hormonal imbalances or the aging process of the skin.
• Bacterial and fungal infections and diseases caused by animal parasites - skin mycoses, lice, scabies or insect bites.
• Skin damage - dry and cracked skin, irritation, abrasions, sunburn.
• Skin tumors are changes that change on the skin, itch, change their volume, and bleed.

Advice: If you experience any discomfort on the skin, growths, or rashes, consult a doctor immediately!

Complications of urticaria

It is important to know what hives look like and to be able to provide first aid correctly.
This will help prevent the development of severe complications that can lead to death. Often urticaria is accompanied by Quincke's edema, which is also called angioedema. Its development in the larynx area is especially dangerous, as it can compress the trachea and impair breathing.

Another serious complication is anaphylactic shock. This is a life-threatening immediate allergic reaction that occurs when the human body is hypersensitive to a particular allergen. Usually develops upon repeated contact with the allergen and requires immediate medical attention.

What to do if a woman’s back itches, how and with what to eliminate the itching?

Itchy back
Many women have encountered such an unpleasant phenomenon as back itching. There are a great many potential causes. Only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis, but some symptoms can suggest the right direction of thoughts before seeing a doctor. Here's what to do if a woman's back itches, and what you can do to relieve the itching:

Skin tightness and barely noticeable peeling:

• This is an indicator of excessive dryness of the upper layer of the epidermis.
• If long walks in the summer sun, showers with harsh cleansers or hard water preceded your back itching, then you should try to moisturize your skin.
• To eliminate such symptoms, various nourishing and moisturizing foams, lotions and milk are used.

Hormones, stress:

• If there are no visible manifestations, then the cause may be stress, hormonal changes (prenatal period, menopause, adolescence), diseases of the nervous or endocrine system.
• If you suspect a serious illness, you must go to the clinic, where you will be given a referral for diagnosis to specialized specialists.

Allergy:

• A rash or redness may indicate an allergic reaction.
• Taking medications, using new personal hygiene products, contact with objects that cause skin irritation, seasonal allergies, synthetic clothing.
• Infectious diseases, such as measles, chickenpox, and folliculitis, can also be the cause.
• For treatment, consult a doctor.

Psoriasis, seborrhea:

• The formation of large scales and plaques occurs with psoriasis and seborrhea.
• Such diseases are most often chronic, not contagious, but difficult to cure.
• To combat symptoms, pharmaceutical ointments based on antifungal and anti-inflammatory drugs are used.

Poor hygiene, increased sweating:

• This is the most harmless option, which can be eliminated quickly and without large financial costs.
• It is enough to take a shower and treat the skin with an anti-inflammatory and soothing lotion.

Separately, it is worth considering the problem of itching in older people. It is caused by the withering of the skin, due to which the ability to retain moisture and provide the required amount of sebum is lost. Therapy using nourishing ointments and creams should become permanent.

Skin itching in the practice of a general practitioner

Itching is a subjective sensation that causes a reflex of scratching or throwing off an irritant, characteristic of the skin and, less often, mucous membranes. A distinction is made between physiological itching (normal, occurring in response to adequate irritations, for example, insect bites) and pathological itching, which also develops in response to the action of pruritogens, but under conditions of altered reactivity of the nervous system.

Acute attacks of pathological itching are often associated with hypersensitivity to food or drug allergens. Chronic pathological itching can be caused by autointoxication that occurs due to diseases of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, metabolism, etc. Itching can act as a symptom of a number of dermatoses (Dühring's disease, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, scabies, etc.), but it can also be a monosymptom. Often itching is one of the early symptoms of diseases of the hematopoietic organs, malignant neoplasms, endocrine, nervous and mental diseases [2, 4, 6].

Itching is classified according to the degree of prevalence - localized (limited to certain areas of the skin) and diffuse (generalized), according to intensity (assessed by the consequences of skin trauma during scratching) - biopsy and non-biopsy (itch-paresthesia and migratory itching). As a result of scratching, the skin may show excoriations (linear crusts), bloody crusts, pigmentation, and lichenification. As a result of scratching, pyodermatitis (impetigo, folliculitis, boils) can develop secondarily.

Generalized itching is a common and significant problem in terms of differential diagnosis. Since it can be based on such trivial factors as dry skin, and such serious ones as hidden lymphoma or endocrine disorders, the analysis of the condition of a patient complaining of itching requires clinical thinking at the same level as the knowledge and skills of studying skin manifestations . In most cases, itching does not have any special signs that make it possible to diagnose a specific general disease, such as obstructive jaundice, hyperthyroidism or lymphoma. To establish a diagnosis, the clinician must use data from anamnesis, clinical and laboratory tests [1-3].

Pathogenesis. With itching and pain, the neuroanatomical pathways of excitation are common, but the sensory signs are different. Free nerve endings, which play the role of receptors for itching, are located in the papillary layer of the dermis, next to the dermoepidermal border, and are not specific. A number of soluble mediators belong to the peripheral and central mechanisms of itching. Histamine, trypsin, proteases, and bile salts when administered intravenously cause itching. Prostaglandin E removes the threshold for the appearance of itching under the influence of both histamine and papain. In inflamed skin, the content of prostaglandins increases and, thus, they can determine the intensity of itching in inflammatory dermatoses. Opiate peptides and receptors of the central nervous system are involved in the perception of itching [4, 5].

Clinic. Itchy skin can be a manifestation of a large number of diseases. In patients suffering from itching, against the background of obvious skin changes in the form of, for example, vesicles and papules, a primary dermatological disease is usually detected. For diagnosis, it is often necessary to use special methods in dermatology, especially skin biopsy.

Patients with itching but no obvious skin rash, with or without signs of constant scratching (excoriation) and rubbing (lichenification, polished nails) present a diagnostic challenge. First of all, an attempt should be made to identify primary lesions and some evidence of primary skin disease [1, 4].

Conditions in which generalized itching may not be accompanied by skin lesions:

1. metabolic and endocrine disorders (hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, carcinoid syndrome);
2. malignant neoplasms (lymphoma and leukemia, abdominal cancer, central nervous system tumors, multiple myeloma, mycosis fungoides);
3. drug treatment (opium derivatives, subclinical sensitivity to drugs);
4. invasions (pediculosis, scabies, nematodes, onchocerciasis, ascariasis, trichinosis, some zoonoses);
5. kidney disease (chronic renal failure);
6. blood diseases (erythremia, paraproteinemia, iron deficiency anemia);
7. liver disease (intrahepatic or extrahepatic cholestasis, pregnancy [intrahepatic cholestasis that resolves after childbirth]);
8. psychogenic states (transient periods of emotional stress), persistent (mania of parasitosis), psychogenic itching, neurotic excoriations);
9. various conditions (dry skin (xerosis), senile itching, mastocytosis, pregnancy) [2, 4, 5].

Psychogenic itching occurs as a reaction to stress, but this diagnosis should be considered as exceptional, since an attack of intense itching itself has the character of stress. As a rule, it is observed in patients over 40 years of age, more often in women. This type of itching is often felt on the scalp (tactile hallucinosis in the form of complaints of distinct crawling sensations, insect bites, etc.) and may be accompanied by other complaints of discomfort in the form of a bitter taste in the mouth or a burning sensation in the tongue. Some patients are convinced that the cause of itching is parasites that have penetrated into the skin and are invisible to them and to the doctor. In this case, the patient can scratch the skin until it becomes ulcerated and assume that the itching has disappeared as a result of the removal of the parasite or microbe.

Up to 90% of patients with chronic renal failure complain of itching. Most of these patients are especially concerned about itching during or immediately after a hemodialysis session.

The occurrence of generalized itching in some patients with diabetes mellitus is explained by a decrease in the threshold of perception. The intensity of itching does not correlate with the severity of the underlying disease. With diabetic neuropathy, there may be itching of the scalp, which decreases with normalization of glycemic levels.

Itching caused by dry skin is common in older people. Sometimes some of them, in the absence of obvious dry skin, develop generalized itching, which cannot be explained by emotional stress or an underlying general or skin disease. This so-called senile itching usually worsens when the patient takes off his clothes. More often it begins in one area, especially on the back, then spreading to the entire body. The causes of senile itching can be severe atherosclerosis, hypofunction of the endocrine glands, intestinal dysfunction, etc. A diagnosis of “senile itching” can only be made after a thorough examination of the patient.

Neither psychogenic nor senile itching is accompanied by insomnia. A special and significant cause of itching without visible rashes may be a reaction to drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid, opium drugs and their derivatives, quinidine. Some drugs (aminazine) can cause itching due to cholestasis.

Generalized itching is often the first manifestation of hypertrophic biliary cirrhosis and sometimes occurs many months before the development of jaundice. It may also be the first manifestation of lymphoma, rarely cancer. The itching may begin suddenly and be very intense. It often appears first on the palmar and plantar surfaces. The condition is often alleviated by taking cholestyramine orally [2, 4-6].

Diagnostics. The main task of the doctor is to determine the etiology of itching, the success of which determines the result of the therapy. At the same time, remember that itchy skin is a symptom, not a disease or diagnosis.

If, after taking a history and examining the patient (including rectal and gynecological examination), the diagnosis remains unclear, routine diagnostic tests should be performed:

• clinical blood test, ESR;
• general urine analysis with determination of protein, sugar, sediment;
• biochemical blood test:

= liver function tests – ALT, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase;

= fasting glucose level;

= cholesterol level;

= level of urea, uric acid, creatinine, acid phosphatase;

= determination of total protein and protein fractions;

= iron level and serum iron-binding capacity, erythrocyte saturation with iron;

• stool analysis for occult blood, helminths and their eggs;
• chest x-ray;
• functional examination of the thyroid gland, thyroxine level [2, 3].

If necessary, an in-depth examination of a patient suffering from itching will be required:

1. exclusion of liver diseases: ultrasound, scanning, liver biopsy;
2. exclusion of kidney diseases: pyelography, radioisotope study, kidney biopsy;
3. exclusion of blood diseases: serum iron level, vit. B12 and folic acid serum, sternal puncture, lymph node biopsy, radiography of the spine and bones, lymphangiography of the abdominal lymph nodes;
4. exclusion of malignant tumors of internal organs: ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and pelvis, irrigography with barium, radiography of the stomach with control of evacuation of barium suspension, FGDS, bronchoscopy, liver scan, radiography of the spine and bones, diagnostic laparotomy;
5. exclusion of autoimmune diseases: determination of antinuclear factor, serum protein electrophoresis, latex test, determination of antibodies to mitochondria;
6. exclusion of neurological and mental diseases: cerebrospinal fluid examination, psychiatric examination [4-6].

Antipruritic therapy. The complexity of the pathogenesis and the variety of local and systemic causes underlying the phenomenon of itching determine the impossibility of a single approach to its treatment. A differentiated and strictly individual approach to each type of itching with the prescription of complex treatment regimens is required.

The main goal of treatment is to eliminate environmental, physical and psychological factors that provoke itching. When collecting anamnesis, it is necessary to find out as much as possible from the patient. Under what conditions does skin itching occur or intensify?

Nonspecific factors that provoke itching include:

• factors causing dry skin (use of highly active detergents, intensive heating of rooms in winter);
• mechanical (contact with irritating fabrics such as wool, polyester, etc.);
• chemical (for example, irrationally used external therapy);
• vasodilators, stimulants (alcohol, coffee, spices, hot food);
• thermal (changes in ambient temperature, especially its increase);
• psychological (stress, anxiety, depression).

Itching associated with dry skin is relieved by emollients that restore the natural hydrolipid film and eliminate skin irritation (for example, lipicar balm).

Local anesthetics relieve itching, but often cause sensitization.

In case of liver failure, dusting with cholestyramine, which binds bile salts in the skin, has a beneficial effect.

Topical corticosteroids rarely relieve generalized itching (in the absence of dermatitis). However, elderly patients with dry skin may be useful in combination with emollients.

Sedatives, tranquilizers, desensitizers (sodium thiosulfate, calcium preparations), antihistamines, topical calcineurin inhibitors (pimecrolimus cream, tacrolimus ointment), vitamin B1, enterosorbents are prescribed.

Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment are used: transcutaneous nerve stimulation, acupuncture, phototherapy, diadynamic currents, reflex laser and magnetic therapy. Hypnosis is indicated [2, 4-6].