Itching all over the body: causes and possible diseases

Itching all over the body can drive sufferers crazy. They scratch, rub and cream the affected parts of the body and often experience little relief. You can read about the causes of itching and how it develops in our practical tip.

Causes of itching all over the body

Itching is one of the most uncomfortable skin sensations the body has.

• Pruritus, as the itching is also called, arises when certain messenger substances are released in the body. One of the best known is histamine.
• These so-called mediators are formed, for example, when the body comes into contact with an allergen or a toxin.
• It used to be thought that itching was a mild form of pain. However, recent studies show that it is rather nerve fibers that transmit them, but do not themselves transmit pain.
• Pruritus can have both psychological and physical causes. Until these are known, valuable time often passes before the diagnosis is finally made. A total of over a hundred different causes of itching are known.

Diseases that can cause itching

The diseases that can trigger the itching range from harmless insect bites to serious internal diseases. Affected people are often sent from one doctor to the next before getting help.

• The most common triggers for itching are allergens . These can be ingested with food or reach the body from the outside. Examples include food, insecticides or medication.
• Different forms of skin diseases can also trigger pruritus. These include neurodermatitis, sun allergy or psoriasis.
• Parasites such as fleas, lice or bed bugs cause an uncomfortable itch on the skin where they sit or have bitten. These causes are usually quickly exposed by visible stings or animals.
• The symptom of pruritus also accompanies a number of serious illnesses . It occurs, for example, in liver diseases, lymph gland cancer or kidney diseases.
• People with neurological disorders such as Parkinson's or multiple sclerosis also often have to deal with itchy skin. This is due to damage to the peripheral nerves, as can also be seen in a herniated disc.
• Special care should be taken if there is severe itching during pregnancy. Here, for example, pregnancy cholestasis, i.e. a build-up of bile in the liver, can be the cause.