Q: Which doctor should I consult for skin itching?
A: A good skin specialist (dermatologist) should be consulted if:
- The itching lasts for more than 2 weeks and no relief is obtained by self-care measures.
- The itching affects your whole body, which may indicate a systemic illness. In addition, you may experience symptoms of extreme tiredness, weight loss, change in eating habits, fever or infrequent urination.
- The itching is distracting your daily routine.
Q: How does anxiety/stress cause itchy skin?
A: Anxiety and stress affect the whole body. At the time of stress, a chemical response is generated in your body, which makes the skin more sensitive and reactive. The stress can make skin problems harder to heal.
Q: Should I keep scratching the itch?
A: Scratching is obviously the immediate thing what most people do, but this gives only temporary relief. Continuous scratching scientifically has been proven to make matters worse and further aggravate the itching.
Q: Can one try home remedies to get rid of itching?
A: Yes absolutely! There are many home remedies, which you can use to control itching. Some of which are: use of lukewarm water for bathing, restrict the use of soap which makes skin dry, lessen bath time, refrain from rubbing skin, wear loose cotton clothes, avoid spicy foods, and use a good quality laundry detergent.
Q: Does itching gives rise to any complications?
A: Yes definitely! Prolonged itching can affect the quality of life and increases temptation for more itching. It can also cause injury to the skin, scarring and infection.
