Common Causes Of Itching - Parasites | Rash | Skin Infections

Itching is usually thought of as a minor problem, and for the most part it is in fact a minor problem. All of us experience minor itching once in a while, and this of course is nothing to worry about. However, in cases where itching becomes severe or chronic, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it is important to look into the causes, so as to treat them appropriately.

Itching Causes

• Among the most common causes of itching are insect bites and parasites – these include external parasites such as mosquitoes, and internal parasites such as pinworms. The precise mechanism by which the parasite causing the itching sensation varies, but in all such cases, the obvious and essential course of action is to eliminate the parasite. It may seem at first glance that external parasites are easier to eliminate, but this is not necessarily true. Modern mosquito repellents are quite effective (although not 100 per cent so), but parasites such as lice and scabies mites are much more difficult to get rid of. Internal parasites are of course the most difficult; very often, home remedies are useless in getting rid of such parasites, and even medical treatment sometimes takes a long time.


• Another common cause of itching is a rash, which may be an allergic response, simple irritation of the skin, a skin infection, or a sign of some internal problem. For example, jaundice sometimes involves itching, as it is the result of high levels of bilirubin in the body, and bilirubin irritates the skin at such high concentrations. Allergic reactions and irritation are usually easy to identify, but in some cases, when the irritant or the allergen is rare or unusual, identification can be quite difficult and may require medical tests.


• Skin infections are of course countless, and the symptoms are also as varied. Fungal infections alone are numerous, ranging from athlete’s foot to ringworm. Similarly, there are hundreds of skin conditions that can cause itching, including psoriasis and eczema.


• Sunburn is another cause of itching, along with all the other unpleasant symptoms such as burning, peeling of skin, and blistering.


• Dry skin is usually not seen as a severe problem, but for some people it can develop into a serious condition. Itching is one of the major symptoms of chronic, severe dry skin.

The solution for itchy skin depends on the cause of course, but one rule is practically universal – as far as possible, resist the urge to scratch.