Extremely dry skin is common in people who have end-stage kidney disease, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant. Itchy skin. Extremely itchy skin is a common symptom of advanced kidney disease. The itch can range from irritating to life-disrupting.
Dry and itchy skin can be a sign of the mineral and bone disease that often accompanies advanced kidney disease, when the kidneys are no longer able to keep the right balance of minerals and nutrients in your blood.
One of the early signs is the appearance of swelling over the ankles, feet or legs: One will start to notice edema at these sites which pits on applying pressure and is termed as pitting edema. As the kidney function begins to fall there is sodium retention which causes swelling in your shin and ankles.
People with uremic pruritus tend to be itchy on their face, back, and arms. Calcium deposits can create itchy bumps on the fingertips and around joints. What does a rash from kidney disease look like? The rash from kidney disease can have white bumps on the fingertips and near joints.
When kidneys cannot remove waste from your body, a rash can develop. One rash that occurs in people who have end-stage kidney disease causes small, dome-shaped, and extremely itchy bumps. As these bumps clear, new ones can form. Sometimes, the small bumps join together to form rough, raised patches.
Urine Tests
One of the earliest signs of kidney disease is when protein leaks into your urine (called proteinuria). To check for protein in your urine, a doctor will order a urine test.
Common areas for this type of itching include the head, arms, back, and abdomen. It also tends to be worse at night, which can disturb your sleep. The itching is lower in intensity just after dialysis as the blood urea levels will be lower. However, it increases in intensity two days after dialysis.
Light-Brown Urine.
Light-brown or tea-colored urine can be a sign of kidney disease/failure or muscle breakdown.
Generally, earlier stages are known as 1 to 3. And as kidney disease progresses, you may notice the following symptoms. Nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, swelling via feet and ankles, dry, itchy skin, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, urinating either too much or too little.
Kidney failure is a condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work on their own. Causes include diabetes, high blood pressure and acute kidney injuries. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea and vomiting, swelling, changes in how often you go to the bathroom and brain fog.
Changes in urine color, transparency, and smell
A pinkish or reddish hue may indicate the presence of blood in the urine, while a greenish tone could be a sign of a bacterial infection. Cloudy non-transparent urine may be another sign of infection, but it may also suggest an abnormal level of salts in the liquid.
Waste products that your kidneys are no longer able to remove can cause changes in your skin color and texture. If you have light skin, it may look gray or yellowish in color. If you have a darker skin complexion, you may see it getting slightly darker.
Your nails can develop concave or spoon-shaped dents if you have kidney disease. Additionally, they may have a yellow overcoat or an unnatural white and red-brown coloration that divides the nail in half. Plus, they can also become brittle or get detached from the skin.
Kidney damage, once it occurs, can't be reversed. Potential complications can affect almost any part of your body and can include: Fluid retention, which could lead to swelling in your arms and legs, high blood pressure, or fluid in your lungs (pulmonary edema)
Common eye problems for people with kidney disease or who are on dialysis. Dry, red, and sore eyes that feel gritty. These symptoms may occur because of impaired blinking and tear formation, leading to dry eyes. Extra calcium and phosphate can also settle in the eyes and cause irritation.
Foot swelling is one of the most common symptoms of kidney disease. The excess fluid is pulled down towards the feet by gravity. Putting your feet up may temporarily relieve symptoms but you need professional treatment to prevent long-term damage.
It is also called uremic pruritus or chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP). Constant itching may lead you to have scratch marks on your skin or patches of irritated skin. Sometimes, the itchy patches of skin may be red or a different color than your usual skin tone.
Symptoms of Nephritis
Foamy, bubbly or dark-colored urine. Infrequent urination. Swelling in the legs, ankles or feet. Weight gain from water retention.