An itchy stomach is usually caused by a skin irritant like tight clothing, harsh chemicals from detergents or cosmetics, insect bites, heat, or an allergen. At times, medications can cause itchy skin. Pregnant people can also experience itchiness on their stomachs during the third trimester or postpartum.
Some people with liver disease experience skin itching all over their body or in specific areas, like the feet or arms. Itchiness is not a symptom of liver disease on its own, though. Liver disease is a condition affecting your liver's ability to function.
The most common cause of an itchy belly is dry skin. If you love long, steamy showers, live in a cold climate, or use scented soaps, your skin might be irritated. Some people are more prone to dry skin than others. Dryness most often develops on the arms or legs, but it can also happen on your stomach.
Itching on the whole body might be a symptom of an underlying illness, such as liver disease, kidney disease, anemia, diabetes, thyroid problems and certain cancers. Nerve disorders. Examples include multiple sclerosis, pinched nerves and shingles (herpes zoster).
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.
Contact your health care provider if your itching is severe, does not go away after a few weeks, or does not have an apparent cause. You may need other treatments, such as medicines or light therapy. If you have an underlying disease that is causing the itching, treating that disease may help.
IBS can exacerbate inflammation and cause hives
Allergic reactions to food and other allergens trigger the release of histamine, which can cause itching, inflammation and hives (nasty red bumps on the skin which can be itchy or cause a burning sensation).
They are often temporary issues such as dry skin or a bug bite. Less commonly, nerves, kidneys, thyroid, or liver issues can cause itching sensations without necessarily causing a rash. Depending on the cause, a person may experience an itching sensation all over their body or in one specific area.
Genital itching can be a symptom of many conditions which may include vaginal infections in females or jock itch in males. In either sex, itching may be caused by skin irritation, sexually transmitted diseases, and allergies.
Itching is rare in alcohol-related liver diseases and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases, but is most common with other types of liver diseases, including primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
Chigger bites are itchy red bumps that can look like pimples, blisters, or small hives. They are usually found around the waist, ankles, or in warm skin folds. They get bigger and itchier over several days, and often appear in groups.
What does diabetes itching feel like? If you have diabetes, itching can be intense. It's an irritating feeling that makes it hard not to scratch, but scratching can make the itch worse. You can itch anywhere, but if you have nerve damage (neuropathy) associated with diabetes, your lower legs may itch.
Summary. An itch that occurs over and over in the same spot and nowhere else may be linked to nerve damage. These itches rarely get better without treatment. See a healthcare provider or dermatologist if you think you have a neuropathic itch, as prescription medications may be required.
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.
Iron deficiency is very common in the U.S. — especially among women — and can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. Sometimes an iron deficiency can cause severely itchy and red skin. The good news is that increasing your iron intake will often make the itchiness go away.
Itching is common in autoimmune liver diseases, such as primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and obstructive biliary disease. It also occurs with cancer of the head of the pancreas, hepatitis, and drug-induced liver disease.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one particular ailment that can negatively affect skin health. IBD is comprised of two conditions: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. IBD has a number of causative factors which lead to some immune pathways being more active.
Dry skin: Your body loses moisture at night, which can make your skin itchy. Hormonal changes: At night, your body doesn't produce as many hormones as it does during the day and certain hormones reduce inflammation (swelling). As you have fewer hormones at night, your skin could be itchy.
Call Your Doctor If:
Home treatment doesn't help or the itch lasts more than a couple of weeks. The itch comes on suddenly and is all over your body. You could have an allergic reaction or an illness like thyroid problems or liver disease. You also have a fever or feel tired.
A person with an itch that feels impossible to relieve may be experiencing neuropathic itch. They should first see a dermatologist to rule out any skin-related conditions, such as eczema or rash.
Itchiness usually has a simple, common cause. But in some cases, if it doesn't go away, could be a sign of a serious illness, such as: Kidney disease. Liver disease.