Examples include dry skin (xerosis), eczema (dermatitis), psoriasis, scabies, parasites, burns, scars, insect bites and hives. Internal diseases. 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.
Itchy legs may be annoying but are not typically a cause for concern. Itchy skin (pruritus ) on the legs is commonly caused by dry skin. However, itchy legs can also be a sign of more serious conditions such as poor circulation, nerve damage, and diabetes.
It is time to see a doctor about itchy legs if they do not get better in a week or more or show no signs of improvement after home treatment. A doctor can determine what is causing persistently itchy legs and prescribe lotions, gels, cleansers, medications, and other treatment to provide relief.
The many causes of a lower leg itch include skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis, damage to the nerves that may be caused by diabetes, or an allergic reaction from plants, foods, or insects.
Itching isolated to the lower legs may be caused by bug bites or an allergic reaction to plants, food, metal or other skin irritants. Skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis may also cause itchy lower legs.
Localized itching is often caused by diabetes. It can be caused by a yeast infection, dry skin, or poor circulation. When poor circulation is the cause of itching, the itchiest areas may be the lower parts of the legs.
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.
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.
Apply cooling agents, such as menthol or calamine.
While treating your skin, avoid scratching, as this will further irritate your skin and could increase your risk for a skin infection. It's also a good idea to take steps to help prevent your skin from itching.
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.
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.
Several key parts of your 24-hour sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm ) can cause changes to your skin at night. 1 Sometimes, it causes itchy skin with no rash. Changes in body temperature, humidity or skin moisture, and hormone fluctuations can all contribute to nighttime itching.
Lower-leg skin and vein changes
Does it flake or itch? These could be signs of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which occurs when malfunctioning veins can't push blood back to the heart efficiently, causing it to pool in the lower limbs.
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.
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.
A neuropathic itch may produce an itching sensation or a feeling of pins and needles.
There are several possible causes of red spots on legs, including eczema (atopic dermatitis), hives (urticaria), insect bites, and heat rash. If you're unsure what's causing your symptoms, contact a medical provider.
Hives-like rash: Dermatologists are seeing patients with COVID-19 who develop a rash that looks like hives. Symptoms: Some rashes itch. Treatment: Some rashes require medical treatment. Rash on COVID-19 patient's thigh: This rash could also be mistaken for hives.
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.
And for some people, anxiety can cause itchy skin. Feeling itchy from anxiety is called “psychogenic itching.” While this isn't extremely common, it's also not rare.
Dry, itchy skin
If you have diabetes, you're more likely to have dry skin. High blood sugar (glucose) can cause this. If you have a skin infection or poor circulation, these could also contribute to dry, itchy skin.
Diabetic dermopathy
This condition is also known as shin spots, and it's harmless. The spots look like red or brown round patches or lines in the skin and are common in people with diabetes. They appear on the front of your legs (your shins) and are often confused with age spots. The spots don't hurt, itch, or open up.