Itchy skin is an irritating sensation that makes you want to scratch. It's also called pruritus (proo-RIE-tus). Itchy skin is often caused by dry skin and is common in older adults, as skin tends to become drier with age.

Context Explanation

Depending on the cause of your itchiness, your skin may look no different than usual or it may be inflamed, rough or have bumps. Diagnosis Diagnosing the cause of itchy skin starts with a physical exam and questions about your medical history. If your health care provider thinks your itchy skin is the result of a medical condition, you might have tests, including: Blood test. A complete blood count can provide evidence of an internal condition causing your itch, such as anemia.

Insight Material

Tests of liver and kidney function. Liver ... When you see your kid scratching their head, your gut instinct might be to grab head lice shampoo. But itching can mean tons of things, ranging from the superficial to the serious. So how do you solve the mystery of your kidโ€™s itchy scalp?

Final Conclusion

And the time-honored question: how do you stop scratching when it feels sooooo good? On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with pediatric ... Why is my head itchy? How to soothe and solve an itchy scalp Learn about the symptoms, causes and treatments of this itchy skin condition that affects children and adults, and about how moisturizers help prevent it. Neurodermatitis is a skin condition that starts with an itchy patch of skin. Scratching makes it itch more.

With more scratching, the skin becomes thick and leathery. You may develop several itchy spots, typically on the neck, wrists, forearms, legs or groin area. Neurodermatitis โ€” also known as lichen simplex chronicus โ€” is not life-threatening or contagious. But the itching can be so ...