Susie Lieberman, age 15, of Westlake Village, Calif., for her question:
WHAT CAUSES OUR SKIN TO ITCH?
When our skin itches, most of the time we respond by scratching the spot. While scratching may give temporary relief from the itch, it may also damage the skin and actually intensify the discomfort. Control of itching depends on locating the cause and eliminating it. If the skin is caused by an allergy, for example, successful treatment of the allergy will cure the itching.
Pruritus is the medical term for itching. It may be generalized, involving large areas of the body, or it may be limited to one spot.
Irritation of the terminations of sensory nerves in the skin is what actually causes itching. It is a disorder that everyone experiences from time to time. While itching is most often a mild, fairly transient disorder, it is sometimes severe, prolonged, agonizing and resistant to almost any type of treatment.
Sometimes itching occurs with skin ailments, such as eczema and a topic dermatitis. Allergies to certain foods, drugs, chemicals, cosmetics, plants or other substances and insect bites also often cause itching.
Still another cause of itching can be the invasion of the skin by parasites, such as itch mites or lice.
Itching is also associated with dry skin. During winter months, many people complain about "winter itch," a disorder caused by dry skin. Older people sometimes develop a condition called "senile itch," which is also associated with dry skin.
Internal disorders, such as diabetes, impaired liver and kidney functions, and certain malignant processes such as leukemia and Hodgkin's disease can also cause itching.
Sometimes doctors prescribe drugs such as corticosteroids and antihistamines to relieve severe cases of itching.
Doctors also prescribe a wide variety of lotions and creams to relieve itching. One of the most common lotions, which is often helpful in cases involving only minor itching, is calamine.
Sometimes a generalized itching can be relieved by bathing in lukewarm water that contains oatmeal extract or bath oils. Cool compresses are also often helpful for localized itching.
Doctors tell us that the skin is one of the most complex, intricate organs of the body, ranking with the brain, heart and lungs in importance to health. It is not just a simple covering for other organs.
Proper skin care is relatively simple and inexpensive. We should protect the skin from the sun and other environmental abuses and also keep it clean.