Medical Questions » Skin Questions » Question No. 876
| Question: | I have a big problem—my skin on my face and scalp has itched awfully for a long time non-stop. What causes such itching? Could it be playing football in the sun years ago? How can I get rid of this nuisance? |
| Answer: | Itching of the skin in any part of the body can have a very large number of causes, some of which I shall list below:
• overcleaning of the skin with soaps and shampoos that remove too much of the natural oil from the skin.
• drying of the skin from long exposure to the sun, which may be helped by oily creams (eg. sorbolene).
• dermatitis of many different causes may result in a minimal rash but a maximal itch. Mild steroid creams may assist.
• psoriasis, a skin disease that is more common in older people, and causes red, scaly, itchy patches, particularly on the scalp, elbows and knees.
• scabies, caused by a tiny insect burrowing under the skin. Small red dots or lines may be seen, but the whole area may be very itchy.
• liver failure can cause a generalised itch of the skin in many parts of the body.
• allergies may occur in any part of the body in response to a wide range of substances in the environment, and result in intensely itchy skin.
• a nerve rash may flare at times of stress and anxiety to cause an itch.
If I continued the list, I would probably fill several pages, but the above suggestions may be helpful. Obviously the best solution is to take your itchy skin to a doctor so that s/he can examine it carefully, make a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.
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