Understanding Itch

…an unpleasant sensation provoking the desire to scratch.
Samuel Hafenreffer, c. 1660

Itch, also called pruritus, is the unpleasant sensation that causes you to scratch. The underlying cause can be within the skin, the nerves, or other conditions affecting the rest of your body. For example, your kidneys, liver, and blood sugar levels may all contribute to itch. Itch and pain have similar pathways in the body; while pain causes you to withdraw from whatever is causing it, itch causes a desire to scratch.

Itch can be classified as acute or chronic, with chronic itch lasting 6 weeks or longer.

How common is Itch?

Itch, or pruritus, is a universal symptom that all individuals experience at some point in their lives. Itch leads to over 7 million clinician visits in the United States every year. It is one of the top 50 most common diseases worldwide, defined in the Global Burden of Disease Study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO). It affects everyone throughout the course of their lives.

Chronic itch, or itch lasting more than 6 weeks, is estimated to affect up to 20% of the general population.

Impact of Itch

Chronic itch can become a long-term health problem that is often more than skin-deep. It can significantly reduce your quality of life by disrupting your sleep, causing emotional distress, and interfering with your self-esteem and social interactions with those around you. Improving your quality of life and your symptoms should be a goal in treatment.