Itching is an abnormal sensation or an exacerbation of the skin which makes you want to use your nails to dig into the skin for relief. The medical definition of itching is called pruritus. Itching can be in one area or localized, or all over the body, which is called general itching. The causes of skin itches vary.
Dry Skin
Dry skin occurs when the skin does not have enough moisture. A person will experience abnormal sensations and the tissue in the skin will swell and turn red. Cracking and Peeling of the skin will occur when the skin is dry. Dry skin can also be caused when a person bathes too often or uses soaps which are too tough on the skin.
Fungus
Fungal infections are often times difficult to realize. Having eczema leads to having fungal infection as well, making fungus infection difficult to diagnose in those having this disease. Some forms of fungus infections include athlete's foot or tinea pedis, jock itch and ringworm. All of the fungus grow on different areas of the skin due to excessive heat, being in conditions which have lots of moisture and inferior circulation in the infected area. Most fungal infections can occur on any place on the body, on more than one site at a time and are sometimes thought of as dermititis.
Sunburn
The melanin in your skin is there to protect the layers of the skin. When you expose yourself to the rays of the sun so much, to where the melanin is unable to protect the skin, sunburn occurs. Sunburn can also happen from the rays to your skin when tanning. Swelling, redness of the skin and itching occur. These symptoms usually are seen 30 minutes after exposure and can last for 6 to 48 hours before starting to see relief.
Bites
Insect bites also contribute to itching. The three types of insect bites are: spiders, fleas and mosquitoes. Spider bites are large, and can be seen as circles which have been lifted from the skin which have a bite mark in the middle. Flea bites happen mostly on the leg area, and in the area of the diaper for a baby or an infant. Mosquito bites occur to areas where your skin is open, such as the hands, forearms, and leg area. The itching that occurs after a bite can be treated with creams from the pharmacy.
