From diabetes to pancreatic cancer, when an itch is a symptom of something more serious
- There are hundreds of reasons why people itch that range from simple dry skin disorders to hives, which appear after exposure to cold air or the sun
- An itch can also be a sign of major health issues. About a third of patients suffering from end-stage kidney disease experience itching
I have an occasional “phantom” itch in the middle of my back in a place I cannot reach. I use a long-handled comb to give it a good scratch.
There’s no obvious cause – no rash, no irritation or redness, no diagnosed skin disorder. It’s annoying, but it does not disrupt my life.
Unfortunately, that is not the case for everyone who itches. About 15 per cent of the population suffers from chronic itch, according to Brian Kim, co-director of the Centre for the Study of Itch at the Washington University School of Medicine.
“It’s a very big problem,” Kim says. “Studies have shown that its impact on quality of life is equivalent to chronic pain. Many of my patients who have had both prefer pain over itch. Itch tends to be more maddening.”
Rockville, Maryland, dermatologist Thomas Keahey says itching is the chief complaint of about 20 per cent of his new patients. Also, his older patients frequently raise the issue during their annual skin cancer screenings. Most of the time their problems are minor, but “sometimes, it’s a serious request for help,” he says.