Skin itching that worsens with scratching — what are the causes?
Mar 20, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
The air is less humid during the autumn and winter seasons, which may reduce the skin's surface oil, cause moisture loss, damage the skin barrier, and trigger itching. Scratching further damages the skin and worsens the itch. During daily bathing, the water temperature should not be too high, ideally maintained between 37°C and 40°C, and the use of soap or shower gel should be minimized. Wearing synthetic fiber clothing, which has poor breathability and easily generates static electricity, can continuously irritate the skin through friction.
Itchy skin that becomes more itchy when scratched may be caused by dry skin, clothing irritation, eczema, urticaria, diabetes, etc. Appropriate management can be selected based on specific circumstances. If discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek medical attention at a hospital as soon as possible and follow the doctor's instructions for treatment.
1. Dry skin: In autumn and winter seasons, low air humidity may reduce the skin's surface oil and cause moisture loss, damaging the skin barrier and causing itching. Scratching further damages the skin and worsens the itch. The water temperature for daily bathing should not be too high, controlled at 37℃-40℃. The use of soap and shower gel should be minimized.
2. Clothing irritation: Wearing synthetic fiber clothing, which has poor breathability and easily generates static electricity, continuously rubbing the skin, leading to itching. It is recommended to choose natural materials like cotton, loose and comfortable clothing to reduce skin irritation. New clothes should be washed before wearing to remove residual chemicals.
3. Eczema: Triggered by various internal and external factors such as allergies and dry skin, eczema may cause red patches, pimples, and severe itching on the skin. Scratching can lead to oozing and crusting. Patients can use calamine lotion, desonide cream, loratadine tablets, and other medications under a doctor's guidance to relieve itching and reduce inflammation.
4. Urticaria: Urticaria may be triggered by food allergies, infections, medications, and other factors. Skin develops wheals of varying sizes accompanied by itching. Scratching may increase and enlarge the wheals, which can spontaneously subside within a few hours but tend to recur easily. It is recommended to use medications such as cetirizine tablets, ebastine tablets, mometasone furoate cream, and others under a doctor's guidance to improve symptoms.
5. Diabetes: Long-term poor control of blood sugar may cause nerve fiber degeneration, leading to skin nerve dysfunction, resulting in itching that is difficult to relieve. Scratching easily causes skin infections. It is recommended to follow medical advice to use metformin tablets, glimepiride tablets, insulin injection, and other medications to control blood sugar levels and alleviate skin itching symptoms.
In daily life, apply body lotion promptly after bathing to keep the skin moisturized. If itching has already occurred due to clothing irritation, change clothes and rinse the affected area with clean water to relieve discomfort.
References:
[1] Zeng Wenming, Zeng Qiming. A Case Report of Cholinergic Urticaria Treated with Modified Guizhi Jia Longgu Muli Decoction. Chinese Rural Medicine, 2025, 32(04): 36+52.
[2] Qu Yiping, Yang Tingting, Qin Qian, et al. Analysis of Non-Pharmacological Treatment Methods and Effects for Eczema. Journal of Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 26(02): 227-231.
