Can liver disease cause itchy skin?
May 26, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Xiaoyan
Introduction
Liver disease can cause pruritus (skin itching), and the characteristics of itching vary depending on the type of liver disease. Bilirubin is the primary pigment in bile, and the liver secretes bile to facilitate fat digestion. In patients with liver disease, abnormalities in bile secretion and metabolism occur, leading to cholestasis (bile accumulation), which stimulates nerve endings and subsequently causes skin itching.
Liver disease refers to pathological conditions affecting the liver, including hepatitis B, hepatitis A, hepatitis C, cirrhosis, hepatic steatosis (fatty liver), hepatocellular carcinoma, and alcoholic liver disease, among others. Many patients wonder whether liver disease can cause skin itching. The details are as follows:
Indeed, liver disease can cause skin itching, and the nature and severity of itching may vary depending on the specific type of liver disease.
Bilirubin is the primary pigment in bile, which the liver secretes to aid fat digestion. In patients with liver disease, abnormal bile secretion and metabolism lead to cholestasis (bile accumulation), which irritates cutaneous nerve endings and thereby induces pruritus (itching).
The liver functions as a major detoxifying organ. During hepatic inflammation or injury, glycogen synthesis by the liver gradually declines, potentially resulting in postprandial hyperglycemia. Elevated blood glucose levels can similarly stimulate cutaneous nerve endings, leading to pruritus.
Moreover, it is important to note that hepatic inflammation and injury impair glucose regulation. Specifically, the liver’s ability to degrade insulin diminishes, causing progressive insulin accumulation. This leads to decreased blood glucose levels—resulting not only in skin itching but also increasing the risk of hypoglycemia.
