Why do hands and feet itch more the more you scratch them?
Disease description:
My hands and feet have been itchy for the past few days—especially when I scratch them or soak them in hot water. I’d like to know why scratching makes the itching worse.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Xiaoyan
Itching in the hands and feet that worsens with scratching should first raise suspicion of insect bites. Additionally, excessively dry environmental conditions may irritate peripheral nerves, leading to itching in the hands and feet; however, scratching typically fails to relieve such itching and instead exacerbates it. Second, contact dermatitis—triggered by exposure to certain substances—should be considered. Fungal infections of the hands and feet (tinea manuum and tinea pedis) and dyshidrotic eczema (a type of inflammatory skin condition) are also potential causes of hand-and-foot itching that intensifies with scratching.
