What Causes Persistent Itching?
Disease description:
When the weather gets colder, I bathe less frequently than before, and recently I’ve been experiencing persistent itching all over my body—so much so that I constantly feel the urge to scratch. What could be causing this persistent itch?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Wan
Common causes include allergic factors—for example, environmental triggers leading to allergic dermatitis or an unbalanced diet causing food allergies.
Secondary pruritus may also arise from inherent dry skin, particularly in patients with ichthyosis; during autumn and winter, their skin becomes even drier. Similarly, elderly individuals may develop pruritus due to age-related skin changes and increased dryness during the colder months. Additionally, systemic diseases—such as diabetes mellitus or thyroid dysfunction—can also manifest with pruritus.
