Also known as Pruritis
Itch (Latin: pruritus) is a sensation that causes the desire or reflex to scratch. Itch has resisted many attempts to classify it as any one type of sensory experience. Modern science has shown that itch has many similarities to pain, and while both are unpleasant sensory experiences, their behavioral response patterns are different. Pain creates a withdrawal reflex while itch leads to a scratch reflex.
Source: WikipediaThe most common causes of itching of skin are contact dermatitis, allergy, and itching of unknown cause. Other possible causes, such as scabies, are more rare.
Within all the people who go to their doctor with itching of skin, 86% report having skin rash, 50% report having abnormal appearing skin, and 26% report having skin lesion.
Patients with itching of skin often receive complete physical skin exam performed (ml), excision, hemoglobin a1c measurement, biopsy, excision of skin lesion, other diagnostic procedures on skin and subcutaneous tissue, diagnostic procedures on ear and other gastrointestinal diagnostic procedures .
The most commonly prescribed drugs for patients with itching of skin include diphenhydramine (benadryl), hydroxyzine, hydrocortisone topical, triamcinolone, triamcinolone topical product, permethrin topical, clobetasol topical, betamethasone topical product, ketoconazole, betamethasone-clotrimazole topical, fluocinonide topical, desonide topical and doxepin .
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) | $5 (21 days) | |
Hydroxyzine | $23 (28 days) | |
Hydrocortisone Topical | ||
Triamcinolone | $24 (21 days) | |
Triamcinolone Topical Product | ||
Permethrin Topical | ||
Clobetasol Topical | ||
Betamethasone Topical Product | ||
Ketoconazole | $28 (21 days) | |
Betamethasone-Clotrimazole Topical | ||
Fluocinonide Topical | ||
Desonide Topical | ||
Doxepin | $10 (28 days) |
Groups of people at highest risk for itching of skin include race/ethnicity = other.
< 1 years | 0.3x | |
1-4 years | 1.0x | |
5-14 years | 1.4x | |
15-29 years | 1.0x | |
30-44 years | 1.1x | |
45-59 years | 1.0x | |
60-74 years | 0.9x | |
75+ years | 0.8x |
Male | 0.9x | |
Female | 1.1x |
Black | 1.3x | |
Hispanic | 1.1x | |
White | 0.8x | |
Other | 1.5x |