Itching all over the body

Itching all over the body can have dermatological origins: eczema, psoriasis, etc. 

But most often, pruritus all over the body has a non-dermatological origin. Pruritus sine materia is itching on the body without spots. In other words, you’re itchy all over, but there are no visible skin lesions. 

Pruritus sine materia includes all types of pruritus of systemic origin (due to liver, kidney or thyroid disease, infection, medication, pregnancy, etc.), those of psychogenic origin (of psychological origin) and those of neurological origin (due to damage to the central or peripheral nervous system, or to pinched nerves) Depending on the location of the itching, examples of pruritus sine materia may vary:

• Abdominal itching: during pregnancy, an itchy stomach is a result of both hormone levels and the skin stretching and drying out considerably in this area.
• Itching on the bust: here again, female hormone levels are at play, in pregnant women, women before their period, menopausal women, etc.  
• Itching on the legs: a circulatory cause is sometimes found, in the form of venous insufficiency, in both men and women.
• Itching on the hands and feet: itchy hands and feet can be a sign of liver damage called obstetric cholestasis in pregnant women, or drug toxicity in cancer patients.
• Other locations are possible, itching on the back and neck, itching on the arms, on the shoulders, on the scalp, on the face, etc. Pruritus sine materia can be explained by liver or kidney damage, endocrine disorders, cancer, medication taken systemically, advanced age, psychological or neurological disorders. 

Itching all over the body therefore has various causes. Environmental factors such as hard water, hot baths, irritating fabrics, unfavorable weather conditions, stress and anxiety add to the causes of itching and increase its intensity. 

However, whatever the cause, the result is often the same: itching all over the body negatively affects the quality of life of the patient and sometimes those around them.

Pruritus negatively affects quality of life by generating sleep disorders or even insomnia, a decrease in concentration at school or at work, social withdrawal, or even anxiety and depression.

Pruritus also has several consequences on the skin:

• The appearance of scratching lesions called prurigo;
• The risk of skin superinfection: pathogens such as viruses, bacteria or fungi then colonize the scratching lesions and change their appearance;
• The risk of scars: when the person scratches "to the point of drawing blood", they are damaging deeper layers of the skin. This can lead to irreversible scarring;
• The risk of lichenification: scratching causes the skin to thicken in certain places and to take on a rough and checkered appearance.