Itching

The primary goal is to clarify the cause for the existing itching.

It is often possible to support the treating doctor here, e.g. by explaining

• at which intervals the symptoms occur (e.g. after a bath or physical exercise, or primarily in the winter or at night).
• whether other family members are also affected.
• whether an allergy exists, whether you are suffering from a certain skin disease or internal illness.
• which instruments you have used to scratch.
• which drugs you are taking (also mention those that you have bought yourself over the counter at a pharmacy).
• the degree to which you suffer from the itching.

If the cause is known, it can be treated directly in many cases (e.g. if the itching is caused by a previously unknown basic illness). If the itching is caused by a drug, it may be possible to stop taking it (only after consultation with the treating doctor of course). If it is due to an allergy, the allergen can be avoided.

Mostly, however, so-called 'symptomatic' therapy will be necessary if the cause is unknown or its treatment is not sufficient to alleviate the itching.

Initial measures that those affected can carry out themselves are presented in the section 'Tips'.

If these measures are not sufficient or are no longer sufficient, it is time to consult a dermatologist. As the effectiveness of the different therapies varies depending on the underlying cause of the itching, an individually balanced treatment concept is drawn up in collaboration with the dermatologist.

The following drug groups are frequently prescribed symptomatically for itching:

• Anti-histamines (these are drugs that block the effect of the inflammatory and itching messenger substance histamine)
• Cortisone-like products (which have an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect and alleviate the itching)
• Local anaesthetics (which suppress the forwarding of impulses in the nerve fibres)
• Other locally used substances include cannabinoid agonists and Capsaicin.

Itching with dry skin

If the itching is caused by dry skin, such as e.g. neurodermatitis, the skin should be cared for in a consistent and targeted way on a daily basis. Here, sufficiently oily skin should be ensured, as well as compensation for the lack of moisture. Itching can be suppressed, for example with the anaesthetic Polidocanol which works on the surface and which is contained in some dermatological drugs (e. g. Optiderm).

To supply the affected skin with moisture, it is important to select substances that demonstrably result in an increase in the skin's capability to bind water. The substances known as natural moisturising factors (NMF) such as urea can be used for this. It was possible to show that in particular the content of the body's own substance urea in the skin is substantially reduced in people with atopic eczema, psoriasis or dry skin. Preparations with urea can combat this deficiency and, among other things, bind the moisture produced by the body in the horny layer of the skin. The skin regains its natural softness. In addition, the thickened horny layer becomes looser so that scaly skin can detach itself more easily from the surface of the skin.