Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDry SkinInsect BitesAllergic ReactionsSkin ConditionsMedicationDiabetesVein DiseaseNerve DamageWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Dry Skin
Insect Bites
Allergic Reactions
Skin Conditions
Medication
Diabetes
Vein Disease
Nerve Damage
When to See a Provider
There are a number of common issues that can cause itchy legs below the knee. Bites and dry skin can affect anyone. However, there are also medical conditions that result in itchy lower legs.
Depending on what triggered your itchiness, you may be able to stop the discomfort with at-home remedies. In other instances, you may need to see a healthcare provider to get help controlling an underlying medical problem.
This article explains minor reactions and problems that cause itchiness as well as serious conditions that may require medical attention.
Getty Images / Tharakorn Arunothai / EyeEm
Dry skinis one of the most common causes of itchy legs. If the skin on your legs feels rough and appears flaky, cracked, or scaly, dry skin may be the culprit. Dry skin is more common during the winter months when cold weather and low humidity can dry skin out. Frequent showering, bathing, and swimming may also lead to dry skin.
Older adults are more prone to dry skin—particularly on their elbows, lower legs, and lower arms. This is because as we age, our skin loses fat and becomes thinner, making it more likely to get dried out.
How to Relieve Itchiness
Insect bitesfrom mosquitos, chiggers, fleas, and bed bugs can cause intense itching. Spending a lot of time outdoors or having household pets may make you more susceptible to getting a bug bite.
Though it’s tempting to scratch an insect bite, this may make it even itchier. Most insect bites stop itching after a few days’ time. Applying a cold compress (cloth soaked in cold water) or over-the-counterhydrocortisonecreamon the bug bites may provide temporary relief.
7 Causes of Itchy Bumps (That Aren’t Mosquito Bites)
When you are in contact with something that irritates your skin or causes anallergic reaction, this is known ascontact dermatitis. If you have an allergic reaction to a substance, you may experience itchy skin and a red rash or blisters hours or days after touching something you are allergic to.
More than 15,000 different things can cause an allergic reaction on the skin.Personal care products like cosmetics, lotion, perfume/colognes, and certain soaps often contain ingredients that can lead to contact dermatitis. Contact with certain metals (e.g., nickel) may also cause irritation and itchy legs.
To relieve the itchiness, it’s important to find out what’s causing your allergic reaction. You may need to keep a log of what products you are using or what has contacted your skin to determine the cause.
Are You Allergic to Your Skincare Products?
Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a common cause of itchy skin. On the lower leg, dermatitis may appear as red and swollen plaques/patches of skin.In milder cases of dermatitis, the irritated patches may appear dry and scaly. Blisters may be a part of the rash in more severe cases of dermatitis.
There are a number of otherskin conditionsthat can also cause itchy lower legs, including:
Skin conditions are managed differently depending on the type. Your healthcare provider or dermatologist (medical skin doctor) can provide an accurate diagnosis and remedies to provide relief.
Some medications can trigger intensely itchy skin. Known as drug-inducedpruritis, symptoms may appear within hours or weeks after you start taking the medication. In most cases, there is no rash with the itchiness, just scratch marks.
The most common medications to cause itchy skin areopioids,chemotherapy medications, psychotropics, andchloroquine.Certain antibiotics, cardiovascular medications, and antiepileptic drugs may also cause this reaction.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms. They may advise you to stop taking the medication and replace it with an alternative. Your skin may continue to be itchy for days or weeks after you stop taking the medication, but will eventually subside.
Diabetesaffects more than just your blood sugar (glucose) levels—it can affect many major organs, including your skin. For some people, itchy skin may be the first sign they have diabetes.
People with diabetes are more at risk of developing skin rashes, skin infections, and dry skin.Chronically high blood sugar levels may lead to poor circulation, causing itchy skin, especially on the lower legs.
Carefully managing your diabetes can help protect your skin and prevent itchiness and infections. To reduce itchiness and prevent infections, use mild soap with moisturizer when you bathe, avoid very hot baths/showers, and apply moisturizer to your skin after bathing.
Poor circulation can lead to skin changes, including dry, itchy skin in the legs and other parts of the body.Some of the vein diseases that can cause itching include:
If a problem with the veins in your leg is causing itchiness, it’s important to avoid scratching. This can make the itching worse and cause damage to the skin that could potentially lead to an infection.
You may be able to relieve the itching with a fragrance-free moisturizing cream applied at least twice a day. Topical hydrocortisone and/or anti-itch creams may also help.
Sometimes nerve damage can cause itchy skin. This is known as aneuropathic or neurological itch.Injury or damage to neurons in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) or peripheral nervous system (nerves that branch out into organs, limbs, and skin) can result in chronic itching.Scratching does not tend to relieve a neuropathic itch, and can sometimes make it worse.
Ask your healthcare provider about how to manage neuropathic itching. Some healthcare providers recommend pain relieving medications or antidepressants for this type of itch.
Antihistamines don’t usually improve symptoms, but a sedating antihistamine like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) may help you sleep. Topical anesthetics can provide short-term relief, and topical steroid creams can help reduce inflammation. You can also try wrapping the itchy skin with a bandage.
Some healthcare providers recommend talking to a therapist. Therapy may help you learn to cope with itching and resist the desire to scratch.
Other Health Conditions
Other health conditions that may cause itchy legs include:
These remedies can help certain types of itch, including the ones listed above.
Lotion for Dry Skin: Ingredients to Look For & Best Options
When to See a Healthcare Provider
While there are many home and over-the-counter remedies for itching, they may not help your condition. See your healthcare provider if you have the following issues:
When to See the Healthcare Provider When You Have a Skin Rash
Summary
Itchy lower legs can be uncomfortable and disruptive to your day-to-day life. If you’re experiencing itchy legs at night, it may be bad enough to interrupt your sleep. Causes of itchy legs can range from dry skin to allergies to nerve damage.
If at-home remedies don’t seem to work, talk to your healthcare provider about your itchy legs and any other accompanying symptoms. They will work to determine the underlying cause and provide appropriate suggestions for how to relieve the itch and reduce any other symptoms you may be experiencing.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Aging.Skin care and aging.National Library of Medicine.Insect bites and stings.American Academy of Dermatology.What is contact dermatitis?Weston WL, Howe W.Overview of dermatitis (eczema).UpToDate. 2020.National Library of Medicine.Itching.American Academy of Dermatology.10 reasons your skin itches uncontrollably and how to get relief.Seemab K, Khan AU, Khan MI, Qazi NG, Minhas AM, Ali F.Anti-pruritic effect of L-carnitine against chloroquine-induced pruritus mediated via nitric oxide pathway.BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2024;25(1):32. doi:10.1186/s40360-024-00748-4Jafferany M, Stamu-O’Brien C, Mkhoyan R, Patel A.Psychotropic drugs in dermatology: A dermatologist’s approach and choice of medications.Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(3):e13385. doi:10.1111/dth.13385Mefford BM, Donaldson JC.Treating medication-induced pruritus.US Pharm. 2022;47(8):43-6.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and skin complications.National Eczema Association.Stasis dermatitis.National Library of Medicine.Veinous ulcers - self care.Pereira MP, Wiegmann H, Agelopoulos K, Ständer S.Neuropathic itch: routes to clinical diagnosis.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:641746. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.641746Torjesen I.Presentation and management of the neuropathic itch.Dermatol Times. 2018;39(12).Dermnet NZ.Sjogren syndrome.Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al.Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin.J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(1):43-48.Australian Government Department of Health.Itchy skin. Health Direct.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Aging.Skin care and aging.National Library of Medicine.Insect bites and stings.American Academy of Dermatology.What is contact dermatitis?Weston WL, Howe W.Overview of dermatitis (eczema).UpToDate. 2020.National Library of Medicine.Itching.American Academy of Dermatology.10 reasons your skin itches uncontrollably and how to get relief.Seemab K, Khan AU, Khan MI, Qazi NG, Minhas AM, Ali F.Anti-pruritic effect of L-carnitine against chloroquine-induced pruritus mediated via nitric oxide pathway.BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2024;25(1):32. doi:10.1186/s40360-024-00748-4Jafferany M, Stamu-O’Brien C, Mkhoyan R, Patel A.Psychotropic drugs in dermatology: A dermatologist’s approach and choice of medications.Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(3):e13385. doi:10.1111/dth.13385Mefford BM, Donaldson JC.Treating medication-induced pruritus.US Pharm. 2022;47(8):43-6.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and skin complications.National Eczema Association.Stasis dermatitis.National Library of Medicine.Veinous ulcers - self care.Pereira MP, Wiegmann H, Agelopoulos K, Ständer S.Neuropathic itch: routes to clinical diagnosis.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:641746. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.641746Torjesen I.Presentation and management of the neuropathic itch.Dermatol Times. 2018;39(12).Dermnet NZ.Sjogren syndrome.Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al.Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin.J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(1):43-48.Australian Government Department of Health.Itchy skin. Health Direct.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute on Aging.Skin care and aging.National Library of Medicine.Insect bites and stings.American Academy of Dermatology.What is contact dermatitis?Weston WL, Howe W.Overview of dermatitis (eczema).UpToDate. 2020.National Library of Medicine.Itching.American Academy of Dermatology.10 reasons your skin itches uncontrollably and how to get relief.Seemab K, Khan AU, Khan MI, Qazi NG, Minhas AM, Ali F.Anti-pruritic effect of L-carnitine against chloroquine-induced pruritus mediated via nitric oxide pathway.BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2024;25(1):32. doi:10.1186/s40360-024-00748-4Jafferany M, Stamu-O’Brien C, Mkhoyan R, Patel A.Psychotropic drugs in dermatology: A dermatologist’s approach and choice of medications.Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(3):e13385. doi:10.1111/dth.13385Mefford BM, Donaldson JC.Treating medication-induced pruritus.US Pharm. 2022;47(8):43-6.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and skin complications.National Eczema Association.Stasis dermatitis.National Library of Medicine.Veinous ulcers - self care.Pereira MP, Wiegmann H, Agelopoulos K, Ständer S.Neuropathic itch: routes to clinical diagnosis.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:641746. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.641746Torjesen I.Presentation and management of the neuropathic itch.Dermatol Times. 2018;39(12).Dermnet NZ.Sjogren syndrome.Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al.Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin.J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(1):43-48.Australian Government Department of Health.Itchy skin. Health Direct.
National Institute on Aging.Skin care and aging.
National Library of Medicine.Insect bites and stings.
American Academy of Dermatology.What is contact dermatitis?
Weston WL, Howe W.Overview of dermatitis (eczema).UpToDate. 2020.
National Library of Medicine.Itching.
American Academy of Dermatology.10 reasons your skin itches uncontrollably and how to get relief.
Seemab K, Khan AU, Khan MI, Qazi NG, Minhas AM, Ali F.Anti-pruritic effect of L-carnitine against chloroquine-induced pruritus mediated via nitric oxide pathway.BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2024;25(1):32. doi:10.1186/s40360-024-00748-4
Jafferany M, Stamu-O’Brien C, Mkhoyan R, Patel A.Psychotropic drugs in dermatology: A dermatologist’s approach and choice of medications.Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(3):e13385. doi:10.1111/dth.13385
Mefford BM, Donaldson JC.Treating medication-induced pruritus.US Pharm. 2022;47(8):43-6.
American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and skin complications.
National Eczema Association.Stasis dermatitis.
National Library of Medicine.Veinous ulcers - self care.
Pereira MP, Wiegmann H, Agelopoulos K, Ständer S.Neuropathic itch: routes to clinical diagnosis.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:641746. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.641746
Torjesen I.Presentation and management of the neuropathic itch.Dermatol Times. 2018;39(12).
Dermnet NZ.Sjogren syndrome.
Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al.Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin.J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(1):43-48.
Australian Government Department of Health.Itchy skin. Health Direct.
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