Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesRisk FactorsSymptomsItch-Scratch CycleRecurrent ItchingWhen to Seek Medical CareTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Itch-Scratch Cycle
Recurrent Itching
When to Seek Medical Care
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
This article investigates the possible causes of an itch that returns repeatedly in the same spot, and how you can treat it to avoid more serious problems.
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Causes of a Recurring Itch
An itch mayjust be an itchin some cases, but when it recurs in the same spot repeatedly it’s called pruritus. “Pruritis” is the medical term for chronically itchy skin, and this name encompasses itches of many varieties.
Causes of pruritis include:
If you are suffering from a chronic itch, your healthcare provider may ask you a lot of questions to determine the cause, including where the location of your itch is. An itch that recurs in the same location may provide a clue on the particular cause of your itch.
Unlike other forms of pruritis, this itching develops in just one location (or sometimes two). It’s rare for this condition to go away without treatment, and ongoing scratching in the same spot can lead to more intense itching, burning, and tissue damage or infection.
Risk Factors for a Recurrent Itch
Neurodermatitis is seen most often in adults between the ages of 30 and 50, and in women more than men. People who have anxiety,psoriasis, and other forms of dermatitis are also at an increased risk of neurodermatitis.
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Recurrent itches that fall into the neurodermatitis category can occur anywhere, but they are most commonly seen in the following places:
Less frequently, the eyelids, anus, and genitals are affected.
This type of itching can either come and go or be present all the time. Most people with this condition report that the itchy feeling is worse when they try to relax or go to sleep. Stress and anxiety can also increase feelings of itchiness.
While itching is the primary symptom of neurodermatitis, tingling/stinging or burning, discoloration of the skin, and pain when scratching are common. Continued scratching can lead to other skin complications, also.
Common Causes and Treatments for Itching
The Itch-Scratch Cycle
Theitch-scratch cycleis what dermatologists call the phenomenon when the response to an itch becomes part of the problem.
We all want to scratch an itch, However, sometimes scratching an itch can make the area even itchier, creating a cycle of scratching that’s impossible to break.
Why Is My Skin So Itchy?
Recurrent Itch Complications
Continuous scratching of an area due to neurodermatitis can lead to all kinds of skin and tissue damage, like:
Neurodermatitis doesn’t go away on its own, so if you think you have this condition, you will need to see a healthcare provider to heal youritchy, injured skinand break the itch-scratch cycle.
If you are already undergoing treatment, be sure to let your healthcare provider know right away if you develop severe bleeding orsigns of infectionat the site of your itch.
Treatment of neurodermatitis is multifaceted. It includes healing your itchy areas and addressing the underlying problem that led to it.
Corticosteroids, topical steroids, and injected steroidsare often used to reduce inflammation and soften thickened skin in affected areas. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe nonsteroidal medications likecalcineurin inhibitorsorsalicylic acidto help control the itching sensation.
Other treatments and strategies that may be used to soothe neuropathic itching include:
Summary
An itch that recurs in one or two places may be linked to nerve damage. A persistent, specific itch can be harmful, leading to skin and tissue damage, bleeding, and infection. See your healthcare provider ordermatologistif you are experiencing this; neuropathic itching rarely improves without treatment with prescription medications.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIf you have an itch that keeps coming back in just one spot, you should see your healthcare provider. Neuropathic itches don’t often resolve without treatment, and continued scratching could lead to complications. You may need to be treated for an underlying condition to resolve your itch.Learn MoreExtreme Itch in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue SyndromeAn itch that develops in the same spot over and over is likely neuropathic, and most people with this problem complain that the itch seems worse at night when they try to sleep or relax. Most likely, this is because you have fewer things to focus your attention on besides the itch.Learn MoreWhy Does My Skin Itch at Night?A neuropathic itch can feel like any other itch but can also have a stinging or burning quality.Over time, with continuous scratching, you may also notice pain as the skin in the affected area becomes damaged and raw.Learn MoreNeurodermatitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
If you have an itch that keeps coming back in just one spot, you should see your healthcare provider. Neuropathic itches don’t often resolve without treatment, and continued scratching could lead to complications. You may need to be treated for an underlying condition to resolve your itch.Learn MoreExtreme Itch in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
If you have an itch that keeps coming back in just one spot, you should see your healthcare provider. Neuropathic itches don’t often resolve without treatment, and continued scratching could lead to complications. You may need to be treated for an underlying condition to resolve your itch.
Learn MoreExtreme Itch in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
An itch that develops in the same spot over and over is likely neuropathic, and most people with this problem complain that the itch seems worse at night when they try to sleep or relax. Most likely, this is because you have fewer things to focus your attention on besides the itch.Learn MoreWhy Does My Skin Itch at Night?
An itch that develops in the same spot over and over is likely neuropathic, and most people with this problem complain that the itch seems worse at night when they try to sleep or relax. Most likely, this is because you have fewer things to focus your attention on besides the itch.
Learn MoreWhy Does My Skin Itch at Night?
A neuropathic itch can feel like any other itch but can also have a stinging or burning quality.Over time, with continuous scratching, you may also notice pain as the skin in the affected area becomes damaged and raw.Learn MoreNeurodermatitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
A neuropathic itch can feel like any other itch but can also have a stinging or burning quality.Over time, with continuous scratching, you may also notice pain as the skin in the affected area becomes damaged and raw.
Learn MoreNeurodermatitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
7 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.
MedlinePlus.Itching.
Nowak DA, Yeung J.Diagnosis and treatment of pruritus.Can Fam Physician. February 2018;64(2):92.
Pereira MP, et al.Neuropathic itch: Routes to clinical diagnosis.Front. Med.February 2021;8. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.641746.
National Eczema Foundation.Neurodermatitis.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Neurodermatitis signs and symptoms.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center.What is Neuropathic Itch?
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