Kidney disease and itching symptoms
At present, more and more chronic kidney disease patients are being found worldwide. It is estimated that more than 500 million people globally have kidney disease. In Thailand, the number of kidney disease patients has also been steadily increasing. Interestingly, it has been found that kidney disease patients very often have skin-related problems.
The kidneys play a role in excreting water and minerals through urine to maintain balance within the body. But if the kidneys fail, the balance of water and minerals in the body becomes disrupted as well, causing the skin to become dry and dehydrated and leading to itching.
“Itchy skin can be caused by many factors. Among patients who see a doctor for itching, 10–50% will be found to have an internal medical condition that contributes to the itching. For example, in kidney disease patients, itching often flares up at night, or during dialysis, or right after it, and they often have generally dry skin. Liver disease patients often itch severely on the hands and feet and in areas where tight clothing is worn. Itching from blood disorders is often localized, commonly around the anus and in the female genital area. In some blood disorders, itching may occur after contact with water. Itching from endocrine disorders is often generalized over the whole body. Some diabetes patients may have localized itching, commonly in the female genital area or around the anus, and may also have concurrent yeast and fungal infections. Itching in cancer is often moderate to severe, commonly on the outer arms and the shins.” said Dr. Prawit Phisanbutr, a dermatologist and former researcher at the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Prawit added that in cases where itching is due to an internal disease, patients may have normal-looking skin or have scratch marks and raised bumps from scratching, thickened skin resembling tree bark, or skin infections. Patients may show a so-called butterfly sign, meaning there is a lighter-colored or normal-colored area in the middle of the back, with darker skin or scratch marks around the outer areas that the hands can reach to scratch.
For patients with chronic itching, doctors may order laboratory tests such as blood tests, blood sugar testing, stool tests, skin scrapings to look for infection, and a biopsy for pathological examination. Patients with severe itching may be unable to sleep, leading to deteriorating health. Therefore, patients with chronic itching should take care to prevent dry skin, such as applying moisturizers, avoiding frequent soaping, avoiding very hot showers, avoiding clothing made of fabrics that easily irritate the skin, and reducing stress, because stress can trigger flare-ups of itching.
Cr: www.thaihealth.or.th
