Upper chest itchy

Itchy chest: Causes and home remedies

Itchy skin, which doctors call pruritus, is a common symptom that can affect any part of the body. When it affects the chest, this can indicate a range of causes, including allergic reactions, psoriasis, and kidney or liver problems.

Depending on the cause, the itchiness may either remain confined to the chest or affect the whole body. Sometimes, a person may have the sensation that the inside of their chest feels itchy. Pruritus can occur with or without a rash.

In this article, we explain the various causes of an itchy chest and discuss treatments and home remedies.

Contact dermatitis is a type of eczema that appears when a person’s skin reacts to a certain substance or irritant.

In addition to pruritis, the symptoms of contact dermatitis include a rash, a burning or stinging sensation, redness, and swelling.

Triggers for contact dermatitis on the chest vary among individuals but often include:

chemicals or dyes in clothing
laundry detergent
dryer sheets
jewelry, especially nickel
cosmetic skin products
fragrances

People can try to prevent contact dermatitis by identifying and avoiding their triggers. Topical steroids and antihistamines can help relieve symptoms.

Excessively dry skin anywhere on the body can result in uncomfortable itching sensations. Dry skin can arise due to very cold or hot weather with low humidity. Washing the skin too much or with harsh chemicals can also cause it to become dry.

Symptoms of dry skin include:

scaly or flaking skin
cracks in the skin
gray skin, which may appear ashy in people with darker skin

People with itchy dry skin should avoid scratching it as this can cause breaks in the skin, leading to bleeding and an increased risk of skin infections. Topical moisturizers can usually relieve dry skin.

Read about seven home remedies for dry skin here.

Insect bites are a very common cause of itchy skin. People may not always realize that a bug has bitten them.

Bites from bedbugs, mosquitos, and other biting insects can cause a very itchy, raised, swollen rash around the bite. This rash is called hives or urticaria.

If a person does not cover their chest when sleeping, recurrent itching on this part of the body could indicate bedbugs.

Learn more about bedbug bites and treatments here.

Share on PinterestShingles can cause a tingling or burning sensation on the chest.

Shingles is a condition that can affect people who have previously had chickenpox. It arises when the varicella-zoster virus, which lies dormant in the body following chickenpox, reactivates.

The first sign of shingles is often a burning or tingling pain, which sometimes occurs alongside numbness or itching. These symptoms tend to appear on only one side of the body, and they typically affect the sides, back, chest, and head.

After 1–5 days, the person will develop a red rash in the affected areas. After a few more days, this will turn into blisters. Once the rash has gone away, people may experience lasting pain called postherpetic neuralgia in the same areas of the body.

People who suspect that they have shingles should see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Itching can be a side effect of taking a medication. In these cases, it is usually a mild side effect and does not necessarily mean that a person should stop taking the medication.

Examples of medicines that doctors know to cause skin itching as a side effect include drugs to treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that causes areas of scaly skin. It can sometimes be itchy.

A form of psoriasis called inverse psoriasis occurs in areas where the skin folds, such as under the arms, below the breasts, and around the genitals.

Treatments for psoriasis include steroid creams and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Sunburn causes skin inflammation and peeling skin. The skin may feel itchy, sore, and hot. People can use soothing moisturizers and cool baths to reduce these symptoms.

End stage kidney disease can cause a type of skin itching called uraemic pruritus, or chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-associated pruritus).

In people with this condition, the itching usually affects the back, head, abdomen, and arms, but it can involve the chest too.

If a person extends the time between their dialysis treatments, they may notice that the skin itching becomes more pronounced.

Thyroid disorders, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, can cause skin itching without a rash.

Thyroid disorders often affect the skin, hair, and nails. Depending on the type of disorder, other symptoms may include sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures, fatigue, dry skin, and coarse, dry hair.

Doctors can treat thyroid disorders using medications that rebalance hormone levels.

In very rare instances, an itchy chest can be a symptom of a more serious condition. An example is breast cancer.

In rare instances, inflammatory breast cancer — a form of breast cancer that grows rapidly — can cause skin redness, inflammation, and itching skin. It can also make the skin appear and feel like an orange peel. If a person is concerned about the appearance of their skin, they should talk to their doctor.

According to the British Association of Dermatologists, there are some cases in which skin itchiness has no known cause. This situation is more common among adults over the age of 65 years.

Read about possible causes for itchy skin with no rash here.

Share on PinterestA doctor may recommend topical medication to treat the cause of an itchy chest.

The treatment options for an itchy chest depend on the condition’s underlying cause.

If a person suspects an allergic reaction to a substance contacting their skin, they could try taking an antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine), and ask their doctor about taking topical steroids. Benadryl causes drowsiness, so a person should only take it at night.

If the itching is due to hives, a nondrowsy antihistamine, such as Zyrtec (cetirizine), may be more useful. However, some people can still become drowsy after taking Zyrtec, so it is important to take care when using it.

If the cause of an itchy chest is likely to be a medication that the person is taking, they should talk to a doctor. The doctor can offer advice on whether they should stop taking the medicine altogether or explore an alternative medication option.

Doctors can prescribe ointments for skin itching conditions, such as psoriasis, and drugs to help manage other medical conditions.

People with itchy skin may find relief from their symptoms by adopting the following practices:

limiting bathing to 5-10 minutes and using warm rather than hot water
using fragrance free detergents
using a body wash that is good for sensitive skin
applying a cream (such as CeraVe or Vanicream) or an ointment (such as Vaseline) within a few minutes of bathing
avoiding using lotions, which tend to be drying
avoiding using irritating products on the skin
refraining from scratching the skin

If a person experiences a persistent rash or itching that does not respond to home remedies, they should see a doctor.

Read more about ways to relieve itching here.

People who have a chronic illness, such as kidney or liver disease, and experience intense skin itching should see a doctor. This symptom could indicate that their condition is not well controlled.

A person with an itchy chest should also see a doctor if they have the following signs and symptoms:

an orange peel-like appearance to the chest skin or other breast changes, including new lumps and nipple discharge
severe peeling of the skin
sudden redness or inflammation on the skin
unplanned weight loss or gain
night sweats, fever, and chills

If a person’s symptoms do not improve with at-home treatments, they should talk to their doctor about potential underlying causes.

In most instances, chest skin itching is not a cause for concern. Discontinuing the use of potentially irritating fragrances, lotions, or detergents may help.

If the symptoms continue or worsen despite at-home treatments, a person should talk to a doctor. The doctor may be able to recommend alternative treatments or medications to treat skin itching.

Itchy Chest: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

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If you have an itchy rash on your chest, it could be a symptom of a number of conditions including:

Allergic contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis is sometimes referred to as contact allergies. It occurs when your immune system overreacts to your skin being touched by a triggering substance that commonly wouldn’t cause a reaction. Allergic rashes typically don’t have clearly defined edges. Some substances that commonly trigger allergic contact dermatitis include:

latex
cleaning agents
adhesives
topical medications
essential oils

Some treatment options for allergic contact dermatitis include:

determining and avoiding your triggering substance
applying over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription creams
or ointments that contain a steroid

You can purchase OTC hydrocortisone cream online.

Acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris occurs when hair follicles become clogged with excess sebum — an oily substance from your skin — and dead skin cells. The plugged follicles can become inflamed with an increase of normal skin bacteria resulting in pimples and even cysts.

Your face, neck, chest, and back are common locations for acne to occur. These areas of your body contain a large amount of the glands that secrete sebum.

Treatment of acne vulgaris may include:

cleaning the area with gentle cleansers
avoiding irritants such as abrasive scrubs
using water-based or noncomedogenic
products
trying OTC products that contain benzoyl
peroxide
applying prescription topical applications that
include an antibiotic like clindamycin
or erythromycin or retinoid therapy such as tretinoin
taking prescription oral antibiotic therapy such
as tetracycline or minocycline

Buy OTC products that contain benzoyl peroxide now.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin disease in which skin cells rise to the surface too fast resulting in patches of red, scaly skin. It can show up virtually anywhere on your body, including on your chest.

Treatment of psoriasis may include prescriptions from your doctor, including:

topical corticosteroid cream or ointment to reduce
itching and inflammation
synthetic vitamin D cream
such as calcipotriene or calcitriol
phototherapy
using natural or artificial ultraviolet A or ultraviolet B light
other prescription medications such as methotrexate
(Rheumatrex), cyclosporine (Gengraf,
Neoral), etanercept
(Enbrel), and thioguanine (Tabloid)

Although they haven’t been definitively proven effective, popular home remedies for addressing symptoms include:

aloe vera
oral fish oil
(omega-3 fatty acids) supplements
topical barberry (also known as Oregon grape)

You can buy aloe vera, fish oil, or topical barberry to relieve psoriasis symptoms.

Shingles

Shingles is caused by the dormant varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles appears as a blistering rash often accompanied by painful burning and itching.

To treat shingles, your doctor may prescribe or recommend:

oral antiviral medicines including acyclovir, valacyclovir,
and famciclovir
pain-relieving medications

There are also a number of home remedies to help symptoms of shingles, including calamine lotion and colloidal oatmeal baths to relieve itching.

Buy calamine lotion and colloidal oatmeal bath treatment now.

An itchy rash on your chest could be a symptom of a condition that requires medical attention from your doctor. Most itchy chest rashes are relatively easy to diagnose.

Once you know the underlying condition causing your rash, your doctor can recommend treatment to cure or limit progression.

Causes of itching in the chest - Kvitna

06. 12.2019 News

In most cases, chest itching is not dangerous, and, understanding the causes of its occurrence, a person can easily eliminate it. But it happens that breast itching can be the primary symptom of a rare form of inflammatory breast cancer or nipple cancer. Therefore, experiencing itching, a woman needs to understand the reason for this reaction of the body.

Main causes of itchy chest:

Dry skin.

Dryness of the skin of the breast can cause a feeling of tightness, irritation, peeling and itching.

Dryness can result from a number of reasons, including:

natural "dry" skin type;
use of "hard" skin care products;
UV exposure;
sweating.

The use of moisturizers and sunscreens can significantly improve skin condition and reduce dryness.

Breast growth

Breast growth also stretches the skin around the breast, which can cause discomfort and itching. In the case of a sharp growth of the mammary gland, skin breaks are possible, the so-called stretch marks, which can also itch.

Breasts usually grow due to:

puberty;
pregnancy and lactation;
weight gain;
hormonal changes, including the menstrual cycle.

Prickly heat

A common occurrence in young children, prickly heat, can also occur in adults during prolonged exposure to a hot room, in the sun or during intense sports training.

Allergic reaction

Itching is one of the most common symptoms of allergy, which can be caused by the body's reaction to:

soap;
washing and detergents;
cosmetic products;
perfumery.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is divided into several types, including an extremely rare form of the disease - inflammatory breast cancer, the symptom of which can be itching.

In addition, women with inflammatory breast cancer report other symptoms such as breast swelling and fever.

Itching may also indicate the presence of another rare disease - Paget's cancer. In this case, the woman's nipple or halo area itches.

When to see a mammologist

The most common causes of breast itching are breast growth and dry skin and in most cases do not require a doctor's consultation.

But there are a number of symptoms that a woman should not ignore, these are:

constant and severe itching;
chest itches for a long time, more than a week;
itching is felt in the area of the nipple or areola and possible peeling of the skin;
severe sensitivity of the breast, it is possible to combine several symptoms at once, for example, swelling and itching of the organ;
rash on the chest or on the organ itself.

Let us remind you that earlier Kvitna wrote about the causes of pain in the mammary gland and what symptoms a woman needs to see a doctor without delay.

Source: MedicalNewsToday

Skin itching as a symptom of diseases of the internal organs and skin

Types of itching

In the literature, the term “itch” is understood as a sensation that causes a purposeful scratching reflex. In the scientific literature, itching is also referred to by the term "pruritus" (from the Latin prūrio - to scratch). Often, this phenomenon is one of the first symptoms of not only skin, but also internal diseases, diseases of the nervous system, hormonal disorders, and even tumors. That is why itching is currently regarded as an "interdisciplinary symptom" and in some cases even isolated as a separate disease.

There are general (generalized) and local (localized) pruritus. Acute generalized - more often it is a consequence of food, drug allergies, reactions to cold, heat, etc. Often, generalized pruritus is a symptom of serious illnesses: diabetes mellitus, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, malignant neoplasms, etc.

Localized itching occurs most often in the scalp and anogenital zone and is paroxysmal in nature. The reasons for the development of this phenomenon in the anal region, as a rule, are considered chronic inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs, infections, incl. helminthic invasions, etc. Long-term sensations are often complicated by the development of a bacterial infection, candidiasis. Localized itching is also observed in the area of rashes in various skin diseases: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, etc.

Frequency of pruritus in skin and systemic diseases

	Diagnosis	Frequency
	Atopic dermatitis	main symptom, in 100% of cases
	Psoriasis	77-84%
	Herpes zoster/postherpetic neuralgia	58%/30%
	Chronic kidney disease/dialysis	22%
	Primary biliary cirrhosis	80%
	Diabetes mellitus	3%
	Hyperthyroidism	4-7. 5%
	Anorexia	58%
	Polycythemia vera	48%
	Hodgkin's lymphoma	25-35%

Itching that persists for more than 6 weeks is defined as chronic. Its frequency among the adult population is, according to studies, 8-9%. Chronic phenomena are observed in various skin diseases (atopic dermatitis / neurodermatitis, eczema, prurigo, psoriasis, etc.) and systemic diseases.

Itching in various skin diseases

	Diseases often accompanied by itching	Diseases rarely accompanied by itching
	Inflammatory dermatoses: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, eczema, lichen planus, prurigo, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, mastocytosis, Gibert's lichen, urticaria	Inflammatory dermatoses: scleroderma and lichen sclerosus, Devergy's disease
	Infectious dermatoses: viral infections, impetigo, pediculosis, scabies	Genodermatoses: Darier disease, Hailey-Hailey disease
	Autoimmune dermatoses: bullous dermatoses, incl. dermatitis herpetiformis Dühring	Tumors: B-cell lymphoma of the skin, basalioma, squamous cell skin cancer
	Tumors: T-cell lymphoma of the skin	Other conditions: scars

Mechanism of pruritus

The mechanisms of pruritus in chronic kidney disease are not fully understood. The role of metabolic disorders is assumed, as well as the involvement of opioid receptors in the process and increased dryness of the skin. Itching develops, as a rule, after 2-3 months. after the start of hemodialysis, in 25-50% of cases it is generalized, in other cases it is localized. As a rule, itching is most pronounced in the back and face.

In diseases of the liver, itching is a very common symptom (observed in 80% of cases of cirrhosis of the liver, in 15% of all cases of viral hepatitis C). As a rule, it begins in the area of the palms and soles, as well as in the area of \u200b\u200bfriction of clothing. It is characterized by its intensification at night. Over time, itching takes on a generalized character, while scratching the skin brings almost no relief.

In case of endocrine pathology, such as diabetes mellitus and hyperfunction of the parathyroid glands, itching may be accompanied by a burning sensation, stinging, “crawling”. The lack of vitamin D, minerals, iron also in some cases leads to the development of this phenomenon. With iron deficiency, “aquagenic itching” (on contact with water) is often observed. As a rule, the restoration of normal levels of iron and minerals leads to the disappearance of any sensations within 2 weeks from the start of therapy.

Itching can be one of the symptoms of tumors and blood diseases. As possible mechanisms of its occurrence, toxic effects, allergic reactions to tumor components, as well as a direct irritant effect on the nerves and the brain (in case of brain tumors) are assumed.