Itchy Skin

When your skin gets itchy, nothing feels comfortable. Itchy skin or pruritus can be difficult for a layperson to diagnose. You skin may look completely normal, it may appear dry, or it may be covered in a rash or unusual spots. Oftentimes, the cause is obvious, such as contact with an irritant like poison ivy or an allergen, like pet dander. Yet other times, the cause may not be as obvious. It’s always best to consult a medical professional in these cases, since proper diagnosis can speed the treatment of the underlying cause and ease symptoms. While most causes of itchy skin are benign, it can occasionally be symptomatic of a serious underlying illness.