If your symptoms (and scratching) persist or worsen, make an appointment with Dr. “Also, try to wear 100% cotton fabrics and switch to a fragrance-free laundry detergent.” “Use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone 1% cream in addition to your moisturizer,” she recommends. I also think a water softener helps if you are prone to dry, itchy skin. Pat dry with a towel, then apply a ceramide-based over-the-counter cream within a few minutes of getting out of the shower.

Munoz adds, “Reduce the temperature and frequency of your hot showers. It will help with the itch and give the added benefit of relaxing you for sleep. Try taking a warm bath with a quarter-cup of baking soda blended into it before bedtime. Less severe symptoms of winter itch can be treated at home, with the overall goal being to alleviate discomfort and stop the scratching. Children and adolescents seldom are affected, however. Who gets it?īoth men and women can be afflicted, particularly older people with drier skin. “Keep space heaters at a distance rather than directly on your lower legs,” advises Vista Dermatology’s Dr. When it’s cold outside, some people (especially those with poor circulation) use portable heaters to keep body parts warm. Heat can also be a culprit, as wintertime heating also reduces the moisture in your home. What causes it?Īlthough its cause is not completely known, cold and dry weather seems to be a factor (hence the name), as well as certain types of coarse clothing such as wool. It is most noticeable at night and can be especially irritating when you’re changing your clothes. Without treatment, these symptoms can become even more intense. Since the skin is rough, dry and irritated, constant scratching is a primary symptom, leading to even rougher skin and even visible scratch marks. It can affect any part of the body (except the hands, face, feet and scalp), but it is most common on the legs.Īsteatotic eczema is another form of winter itch, and it has similar symptoms. As a first step, see your doctor and ask for some basic investigations, such as blood and urine tests.Winter itch, also known as pruritus hiemalis, is a type of dermatitis that can affect you most during cold weather. They are certainly worth investigating further, before anything more serious develops. Peripheral neuropathies may be related to diabetes and vitamin deficiencies (vitamin B12 deficiency is certainly worth considering), and to lots of other medical conditions, including tumours and inflammatory diseases.I don't think you should ignore your symptoms. This is caused by nerve damage, and it typically causes symptoms in the 'glove and stocking areas'. Are you taking any medications (either prescribed by a doctor or bought over the counter) that might have this as a side effect? Don't forget to consider herbal and alternative remedies - these too can have unusual side-effects.If it's not drugs or remedies, it may be a condition called peripheral neuropathy. If you examine your skin carefully enough, you will always see some evidence of scabies in the form of small red bumps or lines, particularly between the fingers and around the wrists.If there is definitely no sign of skin inflammation, the next thing to think about is a possible drug side-effect. Skin infections and infestations, such as scabies, can cause intense itching. The first thing is to establish whether or not there is a rash.

There is a long list of possible causes of burning and itching sensations in the hands and the feet. What could it be?'ĭr Fred Kavalier answers your health question: There is no redness and no infection is apparent. 'I'm a 46-year-old woman, and I'm getting terrible burning and itching in my hands and feet.

My feet itch and burn