Prostate Restored
Photo by Breno Santos Pexels Logo Photo: Breno Santos

Where do you itch with kidney disease?

4 days ago Itching with kidney disease can be generalized, or it can occur in specific parts of the body. Common areas for this type of itching include the head, arms, back, and abdomen. It also tends to be worse at night, which can disturb your sleep.

texaskidneyinstitute.com - Where Do You Itch with Kidney Disease?
Is oatmeal high in uric acid?
Is oatmeal high in uric acid?

Oatmeal has about 50 to 150 milligrams of purines per 100 grams of the food. This puts oatmeal right in the middle of the range of milligrams for...

Read More »
Last updated Apr 20, 2022
Is onion a Superfood?
Is onion a Superfood?

By helping to eliminate toxins and carcinogens, glutathione puts the allium family on the list of anti-cancer superfoods. Onions contain calcium,...

Read More »
Last updated Jun 2, 2021

Kidney disease has several symptoms, with some more troublesome than others. Feeling tired or weaker than usual is very common, but in the early stages of kidney disease, you may have no symptoms at all. Tiredness and feeling weak are distressing to people, but one of the most irritating symptoms is the itch. Why does it happen, and what can you do about it?

Side Effects of Kidney Disease

There are many side effects that a person with kidney disease has to learn to recognize and live with on a day-to-day basis. Some of the most common are:

Loss of appetite

Swollen ankles, hands, or feet due to the accumulation of excess fluid

Shortness of breath

Blood in the urine

Nausea

Difficulty sleeping

Itching

Erectile dysfunction

Why Does Kidney Disease Cause Itching?

Itchy skin in kidney disease is sometimes referred to as uremic pruritus or chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated pruritus. A build-up of urea in the blood causes the itch, which occurs when both kidneys stop working. It is a problem in a third of people on dialysis and is more common in hemodialysis than in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

Where Do You Itch With Kidney Disease?

Itching with kidney disease can be generalized, or it can occur in specific parts of the body. Common areas for this type of itching include the head, arms, back, and abdomen. It also tends to be worse at night, which can disturb your sleep. The itching is lower in intensity just after dialysis as the blood urea levels will be lower. However, it increases in intensity two days after dialysis. Sometimes a person’s skin will appear normal while others have scratch marks from trying to stop the itching. Scratching can lead to broken skin, which increases the risk of infection. As a person with kidney disease, you will be aware that you are vulnerable to infection, so you need to be careful when scratching that itch.

What You Can Do to Relieve Itching in Kidney Disease

Apart from asking why kidney disease causes itching, the priority is finding relief for the problem. If you experience itching and have kidney disease, it is important to tell your doctor or the team in the dialysis unit. It may mean you have too much urea in your blood, and the team may need to review your medication and dialysis regime. Here are a few things you can do to try to reduce itching:

Wear loose clothing made with natural fibers.

Avoid perfumes, aftershaves, and use unscented soaps.

Pat instead of rub skin after a shower.

Avoid arid environments.

Sometimes you may need help from your doctor to manage the symptoms. They can prescribe an antihistamine or medication such as Gabapentin which reduces itching by interacting with nerve function. Both these types of drugs can make you sleepy, so you need to be monitored carefully. A dermatologist is another source of help and can advise on treatment options, such as using creams. Remember to seek advice for any symptoms that develop with your kidney disease from the medical team treating you.

What seed has the most protein?
What seed has the most protein?

Hemp seeds, also called hemp hearts, are rich in vitamin E and potassium. They also have the most protein of all the seeds and are a great source...

Read More »
Last updated Apr 6, 2021
Why do bodybuilders put cinnamon?
Why do bodybuilders put cinnamon?

Even if you don't have diabetes, cinnamon is still worth considering. If your goal is muscle gain, the better your insulin sensitivity and nutrient...

Read More »
Last updated Oct 2, 2022

Which alcohol is good for liver?

According to a new study published in Oxford's Alcohol and Alcoholism journal, scientists discovered that hoppy beer is significantly less harmful to the liver than liquor and even beer without hops.

delish.com - This Beer Is Better For Your Liver Than All Other Alcohol - Delish

We all know how horrible hangovers can get after a night spent drinking. It happens because you're basically poisoning your body with booze. But apparently there's one kind of beer that's a little less toxic than every other kind of alcohol. According to a new study published in Oxford's Alcohol and Alcoholism journal, scientists discovered that hoppy beer is significantly less harmful to the liver than liquor and even beer without hops. After wining and dining mice for 12 hours, the researchers found that the subjects who had the hoppy beer had much less fat on their livers than those who'd consumed ethanol and hop-less beer. What's more, Munchies reports, both the ethanol and the hop-less beer led to the same amount of fat in the mice's livers, which means it was the hops that helped prevent the organ damage. "Our data suggest that hops in beer markedly attenuated acute alcohol-induced liver steatosis [fatty liver]," the authors wrote.

More From Delish

Guess it's time to crack open some IPAs.

Follow Delish on Instagram.

How often do married couples over 70 make love?
How often do married couples over 70 make love?

In the New England Journal of Medicine study, though just over a quarter of participants ages 75 to 85 said they had sex in the last year, more...

Read More »
Last updated Aug 29, 2020
What age is half your life?
What age is half your life?

They pass slowly at first, and then much more quickly. According to Kiener, if one dies at age 100, and you take into account that you don't...

Read More »
Last updated Mar 27, 2019
How long can a diaper be worn at night?
How long can a diaper be worn at night?

Designed to keep your baby dry for up to 12 hours, overnight diapers are extra absorbent, often with around 20 to 25 percent more capacity than...

Read More »
Last updated Apr 12, 2021
What percentage of men pee standing up?
What percentage of men pee standing up?

When at home, 7 in 10 men said they usually pee standing rather than sitting. In fact, only 17% usually sit down to urinate. Jun 10, 2019

Read More »
Last updated Nov 29, 2018