How can itching be psychological?
ANSWER
If your doctor can’t find a physical cause, it may be in your mind. Some mental conditions give people the urge to scratch or pick at themselves. They may feel like their skin is crawling with something. There is no rash, but there may be skin damage from scratching. Compulsive scratching can be a sign of:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Psychosis
- Trichotillomania
From: Why Do I Feel So Itchy? WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by Stephanie S. Gardner on December 6, 2017
SOURCES:
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology: “Skin Allergy.”
American Academy of Dermatology.
Jain, S. , October 2013. Current Psychiatry
Moses, S. , September 2003. American Family Physician
National Cancer Institute: “Pruritus.”
National Psoriasis Foundation: “About Psoriasis.”
Oaklander, A. , March 2012. Acta Dermato-Venereologica
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation: “Pruritus.”
Yonova, D. April-June 2007. Hippokratia,
Yosipovitch, G. Dermatologic Therapy, March 2008.
SOURCES:
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology: “Skin Allergy.”
American Academy of Dermatology.
Jain, S. , October 2013. Current Psychiatry
Moses, S. , September 2003. American Family Physician
National Cancer Institute: “Pruritus.”
National Psoriasis Foundation: “About Psoriasis.”
Oaklander, A. , March 2012. Acta Dermato-Venereologica
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation: “Pruritus.”
Yonova, D. April-June 2007. Hippokratia,
Yosipovitch, G. Dermatologic Therapy, March 2008.
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