If you would scratch all day (or even all night) because you feel an annoying itch in your legs, know that there are multiple causes that can be hidden behind.
Some are easy to fix and of little importance, such as lack of hydration that causes dryness, but other times this itchy legs is linked to major diseases such as skin cancer or Hodgkin's lymphoma, lymphatic cancer.
Itchy legs: possible causes
1. Dry skin
Skin dryness causes itching in the legs, as is using soaps or other very aggressive products for the skin, especially if it is sensitive. Moisturizing your skin morning and night can help you stop scratching.
2. Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is characterized by intense itching and by the presence of pimples, vesicles, redness, exudation and scabs that can appear all over the body, especially in the folds, such as the part behind the knees. In case of outbreak, go to the dermatologist to schedule a treatment and as maintenance use specific soaps and creams for atopic skin.
3. Contact dermatitis
This dermatitis, which is also very itchy, is due to skin contact with what causes an allergy, such as soaps, certain cosmetics, fabrics … In the latter case, both wool and linen, despite being natural fabrics , can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive people.
4. Infections
From an infected hair to a wound or an insect bite that has been contaminated … These infections can cause itching in the legs, as well as fungal infections, which in addition to itching give rise to red or brown patches on the skin.
5. Side effect of some medications
This is another cause of itchy legs. Look at the leaflet that accompanies the drugs you are taking and, if it is described as a side effect, ask your doctor about the possibility
6. Itching in the legs due to poor circulation
Heavy legs due to circulatory problems usually lead to itching, tingling, thickening of the veins (spider veins, varicose veins …). If your legs, in addition to itching, are tired, swollen… don't miss this article.
7. Diabetes
Having high sugar makes the skin very dry. In addition, diabetes is often related to poor circulation, which itself already causes itching and tingling in the legs. If you want to know if this is your case, in this article you can discover other symptoms of diabetes.
8. (severe) kidney problems
Itchy legs can be one of the symptoms of an aggravated kidney problem that may require dialysis.
9. Thyroid problem
This can lead to red and itchy skin on the legs. It is not constant, it appears and disappears.
10. Hodgkin's lymphoma
This node cancer usually causes itching in 10 to 25% of affected. It is a severe itch and itch, which is usually located on the lower legs.
11. Skin cancer
In addition to an asymmetric spot, with irregular edges, darker in color in some areas than others and greater than 6 mm, you should suspect that it is a cancerous lesion and this can cause itching.
Why do my legs feel itchy at night?
The itch may be due to the functioning of the body itself. For example, it may be due to a rise in body temperature that occurs naturally at night - we are not talking about fever - and that can cause itching.
Also, at night the body loses more water, and in colder months this can also cause itchy legs.
It is also true that, physiologically, there are certain changes that also explain it, such as that at night more cytokines are released, substances that cause inflammation, while there is a lower production of corticosteroids, which are the hormones that keep this inflammation at bay .
In addition, even if we look for other explanations, the itching of the legs at night can be due to the same reasons as during the day. The problem is that, at night, you can be more aware of this itch, since you do not have other sources of distraction as you do during the day.
