Itchy legs: causes, symptoms

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Extract from the article: Itchy legs are a disturbing and uncomfortable symptom. There are several causes of itchy legs. It can be a skin condition or dermatosis, a venous problem, varicose veins, venous insufficiency. What are the common symptoms and causes associated with i

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Itchy legs are a disturbing and uncomfortable symptom. There are several causes of itchy legs. It can be a skin condition or dermatosis, a venous problem, varicose veins, venous insufficiency. What are the common symptoms and causes associated with itchy legs? Are there any possible treatments?

The urge to scratch the skin is a common phenomenon. In the legs, brown patches, pimples, roughness, heaviness, with or without swelling can appear. Depending on their origin, these symptoms suggest an underlying problem that can lead to itching under certain conditions: when it is cold or hot, in the morning or evening.

Causes 

Itchy skin is often related to dry skin or xerosis. Several factors can contribute to this dryness. These include showers that are too hot or too frequent, harsh soaps, rubbing of clothes or accessories such as shin guards, and shaving or waxing.

Sign of poor blood circulation

Itching can be one of the symptoms of varicose veins and venous insufficiency. Pregnancy, as well as heat, flying or standing for long periods of time, tend to dilate the blood vessels. They fall into the category of signs of functional venous insufficiency.

Skin diseases

Several skin diseases, often hereditary, can cause rashes and itching in the legs. These include eczema dermatitis, an inflammatory dermatosis characterised by redness and scaling, and atopic dermatitis, a constitutional form of eczema, which can also develop on the legs. Finally, there is psoriasis, a skin disease that often occurs on the knees, and neurodermatitis, a chronic skin condition that develops in self-sustaining flare-ups through scratching.

What to do about it?

Even if the skin is itchy and the urge to scratch is very strong, care should be taken as this can lead to a risk of infection. Recommend topical products to get rid of the itching. In case of the above symptoms, a dermatologist should be consulted as soon as possible to avoid complications.

Raymond DZAKPATA

Source: Dr Martine Schollhammer, Dermatologist in Brest and member of the French Society of Dermatology (SFD)