Itchy Stomach: All You Need to Know

Introduction:

Itching is an uneasy feeling which tends to make a person scratch the area, causing itchiness. Feeling itchy in the stomach's skin can be due to minor issues like an insect bite or dry skin. However, if the itchiness is persistent and other symptoms occur alongside it, then it is a sign of an underlying condition.

What Causes an Itchy Stomach?

Some of the causes of an itchy stomach include the following:

• Skin Conditions - Hot showers, cold weather, and strong detergents can cause dryness in the skin, which in turn causes itchiness. Some people tend to have more dry skin than the rest. Skin dryness usually develops in the arms and legs and sometimes in the stomach.

• Eczema - It is a skin condition that forms scaly, dry, and itchy skin. It is a genetic condition and can also be caused by various trigger factors. Eczema usually affects the legs, arms, head, and sometimes the stomach area.

• Contact Dermatitis - It is a certain type of eczema that cause skin itchiness. It is usually triggered when the skin contacts substances like poison oak, poison ivy, household chemicals or lotions, detergents, or soaps. Allergic reactions from pet fur or latex can also trigger it.

• Skin Infections - These occur when a person comes in contact with bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. The infections can start in the stomach or spread to the stomach area from another infected part of the body. Stomach infections are usually caused by yeast or ringworm infections. Besides skin itchiness, skin infections cause other symptoms like burning sensation, redness, rash or fluid-filled blisters, skin peeling, or cracks in the skin which bleeds.

• Pregnancy - A pregnant person gets an itchy stomach due to factors like pregnancy rash and variation in hormone levels. When the belly expands, the skin stretches, and itchiness occurs, especially around the stretch mark area.

• Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) - This liver condition can cause stomach itchiness during the late stages of pregnancy. ICP occurs when the digestive fluid bile has difficulty flowing out of the liver. In this condition, intense itching occurs in the palm area of the hands and the soles of the feet. Other symptoms of the condition include loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored bowel movements, darker urine, and a yellow appearance of the skin and the whites of the eye (jaundice). This condition has to be treated immediately once diagnosed.

• Menopause - It is a natural aging process when the ovary stops producing the estrogen hormone, and women stop getting their periods. The decline in the estrogen hormone can cause dryness in the skin, including the stomach skin, resulting in itchiness.

• Insect Bites - These can cause a red bumpy and itchy area. Bed bug bites form a zigzag pattern in the skin, mosquito bites usually form round and raised areas, and flea bites can cause a discolored, itchy spot in the waistband area. The fleas usually sneak under the clothes and enter the body through the waistband area.

• Medication Reactions - Medications can cause allergic reactions like a reddish, itchy rash in the stomach area. Notifying the healthcare practitioner if an allergic reaction is noted is important.

• Chickenpox - Itis a contagious viral condition caused by the virus varicella zoster. In this condition, a reddish, itchy rash first appears in the stomach. Other symptoms include fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, and fever.

• Hypothyroidism - It occurs when the thyroid gland is underactive and produces fewer hormones. This deficiency in hormones can cause dry and itchy skin. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism are weight gain, fatigue, brittle nails, thin hair, difficulty concentrating, and a slower heart rate.

• Liver Diseases - Diseaseslike liver cirrhosis cause itching. This itching is due to several factors, like histamine, bile salts, and other enzymes.

• Cancer - It is when abnormal cells in the body increase and spread to other parts. Some forms of cancer cause skin dryness and make it itchy. Cancer treatments can also cause stomach itchiness.

How Is the Itchy Stomach Diagnosed?

The healthcare provider will ask about the symptoms, take a detailed medical history, and perform a physical examination. A physical examination is done to check for any bumps, discoloration, or skin changes in the stomach area. Then, to diagnose the underlying cause, the doctor will do a few other tests.

• An allergy test is done to check for any allergic substances which cause skin irritation.

• Blood tests are done to check liver function or thyroid hormone levels.

• The biopsy is a procedure where a piece of skin from the stomach area is removed and examined under a microscope to detect any skin abnormalities.

How Is an Itchy Stomach Managed?

The treatment plan for an itchy stomach depends on the underlying cause:

1. Eczema - Oral antihistamines like Diphenhydramine and Cetirizine will help relieve the itchiness. If oral antihistamines do not help, the doctor might prescribe topical or oral steroids. Immunosuppressants or phototherapy are recommended for severe cases of eczema.

2. Contact Dermatitis - The healthcare practitioner will help identify the substance which triggers the reaction and advise the patient to avoid it. Oral histamines or topical steroid creams are recommended to relieve the symptoms. The condition usually resolves within a week or two after treatment.

3. Skin Infection - Bacterial infections are treated with topical antibiotics, and fungal infections are treated with creams or antifungal sprays.

4. ICP During Pregnancy - Ursodiol is the medication to lower the blood's bile content. This medicine will help relieve other symptoms and itchiness.

5. Menopause - Depending on the severity of the symptoms, the doctor might recommend hormonal therapy. However, certain risks are associated with the treatment; hence it is essential to discuss with the doctor whether the treatment is right for the patient.

6. Insect bites - Wash the bite with soap water and apply topical antihistamines or calamine lotion. This condition usually resolves within a week after treatment.

7. Chickenpox - Antiviral medications like Acyclovir are prescribed for chickenpox. Calamine lotion can also help relieve skin itchiness.

8. Hypothyroidism - Hormone replacement tablets like Levothyroxine are prescribed for hypothyroidism.

9. Liver Disease - Medication like Cholestyramine is prescribed, which helps remove the bile acids from the body. For severe conditions of liver disease, liver transplants are usually recommended.

10. Cancer - A combination of radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery is done for cancer cases.

How to Prevent Stomach Itchiness?

There are several ways to prevent stomach itchiness. Some of them include the following:

• Keep well hydrated by drinking enough water.

• Wear soft, breathable fabrics like silk and cotton.

• Apply moisturizing cream or lotion to the skin every day.

• Use warm water and take short showers and baths every day.

• Avoid using strong soaps or cosmetic products, which can cause skin dryness.

• Add moisture to the air by turning on a humidifier at home.

Conclusion:

Stomach itchiness is caused due to skin infections, contact dermatitis, eczema, insect bites, and other underlying conditions like hypothyroidism, liver disease, or cancer. Conditions like skin infections, insect bites, and contact dermatitis resolve within a week after starting the treatment. However, other underline conditions like hypothyroidism may require continued medical intervention. Therefore, it is important to identify the exact cause of stomach itchiness to provide appropriate treatment and manage the condition well.