7 Itches You Should Never Ever Scratch And Why!

Last Updated on April 19, 2021

Some itches go away on their own and some others are persistent to the point where it almost drives you crazy!

In such cases, the more you scratch your skin, the worse the itchiness gets, as a result of the body’s inflammatory response.

There are plenty of skin conditions that can cause itchiness, on top of which are dry skin, skin allergies, and eczema. These skin conditions among others are estimated to affect over 85 million people in the United States.

On this list, you will find the 7 types of itches that you shouldn’t scratch if you don’t want to make them far worse than they already are. For example, you may end up with a rash, scaly skin patches, or red and tender skin, so you shouldn’t scratch no matter what.

Read on to find out all about these 7 cases of itchiness and keep your hands to yourself!

1. Don’t scratch an insect bite

The first sign of a bug bite is itchiness. Although you can’t help but feel the need to scratch the maddening itch on your skin, you really shouldn’t!

Scratch a mosquito bite or sting may cause germs and bacteria to spread over your skin and result in an infection, making the matter worse.

Scratching an itch caused by bug bites can also cause your skin to break, swell, or bleed, which is hardly the way to treat a bite.

Try to keep your hands to yourself and only touch the bitten skin when applying a disinfectant or ointment for bug bites.

2. Don’t scratch wounds that aren’t healed yet

Do NOT touch an open wound, let alone scratch it! If you scratch your skin when it’s already broken, you also cause damage to the nerves and make the delicate skin itch even more.

The nerve cells signal to your brain that something hurts as you scratch your skin, which momentarily distracts it from the itch, however, if your body releases serotonin, the pain-fighting chemical in response, brace yourself for the itchiness returning in ten folds!

In the case of scratching your wound, you also slow the healing process and risk getting an infection.

When the itchiness goes haywire, try using an anti-itch lotion with Menthol to soothe it.

3. Don’t scratch dry skin

Scratching dry skin only thickens it more and causes painful cracks which may then lead to infections.

Also, as we have mentioned already, scratching dry skin may temporarily relieve itchiness but it will come back the moment you stop, just like with any type of itch.

Always resist scratching an itch on your already-dehydrated skin and apply moisturizers if you have naturally dry skin.

Another way to prevent itching from dry skin is showering with lukewarm or warm water and limiting your shower-time to only 10 minutes, once a day. Avoid rubbing your skin when toweling after a shower, tap the towel on your skin to dry it instead.

4. Don’t scratch if you have Eczema

Eczema is the condition in which patches of skin become itchy, red, rough, cracked, and inflamed. Some of the common causes of eczema include allergens, infections, dry skin, and stress.

If you have eczema, avoid scratching your skin or scalp at all costs because the itch will get itchier and more painful than ever. What’s worse, you may end up with itchy bumps on skin.

In addition to eczema treatment, use an ice pack to soothe your eczema itch or take an anti-itch medication.

5. Don’t scratch if you have psoriasis

Psoriasis is a condition that is associated with an overactive immune system which causes the body to produce cells at high speed, pushing them to the surface in mere two or three days instead of the normal 28 or 30 days.

This condition results in red and scaly skin patches that burn and sting, usually on the elbows. Itchiness related to this condition is persistent and may force you to scratch your skin to relieve it, the same way that you do with eczema.

Again, if you scratch the skin affected with psoriasis, you will slow down your healing process and risk an infection.

6. Don’t scratch if you have contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a red, itchy patch or rash on the skin that results from an allergic reaction from direct contact with a substance that causes it such as plants, jewelry, cosmetics, soap, perfume, etc.

Simply said, don’t scratch! You will risk making the itch more intense and vulnerable to skin infections.

Wash your clothes properly with a detergent that you have not had an allergic reaction to before, to prevent itchiness. If you’re experiencing this symptom for the first time, consult your doctor to see if they can recommend certain allergy medications.

7. Don’t scratch if you have dandruff

Dandruff is an extremely common scalp condition that is caused by a fungus that lives in everyone’s scalp. This fungus is called Malassezia and it thrives in an oily or dry scalp, causing excess skin cell growth and itchiness.

Whether you have dandruff or not, do not scratch your scalp because that spreads germs under your nails and intensifies any scalp condition, hence putting you at risk of inflammation.

Try dandruff shampoo to manage this annoying and embarrassing condition!

Remember to never scratch an itch that is caused by a skin condition or other health problems and make sure to tell us in the comments about what you usually do to relieve an itch!