“The shower should be as short as possible… If it itches, just hold on for two minutes.”
Causes and prevention of itchy skin
When dry, the skin barrier breaks down easily. External substances penetrate and cause itching Causes side effects of drugs such as blood pressure and heart.
The dry season of autumn has arrived. Dry weather adversely affects the skin. Itching is a typical symptom. There is a professor at a medical school who recently published a book on itching. Jinho Jeong, a professor of dermatology at Seoul National University Hospital, who published 'I'm Going Crazy Because It Itches', is the main character
Professor Jung has been researching skin diseases and skin aging for 30 years, especially treating pruritus, senile skin diseases, rheumatic skin diseases, and blistering skin diseases.
Itching due to various causes
Itching occurs when substances that cause itching in the skin stimulate nerves. Typical itch-causing substances are 'histamine', 'IL-31', and 'TSLP'.
Dry skin is the most common cause of making these itch-causing substances. When it dries, the stratum corneum (skin barrier) that protects our body collapses, and irritants from the outside easily penetrate through the gap. As a result, the skin becomes inflamed and the skin becomes itchy.
In addition, itching may occur as a side effect of medications such as blood pressure medications, heart medications, and diabetes medications. Nutritional supplements and healthy functional foods such as vitamins taken daily for health can also cause itching. This is because the ingredients that enter the body can cause an immune response or an inflammatory response, which can cause itching. Therefore, if it is not absolutely necessary, it is also a way to stop taking such foods for a while.
In addition, food or skin diseases can cause itching, and it can also occur when there are medical conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, etc. Professor Jung said, “Itching can occur even when there is a lot of stress, such as emotional anxiety, psychological anxiety, and unexpected diseases that we did not even think about. said
If itching occurs, be patient for once.
When itching occurs, it is best to hold it without scratching for the first 1-2 minutes. The reason why the skin feels itchy is that the sensory nerves in the area are activated and transmit the itch signal to the brain.
Professor Jung said, “When the itch stimulus comes once, the biochemical reactions that occur at the sensory nerve endings in the skin only last for 1 to 2 minutes at most and disappear soon. It doesn't itch," he explained. Massage with ice when itchy is also helpful in improving symptoms as it reduces inflammation.
He said, “Don’t think of itching as a painful feeling, and try to change your mind for a moment. said.
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Prevention of itchiness, this is a must
There are certain things that you must practice in your daily life to prevent itching. Above all, using a mildly acidic cleanser instead of solid soap when washing your body helps prevent itching. Since the normal acidity of the skin is weakly acidic, the use of alkaline ingredients may break down the skin barrier.
It is best to keep the shower as short as possible. This is because the contact time with soap and damage to the skin barrier can be minimized. It is recommended to apply a moisturizer at least twice a day and choose a moisturizer that contains lipids and sugars such as cholesterol, ceramide, and fatty acids.
Keep indoor humidity above 50%. It is helpful to keep the room temperature at 20-22 degrees. And keeping your mind calm with meditation, reflection, and positive thoughts can also help prevent itchiness. Professor Jeong said, "If you receive treatment from a specialist for medical or skin diseases that are aggravating factors for itching, and keep practicing to prevent itching, you can prevent itching from recurring."
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