As summer ended and fall began, the weather started to get drier, and many people started to feel like they had allergies because their skin itched.
Why is skin itching with pancreatic cancer?
Most people with pancreatic cancer will have obstructive jaundice. This is because the tumor blocks the extra-hepatic or antipathetic bile ducts, and the jaundice usually gets worse over time. Some people may even scratch themselves all over.
Itchy skin from pancreatic cancer is usually caused by jaundice, so people with pancreatic cancer often have other signs of jaundice, like yellowing of the skin or the whites of their eyes, when they start to feel itchy. Also, the skin hasn’t been itching recently, and the surface isn’t peeling or cracking. However, the skin starts to itch all of a sudden, and the itching is felt inside the body. The itching can’t be scratched, and it is often very strong and aggressive.
Skin that itches too much is a sign of illness.
Aside from pancreatic cancer, there are many other diseases that can cause the skin to itch in strange ways. Here are five of them.
Malignant tumor
Be aware that a malignant tumor could be the cause of itchy skin that won’t go away and is all over the body, especially in older people. Skin that itches because of malignant tumors can last for a long time or just a short time, and itching can be limited or widespread.
Itchy skin caused by tumors could be an immune response to cancer cells or cell debris, or it could be the result of cells in other parts of the body being broken down by autoimmunity and releasing chemicals that make the skin itch. The level and length of itchy skin are not related to the type of tumor.
For example, people with brain tumors who have lesions that spread into the fourth ventricle often have intense, long-lasting itching in their nostrils. Itching in other parts of the body, like in the vulva or around the anus, can be a sign of cervical cancer or intestinal cancer. Itching can also be a sign of stomach cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, and other malignant tumors.
Diabetes
Because of the increased sugar content of diabetic patients’ skin, the skin is more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, which in turn induce dryness and irritate the skin’s nerve endings, leading to itching.
Patients who have widespread, persistent itching without a rash or who have certain ringworm diseases that go untreated for a long time should be warned that they may have diabetes. Itchy skin is one of the most common signs of diabetes, especially in overweight middle-aged and older people.
Diseases of separation
Separability Diseases like hepatitis, cholecystitis, and cirrhosis often start with prurient, and some of these diseases also cause jaundice. The itching can last for a long time or just a short time.
Statistics show that 50% of patients start to itch a few months or even a year or two before their jaundice and liver function starts to get worse. This is because harmful metabolites like histamine and bile salts build up in the skin, which stimulates the nerve endings of the skin. Once the jaundice starts, the itching gets worse.
Disease of the kidneys
Certain protein derivatives are created in the body and cause itching when the kidneys aren’t working properly, and dry skin and uremic nephropathy are the results of poor waste product excretion and disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, which lead to the deposition of granular urea “cream” on the skin’s surface. Chronic nephritis, which causes itching that doesn’t go away and is spread out, doesn’t respond to antihistamine treatment. Up to 86% of people have uremia, renal failure, or other long-term kidney diseases.
Thyroid Disease
Itchy skin is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism that can be triggered by the condition’s hallmarks—an increased metabolic rate and an increase in perspiration—and is often worse at night. Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, is characterized by itching that comes on slowly and pale, dry, flaky skin.
When people have itchy skin, they often scratch to stop the itch. However, many common practices are wrong, don’t stop the itch, and may even cause serious problems.
What do I do if my skin itches in a strange way?
People usually scratch hard to stop the itch, but they don’t always control how hard they scratch and end up scratching their skin. When the skin is scratched, bacteria can easily get into the wound and cause a secondary infection. Scratching will also make the skin grow, release something that causes inflammation, and thicken the skin, which is why after scratching, the skin often becomes hypertrophic.
Some people will also scald their itchy skin at high temperatures, thinking that this will stop the itch. High-temperature water will destroy the protective layer on the skin’s surface, making the skin drier. This won’t stop the itching, and it may make the symptoms worse. If the water is too hot, you could also get scalded. So, what should you do when your skin itches?
When you have itchy skin, you can stop itching by patting it gently or putting a cold compress on it. If lesions like flaking, massive exudation, crusting, etc. happen, contaminated clothes and bedding should be changed in time to keep the skin clean. You can also use anti-itch creams the right way, but you shouldn’t use hormone drugs whenever you want. People who have severe itching should see a doctor right away and only take drugs under the supervision of a doctor to avoid bad side effects.
Manganese-rich foods can help stop itching and stop it from getting worse. Tea has a lot of manganese and is easy to absorb. Wheat, spinach, and other foods have more manganese, but they aren’t as easy to absorb. Fish and some animal livers have manganese that is easily absorbed, but the amount is small, so it’s up to you if you want to take it.
Most people don’t think of itchy skin as a big deal, but itchy skin that can’t be explained is often a sign of illness and needs special care. Also, pay attention to keeping your skin moist in the winter or when it’s dry outside. Use less soap and other toiletries that can dry out your skin, and put on more lotion to protect your skin and stop itching caused by dry skin.