Everyone gets an occasional itch. But sometimes itching can last for days or weeks. Severe or persistent itching can become annoying, distracting and even torturous. And it can lead to other, serious health concerns, including insomnia, anxiety and depression — all of which interfere with your health and quality of life.
It’s fine to scratch an itch every now and then. But ongoing scratching can intensify the itch, a process known as the itch-scratch cycle. Constant scratching over the same area for a prolonged time also may cause the skin to become thick and leathery, a condition known as lichen simplex chronicus or neurodermatitis. This can make the itch more challenging to treat.
Chronic itching could be triggered by health conditions or by your environment. If you have an itch that lasts for a few weeks or longer, see your healthcare team to determine the cause and decide on a treatment.
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