15 Causes of Itchy Legs and What to Do About It

Have you ever felt distress because of itchy legs? Do you have any spot on your legs that always irritates you and you even can’t stop scratching? Sometimes the itchiness causes disturbed and interrupted sleep at night. The increased severity of itchy legs symptoms ultimately ends in depression or even anxiety. Scratching makes it more intense and sometimes small blood drops appear due to repeated scratching. 

Many factors cause itchy legs, including some underlying health conditions, wearing rough fabric and dry winter skin.

What are Itchy Legs?

An uncomfortable sensation on legs with severity ranging from mold to intense is called itchiness in legs. Different factors make your legs itchy. Although it is not a much concerning matter, sometimes itchy legs indicate the presence of certain underlying health conditions which can be proved fatal. People often feel intense severity in symptoms of itchy legs during winter due to dry skin. But many other factors show that itchy legs may be the sign of certain health conditions like diabetes.

This article looks at common causes of itchy legs and the way to relieve itching and stop scratching.

Possible Causes of Itchy Legs

Itchy legs are caused due to:

• Chronic skin conditions, like psoriasis and eczema.
• Irritation due to certain chemicals found in cosmetics or shaving legs.
• Dry skin.
• Stress.
• Allergic reactions to certain topical medications like contact dermatitis.
• Certain diseases such as liver disease, cancers, kidney disease, and diabetes.
• Irritation from bug bites or allergies to pants, including poison ivy.

Here’s a detailed discussion about these causes:

1. Xerosis

Dry skin or xerosis is the main cause of itchy legs. Xerosis is a medical term used for dryness of skin. It can be caused due to certain skin conditions, age and climate changes. Spending more time in water or swimming in chlorinated water can also cause dry skin.

Common symptoms indicating dry skin include:

• Dark skin time with gray, ashy skin.
• Scaly, flaking and rough skin.
• Cracks in skin from which bleeding gets started after scratching.
• Itching.

Experts have declared that itching due to dry skin often leads to skin inflammation or dermatitis. These conditions usually make your skin dry and irritated with the appearance of itchy rash or patches. Therefore, medical experts have suggested that you see a dermatologist on an emergency basis if you ever experience symptoms of dry skin or dermatitis.

2. Plant Poisons or Bug Bites

Spending more time in outdoor activities or near plants causes exposure to more poisonous materials found in plants. You may also get more bug bites when you spend time gardening. Big insects or plant poisons often cause irritation in your skin especially in leg skin. Examples of big insect bites are spiders, parasites and mosquitoes while for plant poisons , poison ivy and netters are common examples.

According to research, plant poisons and insect bites have certain poisonous chemicals that then come in contact with your exposed skin, causing irritation and itching. Swelling, hives and redness are also symptoms of bug bites or exposure to plant poisons. Sometimes, symptoms occur soon after a bug bite but in rare cases people do not develop symptoms soon. Therefore, sometimes strings are often overlooked. Wearing skirts or shirts outdoors is the main cause of sting on the legs leading to itchy legs.

3. Eczema

Atopic dermatitis is another term used for eczema. This is a chronic condition affecting a large number of people around the world. According to the International Institute of Allergies, it is the most speedily spreading infection of skin all over the world. Its symptoms include itchy, red, and irritated skin anywhere on your body, especially on legs. Most common victims of eczema are young children and babies. It often occurs on their legs, arms and cheeks. But in adults, the red itchy rash appears on the backs of knees, back of the neck and insides of elbows.

4. Psoriasis

This is the immunity disorder  that causes intense itchiness on your skin. Inflamed plaques develop on many areas on your skin. However, commission areas to appear inflamed plaques ate scalp, elbows and knees. These plaques cause irritating sensations. 

Some simple treatment options can help relieve the psoriasis symptoms. You should also learn how to avoid triggers that usually cause flares. Researchers are still trying to find an exact cure for the condition.

5. Hair Regrowth or Razor Bumps

Shaving the legs often leads to developing razor bumps. Hair regrowth after shaving legs causes irritation and itching on legs. This itchy sensation starts 24 to 48 hours after shaving and causes itchy legs. Razor blades scrape your skin that trigger ingrown hairs leading to sensitive and itchy skin. Dry skin after shaving and newly shaven hair becoming ingrown are main symptoms of razor bumps.

6. Folliculiotis

When your hair follicles become inflamed, a skin infection is caused named folliculitis. The condition usually occurs due to acne, curly hair or an immunity-related disorder. Common symptoms of folliculitis include pus-filled blisters, red, itchy bumps on legs. Your immunity also gets attacked in this condition.

7. Expanded Blood Vessels

People think that exercise is associated with only physical fitness but in fact exercise also influences your health conditions. You may be surprised to hear that heart exercise is an effective way to improve your itchy leg symptoms. How is it possible?

Exercise strengthens your heart muscles that may help improve certain chronic conditions. But starting a new exercise routine or adding a new workout method to your existing workout routine may cause an itchy sensation in your legs. 

If you notice itchiness during exercise like jogging, swimming, walking or running, your blood vessels (capillaries) expand. Increased blood flow to your leg muscles or surrounding nerves due to physical activity causes vessel expansion leading to  itchy legs. 

However, when your body gets acclimated to a new exercise routine the sensation of itching subsides. This means it’s a temporary condition.

8. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Rest less legs syndrome causes a crawling sensation on your leg skin. It also triggers uncontrolled itching sensation in your legs. You may experience needles or pins tingling in your skin during this syndrome. 

The condition gets worse while you’re resting. Intense symptoms occur when you sit or lay down. You even can’t sleep at night due to intense itchy legs. Although the exact cause of restless syndrome is unknown, expats believe that certain muscle movement due to imbalance chemicals in your brain is the actual cause of RLS symptoms.

9. Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPP)

This is a pregnancy-related condition that usually occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy. During pregnancy the hormone levels often get disturbed. The imbalance in hormone leeks causes PUPPP. It is diagnosed due to the itchy rash on legs, and patches of red, raised skin in different areas of the body. 

The condition can also occur after a C-section and its symptoms include developing bumps or ash on your abdomen, near the search marks, thighs and legs. However, they disappear after delivery.

10. Prurigo Gestationis

Itchy legs during pregnancy are also caused due to prurigo gestation. The condition triggers a rash on your skin, especially on limbs. As it is a benign ski condition, it stays restricted to your legs, torso and arms.

This condition may also be caused due to fluctuations in hormone keels but actual and exact cause is unknown. The rash starts disappearing a few weeks after delivery. 

11. Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions also cause red itchy rash across your body. Whenever you come in contact with an allergen, such as topical antibiotics, nickel or tube substances, you develop an itchy rash as skin reactions.

12. Cholinergic Urticaria

When your skin gets warm and sweaty, it develops a condition known as cholinergic urticaria. In this condition, hives develop on your legs especially after an exercise. Because exercise increases the blood flow in your leg muscles that makes your legs skin warm and sweaty. Other symptoms include cramps, headache, breathing troubles and swelling around your face, neck and legs. The condition may get dangerous after exercise. Therefore, it is suggested to see your doctor if you experience such symptoms after exercise stop exercising immediately after getting symptoms worsen. 

13. Stress

According to studies, stress is another potential cause of itchy legs. The reason for this cause is still unknown but researchers are working to identify the link between itchy legs and stress. Researchers believe that complicated brain activity involving the brain parts, subcortical brain and hippocampus, may cause itchy sensation in skin. Appearance of hives due to stress conditions are common. 

14. Diabetes

Diabetes is a well- known cause of itchy skin. Researchers are trying to find out the association between itching skin and diabetes. However, some studies show that dry skin and poor circulation is associated with itchy legs.. So people with diabetes experience skin problems frequently. The itching becomes intense if you have diabetes. 

Ask your healthcare provider to check only the cause of itching. If it’s diabetes, you’re in the danger zone. Because itchy skin indicates the worsening of diabetes. You can protect your skin with regular moisturizing.

15. Other Skin Conditions

Skin itching or itchy legs sometimes indicate some serious medical conditions, such as hives, ringworm, lymphoma, overactive thyroid gland, kidney problem, shingles and HIV.

How to Relieve Itchiness?

Although avoiding scratching is a great way to cope with itchy legs. This not only a tactic to relieve itchy legs symptoms at home, but also prevent the irritation from getting worse. According to studies, oatmeal rich lotions can help reduce itchiness, roughness and dryness of skin. People, therefore, like the oatmeal bath. Such baths are more effective for infants and children experiencing itching  problems. 

Other at home self-care remedies to treat itchy legs include:

• Wear clothing made from soft fabrics that  make breathing easy for your skin.
• Use cold compressors.
• Take over-the-counter antihistamines.
• Moisturize regularly with creams and lotions to prevent skin dryness.
• Use hypoallergenic laundry products.
• Use aloe vera products to relieve pain, dryness and irritation. Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties.

Preventive Tips

These tips can help you prevent itchiness in legs:

• Prevent dryness in skin by applying moisturizer especially after taking a bath.
• Follow proper hygienic shaving techniques. Avoid shaving with a dull, old razor because such tools can cause irritation and ingrown hairs.
• Always choose a sharp razor to shave your legs and shave in the direction of hair growth.
• Avoid scented soaps, laundry detergents and lotions. They can cause irritation.
• Wear loose fabrics to stop ingrown hairs on legs.

Exfoliation before shaving also helps stop ingrown hairs. Exfoliation is the great way to remove dead skin cells that usually result in razor bumps.

When to See a Doctor?

Proper self-care with hygiene practices can help improve itchy legs symptoms. But you may need to see a professional dermatologist, if you feel any rash, bump or tenderness on your legs. All these signs indicate that you have itchy legs with worsened symptoms. Sometimes,other health conditions like diabetes and skin infections also cause itchy legs. Anyways, no matter what the reason for itchy legs is, it always causes complications.

If itchy legs start to interfere with your sleep and rest, contact your doctor immediately. They may prescribe special medications to soothe the itchy legs.

Conclusion

Itchy legs is a common condition that most people experience around the world. This means it is not a very serious issue but when razor bumps, dry skin or itchiness becomes persistent and disturb your daily activities, sleep and rest, you should pay attention to it and its cruises. Pregnant people mostly get caught by this condition. It also occurs in people with diabetes or chronic infections. 

However, it is also a fact that every itchy sensation is not the sign of a trip to visit a doctor. Sometimes, symptoms get better on their own after a few days and you don’t need any medication or medical help. But when you feel that over-the-counter treatments are not working, schedule a meeting with your dermatologist.