In some cases, it may not be possible to identify a specific cause. Skin conditions Skin conditions that can cause itching include: dry skin eczema – where the skin is dry, red, flaky and itchy contact dermatitis – inflammation of the skin that occurs when you come into contact with an irritant or allergen urticaria – also known as hives, welts or nettle rash; it is triggered by an allergen and causes a raised, red, itchy rash to develop lichen planus – an itchy rash of unknown cause psoriasis – a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales dandruff – a common skin condition that causes dry white or grey flakes of dead skin to appear in the scalp or hair folliculitis – a skin condition caused by inflamed hair follicles prurigo – small blisters that are very itchy Allergies and skin reactions Itching is sometimes caused by an allergen, irritant or another environmental factor, including: cosmetic ingredients – such as preservatives, fragrances, hair dye and nail varnish hardeners certain metals – such as nickel or cobalt in jewellery rubber – including latex textiles – particularly the dyes and resins they contain some plants – such as chrysanthemums, sunflowers, daffodils, tulips and primula an allergy to certain foods or types of medication – for example, aspirin and a group of medicines called opioids prickly heat – an itchy rash that appears in hot, humid weather conditions sunburn – skin damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays Parasites and insects Itching can be caused by the following pests: the scabies mite – the mite burrows into the skin and causes a skin condition called scabies head lice, pubic lice or body lice insect bites and stings from bees, wasps, mosquitoes, fleas and bedbugs threadworms – small worm parasites that infect the bowels of humans and can cause an itchy bottom trichomonas vaginalis – a tiny parasite that causes a sexually transmitted infection (STI) called trichomoniasis Infections Itching may be a symptom of an infection, such as: chickenpox or another viral infection athlete s foot – a fungal infection that causes itching in between the toes ringworm – a fungal infection that causes a ring-like red rash to develop on the skin, and can also cause an itchy scalp vaginal thrush or thrush in men – yeast infections that can cause itching in and around the genitals Other conditions Itching can sometimes be a sign of an underlying condition, such as: piles (haemorrhoids) – enlarged and swollen blood vessels in or around the lower rectum or anus an overactive thyroid or underactive thyroid – where the thyroid gland in the neck produces too much or too little thyroid hormone iron deficiency anaemia – where a lack of iron in the body leads to a reduction in the number of red blood cells polycythaemia – where you have a high concentration of red blood cells in your blood liver-related conditions, such as primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatitis long-standing kidney failure in rare cases, certain types of cancer, including liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukaemia and Hodgkin lymphoma Occasionally, itching can be linked to a psychological condition such as depression or anxiety. Pregnancy and the menopause In women, itching can sometimes be caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy and after the menopause. Pregnancy Itching often affects pregnant women and usually disappears after the birth. A number of skin conditions can develop during pregnancy and cause itchy skin. They include: pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) – a common skin condition that causes itchy red, raised bumps that appear on the thighs and tummy (abdomen) prurigo gestationis – a skin rash that appears as red, itchy dots and mainly affects the arms, legs and torso obstetric cholestasis – a rare disorder that affects the liver during pregnancy and causes itching without a rash Seek advice from your midwife or GP if you have itching or any unusual skin rashes during your pregnancy. Read more about itching and obstetric cholestasis in pregnancy. Menopause Itching is also a common symptom after the menopause, which is where a woman s periods stop as a result of natural hormonal changes as she gets older. Changes in the levels of hormones, such as oestrogen, that occur during the menopause are thought to be responsible for the itching.