Itchy Skin All Over: Common Causes and When to Worry
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 31 October 2026
Itchy skin all over: dry skin, hives, scabies and rarer causes like liver, kidney or thyroid problems, plus home care and when to see a doctor or call 112.
You don't have to figure this out alone
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 15-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.
Itchy skin all over is most often caused by dry skin, eczema, hives or a reaction to something that touched your skin. Less often it comes from a medicine, scabies, pregnancy, or a problem with the liver, kidneys, thyroid or iron levels. Most itching settles with simple skin care. Itch that lasts more than two weeks needs a doctor's check.
- Dry skin is the most common cause of itching all over, especially as you get older.
- Itch with no rash can come from medicines or, less often, liver, kidney, thyroid or iron problems.
- Scabies causes intense itch at night. Everyone you live with needs treating at the same time.
- In pregnancy, itchy palms and soles need checking straight away.
- See a doctor if the itch lasts over two weeks, is severe, covers your whole body or keeps you awake.
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).
For a medical emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest local emergency department. Do not wait for a video consultation or an online reply.
Why do I itch all over?
Itching all over is common and usually not a sign of anything serious, the NHS says. The most likely causes are:
- Dry skin, very common in older adults, says Mayo Clinic.
- Eczema or psoriasis. These long-term skin conditions cause dry, red or scaly patches.
- Hives. Raised, itchy welts that come and go, often after a food, medicine, bite or infection.
- Something touching your skin, such as wool, soap or cosmetics.
- Scabies or lice, spread by close contact.
In Spain, itching is called picor or prurito. You will see prurito on a medical report.
Why is my skin itchy with no rash?
Dry skin is still the most common reason. Mayo Clinic and the MSD Manual list other causes:
- Medicines. Opioid painkillers and some other drugs can cause itching.
- Liver problems. Itch can come with yellow skin or eyes.
- Kidney disease, thyroid problems, low iron or diabetes.
- Anxiety or depression.
- Rarely, a blood cancer such as lymphoma. Warning signs are weight loss, fever or night sweats.
In some people no cause is found.
Could it be scabies?
Scabies causes intense itching, worse at night, and a spotty rash. The NHS says it often starts between the fingers, on the wrists, under the arms and around the waist and groin.
It spreads through close skin contact, not poor hygiene. Everyone in your home needs treating at the same time. Wash bedding and clothes at 60 °C or higher. The itch can last a few weeks after treatment.
Spain, the UK and the US differ here. In the UK a pharmacist can sell a scabies cream. In Spain, permethrin cream (permetrina) needs a prescription; see our guide to the prescription status of common medicines in Spain. In the US, scabies treatments are also prescription-only, according to the CDC. Read more in our ivermectin and scabies guide.
Is itchy skin in pregnancy normal?
Mild itch in pregnancy is common and usually stops after the birth. But the NHS says to get urgent help if the itch is very strong, worse at night, or on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet. These can be signs of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (colestasis intrahepática del embarazo). It brings a small risk of an early birth and, if severe, of stillbirth, so it needs closer checks. In Spain, call your maternity unit or midwife (matrona), or go to the hospital's maternity emergency unit (urgencias de maternidad), straight away.
Itchy skin that is not settling, or that keeps you awake?
You can book a video visit with a GP licensed in Spain, in English or Spanish. He looks at your skin on camera, asks about your medicines and health, and helps you plan the next steps.
What can I do at home to stop itching?
The NHS suggests these steps:
- Pat the skin instead of scratching. Hold a cool, damp towel on it.
- Take short, lukewarm showers.
- Use an unperfumed moisturiser (crema emoliente) every day, more after washing.
- Keep nails short. Wear loose cotton and avoid wool and perfumed soaps.
At a Spanish pharmacy. A pharmacist can suggest a menthol cream that cools the skin, or an antihistamine for hives. Some antihistamine packs, such as cetirizine, are sold without a prescription in Spain, but most packs need one. Mild hydrocortisone creams can be bought; stronger steroid creams need a prescription. In the UK, both are easier to buy. Antihistamines that make you sleepy can raise the risk of falls in older people.
What tests might a doctor do for itching?
When the itch has no clear cause, a blood test may check:
- Blood count and iron (hemograma, ferritina).
- Liver tests (perfil hepático) and kidney function (creatinina).
- Thyroid (TSH) and blood sugar.
Mayo Clinic advises seeing a skin specialist (dermatólogo) if the itch lasts three months despite treatment.
When should you see a doctor about itchy skin?
Book a visit if the itch:
- Lasts more than two weeks and does not improve with self-care.
- Is severe, stops you sleeping or affects daily life.
- Covers your whole body, or started suddenly for no clear reason.
- Comes with weight loss, fever or night sweats.
See a doctor today if you notice yellow skin or eyes, swelling under the skin with no breathing trouble, or hives with a high temperature and you feel unwell. If you are pregnant with itchy palms or soles, contact your maternity unit straight away.
Children. Itch in children is often eczema, bites, chickenpox, hives or scabies. A baby under 2 with scabies symptoms needs a doctor, says the NHS. If a child's hives worry you, have them seen today.
Call 112 if itching or hives come with sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue, fast or difficult breathing, a tight throat or trouble swallowing. Also call if the skin or lips turn blue, grey or pale, or someone becomes confused, faints, or a child turns floppy. These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
Talking it through with a doctor by video
Dr. Yelamo is a GP licensed in Spain. He sees adults, children and pregnant patients by video, every day from 07:30 to 20:30 (Spain time). In the visit he will:
- Ask when the itch started, when it is worst and who else at home is itchy.
- Look at your skin on camera and go through your medicines.
- Agree a skin-care plan, and tell you if you need blood tests or an in-person exam.
He does not promise any test or prescription before the visit. Where clinically appropriate, following a genuine evaluation. Treatment and prescriptions are issued solely at the doctor's discretion based on evidence-based clinical guidelines.
A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.
See how the Urgent Care video visit works. It lasts 15 minutes and costs €50.
This guide is general information. It does not replace a consultation with your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I itch all over but have no rash?
Dry skin is the most common reason, especially in older adults. Some medicines can also cause it. Less often it is linked to liver, kidney or thyroid problems, low iron, diabetes or, rarely, a cancer. Itch that lasts more than two weeks needs a doctor's check.
Why is my itching worse at night?
Scabies typically itches most at night. In pregnancy, itchy palms and soles that are worse at night can be a liver condition called intrahepatic cholestasis and need checking straight away.
What can I buy at a Spanish pharmacy for itchy skin?
An unperfumed emollient, a cooling menthol cream, some antihistamine packs and mild hydrocortisone creams are sold without a prescription. Most antihistamine packs and stronger steroid creams need one. Ask the pharmacist which is right for you.
Do I need blood tests for itchy skin?
Not usually when the cause is clear, such as dry skin or hives. If you itch all over with no rash, or the itch lasts weeks, a doctor may check your blood count, iron, liver, kidneys, thyroid and blood sugar.
When is itchy skin an emergency?
Call 112 if itching or hives come with swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue, trouble breathing or swallowing, blue or grey lips, sudden confusion or fainting. These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
Sources
- NHS: Itchy skin
- Mayo Clinic: Itchy skin (pruritus)
- NHS: Hives
- NHS: Scabies
- NHS: Itching and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
Related guides
Medical Citations & Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following official health authorities.
