When people think about kidney disease, they usually think about problems with cleaning the blood, removing extra water, or keeping minerals in balance.
But many people don’t know that kidney problems can also cause issues with the skin. Itchy skin and rashes are very common for people with kidney disease, especially when the disease becomes serious or when they are on dialysis.
In healthy people, the kidneys act like a natural filter. They remove waste and extra minerals from the blood. But when the kidneys stop working properly, these wastes build up in the body. This can cause the skin to become itchy and irritated. Doctors call this itching “pruritus.”
It’s not just waste buildup that causes trouble. When the kidneys are not working well, the levels of minerals like calcium and phosphorus in the body can also get out of balance. Too much phosphorus in the blood can make the skin dry, rough, and more likely to itch. This makes people feel uncomfortable and can even lead to damage if they scratch too much.
Many studies have shown that itchy skin is very common in people with kidney disease. In fact, most people who are on dialysis say they feel itching at least some of the time.
Often, the itching is not just mild; it can be moderate or very bad. This constant discomfort can make it hard to sleep, affect daily activities, and even cause depression. It can lower the quality of life a lot.
Treating this kind of itching is not easy. Many people use creams, moisturizers, or special lotions to try to feel better. Some use medicines like steroid creams. These treatments can help a little, but they do not fix the real problem inside the body. The main cause is the high level of phosphorus and waste in the blood.
Doctors often recommend managing phosphorus carefully. This can involve changing the diet to eat foods lower in phosphorus. Some people also need to take medicines called phosphorus binders, which help remove phosphorus from the body. Getting good, regular dialysis is also very important to clean the blood better and reduce the buildup of waste.
Scientists are now learning more about why kidney disease causes itching. Some research shows that the body’s immune system might be involved. When the kidneys are not working, harmful substances stay in the body and may cause inflammation. This can affect the nerves in the skin and cause the feeling of itchiness.
Because of this, new treatments are being developed to target these harmful substances and reduce inflammation. These new medicines offer hope that people with kidney disease might find better relief from itching in the future.
Taking good care of the skin is also important. Doctors recommend using soft soaps without strong chemicals, taking warm (not hot) showers, and moisturizing the skin every day. It’s also important not to scratch too much, even though it can be very tempting, because scratching can cause cuts, infections, and make the skin even worse.
Itchy skin and rashes may seem like small problems compared to serious kidney issues. But for people living with kidney disease, they can be a huge burden. They affect sleep, mood, and the ability to enjoy daily life. That’s why treating skin symptoms is now seen as an important part of taking care of people with chronic kidney disease.
Thanks to new research and better understanding of how the kidneys and skin are connected, there is growing hope. In the future, new treatments and better care routines could greatly improve the lives of people who suffer from this frustrating problem.
Taking care of the skin is not just about feeling better on the outside — it is an important part of overall health for people with kidney disease.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about how to protect your kidneys from diabetes, and drinking coffee could help reduce risk of kidney injury.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about foods that may prevent recurrence of kidney stones, and eating nuts linked to lower risk of chronic kidney disease and death.
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