Many people may not know that kidney disease can affect the skin, but for those who have it, itchy skin and rashes are common and uncomfortable problems.
This article explains why skin issues happen in kidney disease and what can be done to help.
Kidneys help clean the blood, remove extra water, and keep the balance of minerals like calcium and phosphorus in the body. When the kidneys don’t work well, waste and fluids build up in the body. This can cause many symptoms, including skin irritation.
One of the most common skin problems for people with chronic kidney disease, especially those in later stages or on dialysis, is itchy skin. This is called pruritus. The main reason for this itching is the build-up of waste products in the blood.
When the kidneys are not working, they can’t filter out these wastes properly. This includes extra minerals like phosphorus, which can cause skin to become dry and itchy.
The imbalance of calcium and phosphorus also makes the skin dry, which adds to the itching. Studies show that many people who are on dialysis experience itching, sometimes so severe that it affects their sleep, mood, and quality of life.
Treating itchy skin in kidney disease is not always easy. Regular skin treatments like lotions and creams can help for a short time, but they don’t fix the real cause. One way to help is to control the level of phosphorus in the blood.
This can be done with a special diet, medications that bind to phosphorus, and getting the right amount of dialysis. These steps can lower the waste in the body and help reduce the itching.
Scientists are also working on new treatments that focus directly on the itch caused by kidney disease. Some of these look at the role of the immune system.
Normally, the kidneys remove certain chemicals that cause inflammation. When these chemicals build up, they may affect nerves in the skin and cause itching. New drugs that block these chemicals are being tested and show promise.
Good skin care is also important. People with kidney disease should avoid using strong soaps and hot water, as these can dry out the skin even more.
Instead, they should use mild soap, take warm (not hot) showers, and apply gentle moisturizers every day. Scratching the skin can make things worse and lead to infections, so it’s best to try to avoid it.
In short, itchy skin and rashes are common in kidney disease but are often ignored. These problems can have a big effect on how a person feels every day.
By learning more about why this happens and how to treat it, patients and doctors can work together to find relief. Ongoing research is bringing new hope to those who suffer from this annoying and painful symptom.
If you care about skin health, please read studies about top signs of diabetic skin disease, and Mediterranean diet could help lower the skin cancer risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies about eating fish linked to higher risk of skin cancer, and results showing how to combat the effects of aging on your skin.
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