For instance, research suggests that people who are salt resistant may not experience a rise in blood pressure after salt-rich meals (3, 4). How is it treated? Making a conscious effort to manage the sodium in your diet will pay off youll avoid the bloating and thirst that follows a salty meal and the risk of high blood pressure down the road. Long, hot showers may feel good, but they are very harsh and can significantly dry out skin. The itch tends to crop up in your third trimester and can cause complications, so if you notice this kind of localized itching, be sure to bring it up with your OB/GYN. Smoking is a hazardous habit for a number of reasons. Along with its needed effects, magnesium sulfate (the active ingredient contained in Epsom Salt) may cause some unwanted effects. Salt apparently affects allergic immune reactions. Its commonly used to add flavor to foods or preserve them (1). Kiwi fruit can make you itch like mad as it is a strongly acidifying fruit and a rich source of salicylates and amines which commonly trigger eczema. Neuropathic itch, caused by nerve damage, is rare but can happen when your nervous system perceives an itch that isnt really there, says Dr. Charles. Lemon juice not only it can trigger GERD, but it can irritate the esophageal lining. You need a minimum of 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day, says Zumpano. Moreover, citric acid in tomatoes is a photosensitizing agent, which can make your skin vulnerable to UVA rays. If you're only mildly itchy, ID your trigger, cut contact, and take an antihistamine like Allegra or Zyrtec which quiets your body's itch-inducing histamine response, says Dr. Kanchanapoomi. i have developed severly itchy hands. This is because salt makes us dehydrated, even though most of our sweat is, well, salt. Dehydration is a primary cause of itchy skin, so it is essential to drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep skin healthy and nourished. Eating processed meat is linked to increased risk of several diseases, including cancer. Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, Everything You Need to Know About High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), Time-Restricted Eating May Help You Lose Weight, Improve Organ Health, 17 Science-Based Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Other symptoms of hypernatremia include restlessness, breathing and sleeping difficulties, and decreased urination (2, 7). GERD or gastroesphageal reflux disorder, condition with symptoms like vomiting, nausea and heartburn. I am now spending a few months in Arizona with my mother. This is because salt makes us dehydrated, even though most of our sweat is, well, salt. As a medical specialist in the field of dermatology, Zielinski is naturally interested in atopic dermatitis. If this goes on for far too long, it can cause seizures, a coma, or in the worst-case scenario, death. Sugar can create imbalances in your gut . MenopauseNow.com is dedicated to providing reliable, up-to-date information and advice on the most common topics in women's health, including PMS, menopause, natural hormones, hormonal conditions, and fertility. Using moisturizing body lotion and face cream can soothe itching because it rehydrates your skin, says Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, a Manhattan-based board-certified dermatologist and founder of Entire Dermatology. However, for an eczema patient who has run out of options, Kolls said a doctor could try recommending a low-sodium diet without much fear of bad consequences. Glycation, as a result of too much sugar intake, irritates and exacerbates skin conditions like eczema, acne, psoriasis, and rosacea. Have any problems using the site? My hands often itch, too. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. A team working with Prof. Christina Zielinski at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has demonstrated in cell cultures that salt leads to. To even out your sodium level, get sweaty by exercising or sitting in a sauna. Winter is the season for hats, heavy coats and hand lotion. Hormonal fluctuations can have potent effects, including relentlessly itchy skin, says Dr. Charles. Now - new research suggests that too much salt may play a role in triggering a skin condition. We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. 5. Think of them as the snitches of the immune system. People with health conditions like heart failure, as well as liver or kidney disease, may experience fatal effects if they routinely consume more than 10 grams of sodium per day. Itchy skin, medically known as pruritus, is an uncomfortable sensation that can occur anywhere on the body. It's a blood cleaning process that can make your Experts believe that pruritus can be due to a combination of dermatological, psychological, and systemic causes. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Nsikan Akpan is the digital science producer for PBS NewsHour and co-creator of the award-winning, NewsHour digital series ScienceScope. When they do, T-helper cells can cause hyperactive inflammation and breed allergy-based illnesses, such as arthritis, asthma and eczema. According to an analysis from Washington University in St. Louis, the mean sodium concentration of municipal non-softened water is 110 mg per liter. Essential fatty acids are also wonderful for skin health, so try to eat more avocadoes and salmon. When bugs live on your skin or feed on you every night, the itch can be long-lasting and uncontrollable. A new German study suggests eczema, one of the most common skin diseases, may be so prevalent because of too much table salt in our diets. Pruritis: Etiology and patient evaluation. Mayo Clinic; 2021. This article takes a look at the research. Eating too much salt can have a range of effects. The team also detected elevated salt concentrations in the skin of patients. It's also called pruritus (proo-RIE-tus). This itching has high chances of causing skin breakouts which will then lead to bleeding. There are several known triggers of itchy skin, like hot showers, that are best avoided. This involves increased production of the proteins interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interleukin 13 (IL-13). When this inflammatory reaction takes place, your body will be flooded with chemicals such as histamine, which can bring on that itchy sensation. Itchy skin is often caused by dry skin and is common in older adults, as skin tends to become drier with age. On the other hand, diets that are low in potassium may increase a persons salt sensitivity. What does all of this mean for your diet? Allergies can be a major trigger of itchy skin, with substances such as pollen, dust, animal dander or even certain types of food all stimulating an inflammatory reaction from your skin. The link between salt-rich diets, heart disease, and premature death is still somewhat controversial. According to [Finkelsteins] personal observations, a salt-restricted diet leads to improvement of atopic dermatitis in children, Zielinski said. James WD, et al. include protected health information. If youre noticing itchy skin as a potential side effect of a medication, talk to your doctoradjusting your dose, checking for medication interactions, or trying anti-itch meds can help, says Dr. Charles. Oh, and were on Instagram too. Itchy skin can occur without any other noticeable changes on the skin. Many people have sensitive skin that seems to react to things like stress and the environment. Nsikan Akpan. Long-standing itch without a rash can be a sign of systemic conditions such as blood conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, infections such as Hepatitis B or C, HIV, or an overactive thyroid gland, says Dr. Kanchanapoomi Levin. Technical University of Munich (TUM). Not sure whats behind your annoyingly itchy skin? In small amounts, it helps your nerves and muscles function properly and balances fluid in your body. Why does salt water make my skin itch? "However, we have not yet been able to show how these large quantities of salt find their way to the skin," she concedes. Salt helps with skin suffering from itchiness or eczema. This increased water retention may result in swelling, especially in the hands and feet, and can cause you to weigh more than usual (3). Depending on the cause of your itchiness, your skin may look no different than usual or it may be inflamed, rough or have bumps. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. But because our diets also became unhealthier over this timeframe, now these scientists are thinking, maybe it was just salt all along. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Then, get rid of the source if necessary, apply antiseptic creams or lotions, and take an OTC antihistamine like Benadryl, suggests Melanie Grossman, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist. The skin was always compromised. As a way to recover and dilute the sodium, our body may release water out of our cells into our bloodstream. They tested the skin samples at the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) at TUM and at the Institute for Nuclear Chemistry at the University of Mainz by means of neutron activation analysis. Thats important because Th2 responses have been primarily implicated in allergic diseases, such as asthma and atopic dermatitis, Kolls said. However, some people may experience little side effects. Thats about one teaspoon of table salt. Policy. Chlorine can also strip away your skin's protective oils, which can make it dry and itchy. But figuring out why your itchy skin (medically known as chronic pruritus) is feeling unbearable in the first place is step one to treating the problem, says Alix J. Charles, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Exercise. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. If you're feeling particularly dehydrated, you can also add electrolytes as recommended by your doctor. To stop the scratching, think back to where youve been recently: hiking through tall grasses, sleeping in an old hotel bed, cuddling up with your newly-adopted pup? Sodium, which is also referred to as "salt," is a vital nutrient that the body needs to function properly. Questions? Yet, despite its essential functions, ingesting too much salt can have unpleasant effects, both in the short and long term. You may also need to see a doctor who specializes in internal medicine (internist) to check for other diseases. Bugs that can cause long-lasting itch, include bed bugs, lice, and mites (scabies). Winter is the season for hats, heavy coats and hand lotion. In: Treatments for Skin of Color. A sodium-heavy diet makes you retain fluid, which leads to swelling in the short term. Retrieved December 18, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/itchy-skin/basics/causes/con-20028460, National Health Service UK. Excess sodium intake can negatively affect your kidney function. If youre feeling the effects of too much salt, there are a few ways to rid yourself of excess sodium. Types of T-cells, which should not cause allergies, can, in the presence of salt, turn into Th2 cells. Find out five surprising reasons why you cant stop scratching here, including a couple that may surprise you! Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Got itchy, red skin? For example, eating too much sodium in your diet can cause negative effects on the skin that can make you not look and feel your best. Around 5% of adults in the US drink heavily(1) and although the danger Itch-free days are just a click away. Eating too much sodium can mess with your sleep, especially if you eat it in the evening. Wiki User. That may explain why researchers found patches of skin with high salt corresponded with eczema. Accessed Nov. 1, 2022. Dr. Charles role in triggering a skin condition may experience little side effects IL-13 ) most of our sweat,..., says Zumpano long term be long-lasting and uncontrollable habit for a number of reasons it dry and.! 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