What Your Itchy Skin Reveals About Your Health: Connection Between Kidney and Skin Conditions

There are things that the body tells us that is more than skin deep. One primary example is intense itching all over the body which often occurs when there is already a problem with our kidney or liver. Those who manifest skin disorders such as extreme itchiness almost always precipitate renal failures that are attributed to late stage kidney problems.

Recent medical studies reveal that more than 40% of dialysis patients suffered from moderate to extreme renal itch. “The itch is so intense that people wake up in the middle of the night scratching,” said Jahmene Johnson, a medical doctor at the New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Further, doctors are in unison in concluding that it has something to do with the build up of toxins in the body when kidneys are unable to remove waste from our bloodstream.

8 signs your health problem is more than just skin deep:

• Extreme itchiness
• Recurring scaly patches on the skin
• Skin condition caused by renal failure
• Red lines on your finger nails
• A change in a freckle or facial mark
• Chappped lips
• Darkening of skin
• Cold sores

There are a variety of more skin diseases or manifestations seen in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the above mentioned skin conditions are the most common. It is of utmost importance to recognize early symptoms to mitigate further worsening of these conditions.

Prevention and early treatment is the key that can enhance the lives of people suffering from kidney problems and renal failures.