If youre truly unsure whats to blame for your itch, its important to have your doctor weigh in to rule out something serious and find the appropriate treatment. Zielinski, Kolls and Guttman-Yassky all said more evidence in living animals is needed to confirm this link between salt and autoimmune diseases, including eczema. Chronic pruritis. Smoking is a hazardous habit for a number of reasons. In: Treatments for Skin of Color. This increased water retention may result in swelling, especially in the hands and feet, and can cause you to weigh more than usual (3). 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. We explain why, plus additional benefits. } Allergies have steadily increased in human populations over the last 50 years, and past research has pointed the finger at changes in human habits and our environment. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. The New England Journal of Medicine. But despite that, some people cant help but chug down more liquids after eating salty foods. Why does salt water make my skin itch? That's definitely a win-win. Can a plant cause a rash? The mechanism behind salts effect on stomach cancer isnt fully understood. In the short term, it may cause bloating, severe thirst, and a temporary rise in blood pressure. And the more it itches, the more you scratch. Being rich in the content of iron and carotenoids, they are a saviour for dry, itchy, and parched skin. First off, sugar increases inflammation throughout your body, making blemishes extra red and painful. Many people have it for years without knowing it. The Th2 troops help destroy parasitic worms such as tapeworms by dictating the production of mucus. There is a problem with However, the observed reductions were close to two times larger in individuals with high blood pressure, compared with those with blood pressure in the normal range (8, 9). vomiting of blood. Fatal salt overdoses are rare, as they require people to consume amounts of salt nearing 0.20.5 grams per pound (0.51 gram per kg) of body weight. Lack of water or salt can cause an overactive histamine reaction which produces allergy-type reactions 1. The changes are reversed when the T cell is again exposed to lower salt levels. Research studies found that your diet can set off eczema. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes, can be negatively effected by a sudden change in salt intake. This happens because your kidneys wish to maintain a specific sodium-to-water ratio in your body. AskMayoExpert. "The higher sodium levels in the affected skin neatly match another characteristic of atopic dermatitis," says Christina Zielinski. Prolonged itching and scratching can increase the intensity of the itch, possibly leading to skin injury, infection and scarring. Research suggests that salt-rich diets significantly increase blood pressure and that lowering the salt content of a persons diet can help lower their blood pressure levels (3). But if you consistently exceed the recommended amount, youre eating too much, and it can impact your health.. I have concerns about soft water, too. Thats called autoimmunity. When you lay still and flat at night swelling accumulates around the eyes making them look puffy. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. every day. 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). Nsikan Akpan is the digital science producer for PBS NewsHour and co-creator of the award-winning, NewsHour digital series ScienceScope. Allergy and Immunology 41 years experience. If youre super stressed out, depressed, or anxious, a chemical stream of serotonin and norepinephrine could be triggering your itch, especially if theres no rash, says Dr. Charles. It increases your blood pressure and some studies suggest that it is linked to cognitive decline as well. If your itchy skin also comes with a gnarly flush of red, scaly skin and the need to scratch is even worse at night, you could be dealing with a chronic skin condition such as psoriasis (which is linked to inflammation caused by your immune system) or eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis). A team working with Prof. Christina Zielinski at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has demonstrated in cell cultures that salt leads to. The team also detected elevated salt concentrations in the skin of patients. Heres your guide to 10 of the most common culprits, according to dermatologists. Sodium from softened water can raise levels as high as 1,219 mg per liter. If you bought ultra-fragrant fabric softener, swam too close to baby jellies, or just recently developed an allergy (yep, that happens), itching can crop upit is a common response to allergens. And for even longer, people have been soaking to detoxify the body with magnesium salts. Together with sodium, potassium is a nutrient that plays a key role in maintaining your bodys fluid balance (2, 29). This article explores the health effects of processed meat. Overzealous T-helper cells become desperate to snitch on anything they can find and they turn against other cells or proteins living in our bodies. Some people may be affected by high salt intake more severely than others. Depending on the cause of your itchiness, your skin may look no different than usual or it may be inflamed, rough or have bumps. Itchy skin can occur without any other noticeable changes on the skin. That said, not everyone may experience these effects. Fortunately, there are a number of treatments available for both conditions, including OTC products, prescription topical creams, oral or injectable medications, and phototherapy, which targets irritated skin with UV rays, says Dr. Kanchanapoomi Levin. ScienceDaily, 20 February 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190220145044.htm (accessed January 17, 2023). Yoga and meditation are helpful ways to reduce stress. What's more, people with eczema, which causes dry, itchy, and rashy skin, have a surprisingly high amount of salt in the regions of their skin that are inflamed. Bugs that can cause long-lasting itch, include bed bugs, lice, and mites (scabies). Tomatoes When bugs live on your skin or feed on you every night, the itch can be long-lasting and uncontrollable. An excess of exposure to chlorine can be irritating. However, experts believe that salt-rich diets may make a person more vulnerable to stomach cancer by causing ulcers or inflammation of the stomach lining (14). All rights reserved. The itchiness caused by these foods and subsequent scratching can then lead to flare-ups or worsening of dermatitis symptoms. Making a conscious effort to manage the sodium in your diet will pay off you'll avoid the bloating and thirst that follows a salty meal and the risk of high blood pressure down the road. Itchy skin can feel tight, make you want to scratch, and be accompanied by redness or rashes. I recommend limiting your daily sodium intake to 1,500 mg (the average American consumes far more than that). And it may benefit., Left: Then the Th cells, as theyre branded, call in the cavalry, recruiting other members of the immune system to take the suckers out. Doing a workout or even . Thats important because Th2 responses have been primarily implicated in allergic diseases, such as asthma and atopic dermatitis, Kolls said. A diet that is heavy in saturated fats, salt, and sugar can lead to itchy skin, as well as breakouts. Besides the usual health suspects (obesity and diabetes), sugar can screw over your skin. While its possible that eating too much salt doesnt increase the risk of heart disease or premature death for everyone, more studies are needed before strong conclusions can be made. Yet, the bacteria itself can cause skin conditions that result in itching and rashes, and if you don't use enough chemicals in your tub, you could suffer from these and even worse health-related problems. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Chronic itchy skin and hives could be a sign of a more serious issue, like infections or illnesses. But your body also needs sodium to survive. The most known effect of sodium is that it raises your blood pressure. Toss the wedged beets with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and your favourite herbs or spices. Yet, despite its essential functions, ingesting too much salt can have unpleasant effects, both in the short and long term. A workout can make all the difference to your bloated face. For instance, research suggests that people who are salt resistant may not experience a rise in blood pressure after salt-rich meals (3, 4). Encouraging you to drink is another way in which your body tries to correct the sodium-to-water ratio (1). There are some very good answers here. When Zielinkskis team exposed naive Th cells in a petri dish to high doses of sodium, the cells dove strongly toward a Th2 response. Sodium is primarily located in our blood, and it pulls water to it. Accessed Nov. 1, 2022. Scratching (and the inflammation that comes with it) can dial up just how uncomfortable you feel, and there are tons of reasons for why you might be itching. . A former Shape and Mens Health editor, her work has also been published in Womens Health, SELF, Runners World, Mens Journal, CNTraveler.com, and other national print and digital publications. Allergies and other causes: Be sure you are not sensitive to the soaps, laundry detergents, lotions, or perfumes you may be using. (2014). READ MORE: The Latest News About Sea Salt Is Seriously Scary. Sometimes the cause of the itching can't be determined. ScienceDaily. Those living with eczema, asthma or hay fever are classed as being atopic with an immune system that is overactive, with skin prone to inflammation. 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