How to calm your kidney disease itching
There is help out there. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist on ways you can treat and manage your itching.
While your healthcare professional will always be there to look after you, there are lots of ways you can relieve itching from kidney disease at home.
It is tempting to scratch and the urge can be overwhelming at times, but this can break your delicate skin and cause bleeding or infections, so try to pat the itchy areas instead.1
Your skin makes its own moisturising barrier from natural oils, but soaking in water can strip off that layer. To keep your skin’s natural oils intact, try to take short baths or showers.1
Try not to bathe more than once a day and use warm instead of hot water. This will stop your skin from drying out.1
Many foaming body washes and soaps remove the natural oils from your skin (even those that claim to be suitable for dry skin). Instead, try choosing moisturising creams.1 Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for recommendations on the best products.
Cool temperatures can give you temporary relief.2 Try laying a cold flannel soaked in moisturising cream on your itchy skin, or apply moisturiser that has been kept in the refrigerator.1
Hot temperatures can make your itch worse, so it can help to keep cool at night with lightweight bedding made of breathable fabrics and loose clothing that won’t make you sweat. If you feel hot during the day, use a fan to cool down.1
If you have dry skin, your itch will feel worse. Using moisturising creams liberally can help to prevent dryness and scarring.1
Your kidney disease itching stories
You are not alone in this. Right now, thousands of people across the world are battling their itch too.3–5
Here are some of their stories.