13 Common Causes Behind Itchy Legs (and How to Treat Itchiness)

Co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: January 8, 2022 References

Itchy legs can be a huge annoyance in your daily life. Treating your itchy legs is much easier once you know why they’re itching, but it can be hard to figure that out right away. In this article, we’ve detailed some of the most common causes of itchy legs and just how you can treat each one of them to get some relief.

1

Dry skin

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Extremely dry skin can be very itchy. If you have dry skin, you might see flaky or peeling skin on or around your legs. Dry skin is more common during the winter months, since there’s less moisture in the air. You can relieve your itchiness by using a moisturizing cream or ointment to hydrate your skin and provide some relief.^{[1]
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Mohiba Tareen, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.}
- Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and dimethicone for seriously intense hydration. Avoid anything drying, like alcohol, as that can make your dry skin worse.^{[2]
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- If you have sensitive skin, make sure you use a fragrance-free moisturizer to avoid irritation.
- Intensely dry skin might require a thicker moisturizer. If your legs are super dry, consider using a thin layer of petroleum jelly for extra hydration.

2

Bug bites

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Mosquitoes, fleas, and bed bugs can cause itchy, red bites. Your legs will most likely have raised, red dots all over them that get itchy as they heal. You can soothe bug bites with calamine lotion and antihistamine cream to stop the itching until the bites heal. Cold compresses and oatmeal baths may also give you some relief.^{[3]
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- If you are getting bitten by mosquitoes, try wearing long pants outside and putting on bug spray in the evening time.
- If you are getting bitten by fleas, wash your bedding with hot water to kill the fleas and their eggs.
- If you have bed bugs, you may need a professional to fumigate your home. Start by washing your bedding in hot water to get rid of the bugs and their eggs.

3

Shaving

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For some people, shaving can cause a skin infection called folliculitis. This itchy skin infection looks almost like acne, and is usually caused by shaving or skin irritation. If you’ve just shaved your legs and now they are super itchy with small, white or red bumps, try applying a warm washcloth to your legs 3 to 4 times per day for 15 to 20 minutes. Folliculitis usually goes away after a few days as long as you don’t irritate your skin further.^{[4]
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- To prevent irritation when you shave, wet your skin with warm water first, use a new, clean razor, and shave in the direction that your hair grows.^{[5]
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- Experts recommend not shaving for at least 30 days to avoid further irritation after folliculitis.
- If your legs are prone to irritation, consider doing laser hair removal for a more permanent solution.

4

Exercise

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Rashy, red patches after exercise could be vasculitis. This is an inflammatory disorder that can cause redness, swelling, and itching, especially after vigorous exercise. You can treat this disorder by taking an oral antihistamine to reduce swelling and inflammation. You can also try a numbing spray or cream to stop the itching in your legs as the swelling goes down.^{[6]
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- Exercise-induced vasculitis is most common in women over the age of 50. If you believe you have this disorder, try reducing the intensity of your workouts to prevent the problem in the future.
- If you’ve recently exercised and are experiencing hives, fatigue, warmth, itching, or unconsciousness, seek medical help right away. This could be a sign of exercise-induced anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening.^{[7]
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5

Heat rash

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When your skin gets too hot, it can sometimes give you an itchy rash. If you’ve been outside exercising or sweating a lot, your legs might be red, rashy, or itchy. Try removing any tight, itchy clothing that you’re wearing and put on loose, cool bottoms instead. Heat rashes usually go away on their own in a couple of hours, especially if you’re indoors and out of the heat.^{[8]
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- In the meantime, try soaking in a cool bath or taking a cool shower to alleviate some of the itching in your legs.

6

Allergic reaction

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Food, insect bites, and pollen can cause itchiness. If you’ve eaten something new, been in contact with something new, or just got bitten or stung by something new, you may have an allergy that’s causing your skin to itch. You can treat your allergy by taking an oral antihistamine to reduce the itching and swelling in your legs.^{[9]
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- If you are having a serious allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, dizziness, confusion), call emergency services right away.^{[10]
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- Some medications can also cause an allergic reaction. If you’ve recently started a new medication and your legs itch, talk to your doctor.^{[11]
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7

Fungal infections

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Ringworm can cause itchiness and irritation. If you see a red rash in the shape of a circle on your legs, there’s a good chance you have ringworm. Head to your doctor for a diagnosis and a prescription for an anti-fungal cream to take care of your ringworm.^{[12]
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- Contrary to how the name sounds, ringworm is not actually a worm—it’s a type of fungus.
- Ringworm is most common in children. It can be passed through human contact, animal contact, or infected soil.^{[13]
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8

Skin conditions

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Eczema and psoriasis can cause itchy, flaky skin.^{[14]
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Mohiba Tareen, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} If you have any long-term skin conditions, they may be the source of your itchy legs. If you have psoriasis, try using a UVB light on your affected skin for some relief.^{[15]
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Research source} If you have eczema, try using a corticosteroid cream to prevent itching and soothe your skin.^{[16]
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Mayo Clinic
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Go to source} You can alleviate further itching by avoiding your specific triggers and reducing your stress levels. If your skin conditions get worse, make an appointment with your doctor to talk about treatment.^{[17]
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- Laundry detergents and soaps with heavy fragrances can often irritate conditions like eczema and psoriasis.^{[18]
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  Mohiba Tareen, MD
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  Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} In general, try to use mild, fragrance-free soaps to avoid irritating your skin.

9

Parasites

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Scabies and body lice can cause itchy legs. If you have scabies, you might notice a pimple-like rash on your legs that gets itchier at night. This rash is caused by the mites burrowing into your skin, which is what causes the itching. To treat scabies, make an appointment with your doctor to get a medicated lotion.^{[19]
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Go to source} If you have body lice, you might notice intense itching and a rash. You might also see thickened or dark skin on your legs or groin, especially if the lice have been around for a while. To treat body lice, wash all of your clothing, bedding, and towels in hot water to kill the lice and their eggs.^{[20]
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- It’s very easy to spread scabies and lice to other members of your household. If you have scabies or lice, check in with the other people in the house in case they have it too.

10

Stress

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Stress can sometimes trigger itching, especially if it’s chronic. Although all of us feel stressed sometimes, being anxious or stressed every day can lead to a reaction in your body. Try doing some relaxing activities, like yoga or light exercise. Practice self-care regularly, and work on getting into a routine that leaves time for relaxation. If you’re having trouble lowering your stress levels, it might be helpful to talk to a mental health care professional.^{[21]
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- Meditation is also a useful tool to help alleviate stress.

11

Liver, kidney, or thyroid disease

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These diseases can harm your nerves, which can lead to itching. In particular, kidney disease can cause an increase of bile salt to sit under your skin, which can lead to itching. If your legs have been itchy for more than a month and home remedies aren’t working, make an appointment with your doctor to get checked out. They can do some blood tests to examine the health of your liver, your kidneys, and your thyroid, just in case your itching is pointing to any of these diseases.^{[22]
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- Most often, itching is not an indication of any kind of disease. However, if you are concerned or you’ve been having any other health problems along with your itching, make an appointment with your doctor.

12

Diabetes

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If you have diabetes, itching can be a sign of poor circulation. In some cases, itching may even point to a sign of impending nerve damage. If you have diabetes and you’ve noticed that your legs are itchier than usual, make an appointment with your doctor to talk about what’s going on.^{[23]
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American Diabetes Association
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- If you do have poor circulation in your legs and it’s causing the itching, try wearing compression socks to improve your circulation.

13

Skin cancer

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Although it’s rare, a new, itchy spot on your skin could indicate cancer. Usually, the spot is small, and it may be localized to a very specific area on your legs. If you think you may have skin cancer, visit your doctor for a diagnosis. When they treat the skin cancer, the itching will go away.^{[24]
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American Academy of Dermatology
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- Only a doctor can tell you for sure whether or not you have cancer, so if you’re concerned, make an appointment with your doctor right away.

Expert Q&A

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How can I treat eczema on my face?

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

Mohiba Tareen, MD

FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

To treat dry skin and eczema, moisturization of the skin is key. Don't use soap, particularly if you have eczema. After you bathe, you should moisturize with a cream-based moisturizer. We also recommend that it's really good to have a humidifier in a dry climate. To reduce the eczema flare-up your diet should consist of good omega-three fats such as fish oil, avocado, nuts, almonds, and all those things that are part of the Mediterranean diet.

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