New publications
A study shows that 41% of people with chronic itching experience fatigue
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Forty-one percent of people with long-term itch experience fatigue, likely due to ongoing sleep disruption, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Dermatology. In comparison, only 22 percent of the control group experienced fatigue.
Chronic itching, medically known as pruritus, is defined as itching that lasts longer than 6 weeks. It affects one in six adults, although its incidence is significantly higher in older people. It can be a symptom of inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis and urticaria, internal diseases such as liver disease, end-stage renal disease and blood malignancies, among other conditions. In about 8% of cases, the cause of itching remains unknown.
Dr. Gil Yosipovich, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, director of the Miami Itch Center and lead author of the study, said:
"We know that itching is worse at night and contributes to insomnia, which can eventually lead to fatigue. This study quantifies how much itching contributes to fatigue. People with chronic itching are twice as likely to experience fatigue compared to the general population. We know from previous studies that this has a significant impact on people's quality of life.
“Another study of ours showed that 68% of adults over 85 experience fatigue. We know that changes in the immune system and skin physiology that contribute to dry skin and immune dysregulation mean that older people are much more likely to develop chronic itch. Future research could examine whether itch is a significant factor in the high levels of fatigue among older people.”
The researchers analyzed data from 114,015 adults in the All of Us dataset, a program initiated by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). This database identified people with chronic itch, and the researchers checked how many of them also suffered from fatigue.
Each person in the database who experienced persistent itching was compared with four others who did not experience itching but who were similar in age, ethnicity, gender, income, education level, anxiety and depression. This group served as a control group.
Although it has long been known that there is a link between itch and fatigue, data quantifying this association are limited.
“It’s easy to underestimate the effects of persistent itch. Research shows that it can be comparable to chronic pain. Sleep is just one of many areas of life that itch can disrupt. Fatigue leads to decreased productivity at work and school, can rob people of the energy to do the things they love, affects our mental well-being, and can ruin relationships.”
Paula Ginau, British Association of Dermatologists
Itching is thought to contribute to sleep disturbances due to the nightly cycle of itching and scratching. People with chronic itching regularly report that the itching is worse at night. This can make it difficult to fall asleep or cause you to wake up to scratch.