Is itchy skin that the liver is bad? The liver is different in Chinese and Western medicine

by sdadfasf
November 12, 2021

People often hear that itchy skin is a bad liver, because there is a problem with the liver. If the liver does not excrete toxins, it will show up on the skin. Therefore, in clinical outpatient clinics, there are indeed patients who come to the clinic because of their itchy body and worry about liver problems. In fact, the most common causes of skin itching are skin diseases, such as eczema, urticaria, etc., or drug allergies and infectious diseases. A few may be caused by other non-skin problems, such as medical diseases, thyroid problems, chronic kidney disease, etc., or even tumor complications. Therefore, itchy skin is not directly equivalent to liver problems, and further examinations need to be combined with other symptoms.

Then why skin itching is a liver problem? This is because in the traditional Chinese medicine theory, the liver is related to many skin-related symptoms, such as liver failure, qi stagnation and blood stasis, and blood deficiency. Wind itching, etc., so when there is a problem with the skin, people will consider whether there is a problem with the liver. But in fact, the liver in Chinese medicine is not the same as the liver in western medicine. The liver of Chinese medicine includes the digestive system, nervous system, circulatory system, motor system, etc., which should not be confused m16 price.

Although most people's itchy skin is not caused by liver and gallbladder problems, the liver is indeed related to some skin diseases, but this requires comprehensive judgment.

Bilirubin metabolism problems may stimulate skin itching.

Will a liver problem make itchy skin all over the body? Under what circumstances will doctors suspect that itchy skin is related to liver problems?

The liver is responsible for the metabolism of bilirubin. If there is a problem with bilirubin metabolism, bilirubin cannot be smoothly discharged from the liver, and it is deposited in the body, causing jaundice and even irritating skin. Therefore, patients with bile duct obstruction such as gallstones, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer may experience itching all over the body, but doctors will not rely solely on the diagnosis of skin itching. At the same time, itching caused by the liver or other systemic metabolites is usually systemic, which is similar to ordinary people. The local itching and rash are different.

Autoimmune cholangitis can also cause skin itching.

Some patients, such as Sun Jie mentioned at the beginning of the article, in addition to skin itching and fatigue, more often have yellow tumors caused by jaundice and cholesterol deposits around the eyes. These symptoms make hepatobiliary experts highly suspect that it is a rare primary biliary cholangitis, also known as primary biliary cirrhosis. It can be diagnosed by drawing blood to check whether cytokines phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase are elevated, and whether anti-mitochondrial antibodies are positive.

Primary biliary cholangitis is an autoimmune disease commonly seen in middle-aged women. Because the small bile ducts at the end of the liver are attacked by T lymphocytes, bile cannot be discharged smoothly, and long-term accumulation produces liver toxicity, which eventually leads to irreversible liver cirrhosis. Generally, blood tests can be diagnosed as a few atypical symptoms, such as patients with elevated capillary phosphatase but non-positive anti-mitochondrial antibodies, liver puncture may be considered for further diagnosis or assessment of the severity of the disease. With the development of drugs, the disease has been effectively treated, especially the early treatment effect is good.