Causes Of Skin Itching In Liver Cirrhosis Patients

During the stage of liver cirrhosis, patients may experience cholestasis inside the liver due to various causes, such as drug-induced cirrhosis or autoimmune liver disease. One major pathological change is the impaired ability of liver cells to excrete bile, which can be worsened by inflammation and swelling of the capillary bile ducts, leading to blockage and preventing bile from being properly expelled. As a result, certain bile acid components remain in the bloodstream and deposit in the nerve endings of the skin, causing persistent itching by stimulating these nerve endings.

To address this type of itching, topical anti-itch medications like calamine lotion can be applied externally, and antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, or loratadine may be taken orally to help relieve symptoms. However, treating the underlying liver condition itself is even more critical to reduce intrahepatic bile stasis. By improving liver function and reducing bile accumulation, the deposition of bile salts on skin nerve endings can be decreased, thereby alleviating itching at its source.

In cases of drug-induced cirrhosis, it's essential to stop any harmful medications and use liver-protecting drugs. For autoimmune liver diseases, treatment includes both hepatoprotective measures and immunomodulatory medications to correct immune dysfunction. Therefore, when managing itching caused by cirrhosis, identifying and treating the root cause should always come first, followed by symptomatic relief.