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    1. About Kidney Disease
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
      3. Kidney Disease Stages
      4. What Is a Nephrologist?
      5. What to Expect with CKD
      6. Kidney Disease Management
      7. Understanding Acute Kidney Injury
      8. How Kidneys Work
      9. Take a FREE CLASS on Kidney Disease
    2. Treatments
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Dialysis Basics
      3. Benefits of Home Dialysis
      4. Home Peritoneal Dialysis
      5. Home Hemodialysis
      6. Sign up to Talk to a Home Dialysis Expert
      7. In-Center Hemodialysis
      8. Transplant
      9. Insurance & Managing Costs
      10. Choosing Not to Treat
    3. Life On Dialysis
      1. OVERVIEW
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      3. Staying Engaged
      4. Staying Healthy
      5. Dialysis Travel Services and Information
      6. Tips for Loved Ones
      7. PatientHub
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      1. OVERVIEW
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      3. Managing Your Diet
      4. Fluid Management on Dialysis
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    Find a Dialysis Center

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      1. About Kidney Disease
        1. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
          1. Symptoms
          2. Risk Factors
          3. Causes
          4. Diagnosis and Testing
          5. GFR Calculator
        2. Kidney Disease Stages
          1. Stage 1
          2. Stage 2
          3. Stage 3
          4. Stage 4
          5. Stage 5
        3. What Is a Nephrologist?
        4. What to Expect with CKD
        5. Kidney Disease Management
          1. Kidney Diet Basics
          2. CKD Medications
          3. Your Kidney Care Team
          4. Diabetes
          5. High Blood Pressure
        6. Understanding Acute Kidney Injury
          1. Acute Kidney Injury Treatment and Recovery
        7. How Kidneys Work
        8. Take a FREE CLASS on Kidney Disease
      2. Treatments
        1. Dialysis Basics
          1. How Does a Hemodialysis Machine Work
          2. Starting Dialysis
          3. Types of Dialysis Access
          4. Your Care Plan
          5. Dialysis Medications
          6. Monitoring Your Lab Results
        2. Benefits of Home Dialysis
        3. Home Peritoneal Dialysis
          1. What to Expect
          2. Getting Prepared
          3. PD Access
          4. PD Training
          5. PD Monitoring
          6. Your Care Team
        4. Home Hemodialysis
          1. What to Expect
          2. Getting Prepared
          3. HD Training
          4. HD Monitoring
          5. Your Care Team
        5. Sign up to Talk to a Home Dialysis Expert
        6. In-Center Hemodialysis
          1. In-Center Treatment Options
          2. What to Expect
          3. Types of Vascular Access for Hemodialysis
          4. Your Care Team
          5. How to Choose a Center
        7. Transplant
          1. Finding a Kidney Donor
          2. Considering Kidney Donation
        8. Insurance & Managing Costs
          1. Understanding Medicare Coverage
          2. Understanding Medicare Advantage
          3. Understanding Employer Plans
        9. Choosing Not to Treat
      3. Life On Dialysis
        1. Your Emotional Health While on Dialysis
          1. Managing Your Emotions
          2. Talking About Dialysis
          3. Intimacy
          4. Body Image and Dialysis
          5. Building Your Dialysis Support Network
        2. Staying Engaged
          1. Tips for Working While on Dialysis
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        3. Staying Healthy
          1. Managing Your Time on Dialysis
          2. Dialysis & Exercise
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        5. Tips for Loved Ones
          1. In-Center Hemodialysis
          2. At-Home Hemodialysis
          3. At-Home Peritoneal Dialysis
        6. PatientHub
      4. Recipes & Nutrition
        1. Recipes
        2. Managing Your Diet
          1. Eating Well on a CKD Diet
          2. Eating Well on a Dialysis Diet
          3. Salt and Kidney Disease
          4. Potassium and Kidney Disease
          5. Phosphorus and Kidney Disease
          6. Talking With Your Dietitian
        3. Fluid Management on Dialysis
        4. Dialysis Diet Planning
          1. Kidney-Friendly Shopping
          2. Eating Out
          3. Holiday Diet Tips
          4. A Chef’s Advice | Chef Aaron McCargo on Kidney Friendly Meals
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      1. Home
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      3. CKD
      4. What Is Pruritus?
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      What Is Pruritus?

      kidneys
      Pruritus is the medical term for itchy skin. There are many causes for pruritus, including dry skin, irritation, allergies, and certain medical conditions. Signs of pruritus can include itching, red marks, scratches, dry skin, and leathery or scaly patches of skin. People with end stage renal disease (ESRD) who are on dialysis frequently experience pruritus, which can be uncomfortable. Thankfully, there are skin care recommendations and medications available to manage pruritus.

      How Is Pruritus Related to ESRD

      Dry skin is often itchy. People on dialysis have excess fluids removed from their body through regular treatments and may have restrictions on how much fluid they can drink. This can make it difficult to keep skin moist, leading to dry, itchy, and irritable skin. Not having enough dialysis can also lead to itchy skin. Additionally, high levels of phosphorus, calcium, or parathyroid hormone levels in your blood—which can be a concern for people on dialysis—can cause itchy skin. If your doctor has prescribed phosphate binders, be sure to take them as prescribed. Pruritus from chronic kidney disease (CKD) can also be caused by an immune reaction, micro-inflammation, or as a result of neuropathy (damage to nerves).

      How Should People with ESRD Care for Their Skin?

      Good skin care routines can help your skin stay healthy and may reduce or avoid itchiness. For dry, itchy skin, review these tips for healthier skin and to avoid the itch.

      Use smart bathing techniques

      Water and many soaps can dry out your skin. Quick showers with warm water can help skin stay moist. Long, hot baths by contrast may dry out your skin. Try using fragrance-free soaps, blot your skin dry after bathing to avoid irritation, and moisturize your skin while it is still damp.

      Moisturize regularly

      Use moisturizing cream or ointment one to four times a day to help combat dry skin and possibly relieve itchiness. Look for products with ingredients like jojoba oil, dimethicone, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lanolin, mineral oil, petrolatum, and shea butter. Avoid products that contain alcohol (aside from hand sanitizer), alpha hydroxy acids, fragrances, and retinoids.

      Wear gloves

      In colder weather, be sure to wear gloves outside for warmth and protection. Additionally, consider wearing rubber gloves while doing dishes or using cleaning supplies.

      Wear breathable materials

      Natural fabrics like cotton tend to be more breathable than synthetic materials and are gentle on your skin. Be sure to wash clothes with unscented, hypoallergenic detergents.

      Learn about Treatment for Pruritus

      In addition to maintaining a healthy skin care routine, people with pruritus may want to investigate medications to manage their symptoms. More severe symptoms may require prescription medication.

      Korsuva for pruritus

      Korsuva is the first FDA-approved drug specifically targeted toward relieving moderate to severe pruritus for people on hemodialysis (HD). Korsuva is not intended for people on peritoneal dialysis as it hasn’t been tested for people using this treatment because it’s administered intravenously. While Korsuva may be a path for people on HD to treat moderate to severe itching, there are some possible side effects such as dizziness, sleepiness, mental confusion, trouble walking, diarrhea, nausea, high potassium, and headache.

      Gabapentin for pruritus

      Another prescription available is gabapentin. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant that has been used for the management of neuropathy, seizures, sleep issues, and other conditions such as itching in dialysis patients. It’s important to note that gabapentin has been linked to some severe side effects including possible breathing difficulties. More common side effects include drowsiness, fatigue, risk of falls, and altered mental state.

      Why Is It Important to Treat Pruritus?

      Pruritus is more than an annoyance. Continued scratching can lead to skin infections that could lead to hospitalization. Pruritus caused by CKD is also associated with increased risk of hospitalization and more significant complications for people with ESRD. Reduce your risk of infection and feel more comfortable in your skin by treating pruritus symptoms and following a skin care routine.

      Talk to Your Care Team

      If you are experiencing dry, itchy skin, talk to your care team to better understand your symptoms and determine if a new skin care routine or medication may help.

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