Itchy Ankles? Here's What Your Body's Trying to Tell You

Feeling itchy around your ankles can be pretty annoying. One moment you're fine, then suddenly, you have to reach down and scratch a pesky itch.

The cause of itchy ankles can be minor, like dry skin, or more serious, like certain skin conditions or allergies that cause itchiness (officially called pruritus in the medical world), according to Bruce Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.

Here's a look at the most common causes of itchy ankles, how to treat them and when to see a doctor to get relief.

Insect bites are one of the most common reasons for itchy ankles, especially in the summer.

That's because when the weather is warm, you tend to wear less clothing, and insects take advantage of your exposed ankles as an easy target.

"Insects inject saliva when they bite to break down protein and extract the blood from our skin," Dr. Robinson says. "This causes an inflammatory response, making the skin swell, itch and sometimes blister." (In fact, any swelling of the legs could result in itchy ankles.)

Most bug bites are harmless, with the worst symptom being itchiness for a few days. But some insects (often depending on where you live) can spread harmful diseases like Lyme disease and malaria, per the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD).

To prevent bug bites, the AAD recommends these practices:

• Wear insect repellent
• Wear long sleeves and long pants to cover as much skin as possible
• Use bed nets if sleeping outdoors

No one is immune to dry skin, especially when it's cold outside. That's because dry winter air can strip away skin's moisture.

"The lower humidity and colder air leads to an exit of moisture, causing the skin to dry," Dr. Robinson says. "This is what produces that itch sensation."

According to the AAD, dry skin is also more common in certain people, including:

• Adults age 40 and older
• People of color
• People with vitamin deficiencies
• People living with chronic conditions like diabetes, thyroid disease and kidney disease

Your skin can also dry out from everyday activities like taking hot showers, using harsh soaps or cleaning products and taking certain medications, per the AAD. And if you have itchy ankles at night, it may be because your skin loses more moisture at night, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Skin conditions like eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, can cause patches of dry, inflamed and itchy skin all over your body — including your ankles, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Certain people are genetically predisposed to this chronic issue, Dr. Robinson says, and while most people deal with it in childhood, you can get eczema as an adult, too.

Eczema on your ankles can cause other symptoms, including:

• Skin rash
• Cracked skin
• Bumps on your skin
• Flaky skin
• Swelling

Eczema can also flare up in cold, dry weather, or with certain fabrics, skin-care products and even stress, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Contact dermatitis or contact eczema is caused by the direct contact of something irritating to the skin, Dr. Robinson says, like a harsh cleaner.

"Your body responds to an irritant — like poison ivy, perfume or certain jewelry — and produces a reaction," he says. Ankle rashes, in particular, could come from ankle jewelry or poison ivy.

You could also have allergic contact dermatitis, a true allergic reaction to something else that touched your skin that you are allergic to.

The reason it itches? Your body produces a chemical called histamine in reaction to the irritant, which causes itching and swelling as side effects, Dr. Robinson says.

"The best thing to do is remove whatever is causing irritation," he adds.

You may have heard of skin infections like ringworm or athlete's foot before. They're actually fungal infections that can cause a serious itch, Dr. Robinson says.

These infections happen when fungus comes in direct contact with skin. They're commonly spread through towels, shoes and socks, or in humid, shared spaces, like locker rooms and saunas.

A fungal skin infection on your ankles could cause a rash, peeling and possibly an itchy or burning sensation, per the Cleveland Clinic.

We know the potential causes of itchy ankles, but how can we prevent them from itching in the first place? Here are a few strategies:

• ‌Wear protective clothing.‌ Cover up your ankles to avoid bug bites, poison ivy or other irritants that could cause an itch when directly touching your ankles.
• ‌Moisturize.‌ Protect and retain the moisture in your skin by using a quality moisturizer every day. This can also help calm symptoms of skin conditions like eczema.
• ‌Avoid irritants.‌ Remove any items that are irritating your ankles and causing them to itch. This could be ankle jewelry, scented lotion or perfume and certain fabrics like wool.
• ‌Talk to your doctor.‌ If you're taking a certain medication (or using a certain medicated cream) that you think is causing itchy ankles, talk to your doctor. They can go over any potential side effects and offer some alternative treatments.
  

If you've tried to remedy your itchy ankles with over-the-counter ointments, medications and moisturizers but nothing seems to work, it's time to see a doctor, Dr. Robinson says.

"This is also true if you see a rash, but it's not itchy anymore," he adds.

You should also see a doctor if you have the following, per the Mayo Clinic:

• A severe itch that interferes with your daily routine
• Itchiness that spreads to your whole body
• Other symptoms like weight loss, fever or fatigue
• Itchiness that appears suddenly without explanation
• Significant swelling in one leg, foot or ankle but not the other