Magnesium Deficiency & Itchy Skin

Magnesium is a naturally occurring element that people need as a key nutrient. The human body relies on magnesium for various purposes, and people who don't have enough can suffer various symptoms, through dry, itchy skin is not considered one of them. Talk to a physician or health care provider for medical advice about magnesium and associated medical conditions.

Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in the human body, 50 percent of which is found in a person's skeletal system, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. The mineral plays a key role in cellular functions, nerve functions, the immune system and more than 300 other biochemical reactions the body needs to operate. Most people get enough magnesium by eating various foods, such as fish, green vegetables, nuts and grains.

Magnesium deficiency symptoms are not common in the United States, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. However, people with such a deficiency may experience symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite and fatigue. More serious deficiencies can lead to feelings of numbness or tingling in different parts of the body, cramps, seizures and abnormal heart rhythms. Dry and itchy skin is not generally recognized as a symptom or side effect of a magnesium deficiency

People who get too much magnesium can also suffer negative health effects. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, magnesium excesses can lead to magnesium toxicity, essentially a poisoning of the body by excess magnesium. Symptoms of magnesium toxicity are similar to magnesium deficiency and include nausea, fatigue, weakness, muscle cramps and, occasionally, coronary spasms or abnormal heart rhythms.

Itchy skin is a common medical condition that can arise because of hundreds of causes. While many of these causes, such as allergens, eczema and psoriasis, are fairly benign, other causes of itchy skin can be quite serious. MayoClinic.com reports that itchy skin can be caused by kidney failure, thyroid problems and cancer. If you're experiencing ongoing or unexpected bouts of itchy skin, consult a medical professional.