Itchy palate

What is an itchy palate?

Itchy palate is a symptom that manifests itself through a tingling feeling in the area of the palate up to the transition to the pharynx. The tingling sensation can affect the entire roof of the mouth or just part of it.

For those affected, the itchy palate is usually an uncomfortable and very annoying feeling; your general well-being can suffer. People who suffer from itchy palate are often known to have one or more allergies.

causes

The following diseases lead to an itchy palate:

A common cause of itchy palate is allergic rhinitis. In addition to the itchy palate, symptoms such as watery nasal secretion, one swollen nasal mucosa, Sneezing attacks and itchy and watery eyes come.
Another possible cause is a cold as part of a viral or bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract, including the nasopharynx.
A lack of vitamin D is a rarer cause.
An underactive thyroid can also lead to itching. As with the vitamin D deficiency, there is only one dry mouthwhich then triggers the itchy palate.

Allergy as a cause

Of the allergic rhinitis is a misdirected reaction of the human immune system to certain substances from the environment (Allergens). The immune system recognizes the allergens as foreign and begins with a defense reaction Pollen of trees, grasses and herbs as allergens in question. When breathing, they enter the human body through the nasopharynx and the oral cavity (including the palate). This is where the first contact with the immune system takes place. That is why the symptoms occur there too, for example itchy palate or one swollen nasal mucous membrane as a sign of the defense reaction of the body.

But other allergies can also trigger an itchy palate. For example, food allergy should also be considered. Here, too, allergens that are contained in the food this time can lead to a defense reaction of the immune system on the first contact surface (oral cavity) and thereby cause an itchy palate.

Cold as a cause

A cold can also cause an itchy palate. The first sign of this often occurs dry, itchy or itchy feeling in the area of the throat or palate. These symptoms are signs of irritation of the mucous membranes, which are infected by pathogens, mostly viruses. However, a simple cold is usually completely harmless and the unpleasant itchy itch in the palate does not last long in such a case. The annoying feeling in the throat often disappears by itself or a manifest sore throat develops. Then first of all, rest and protection is required.

Find out more about the topic under: Therapy for a cold

Concomitant symptoms

Burning palate

In addition to the annoying itch on the palate, other symptoms can also occur in connection with this. Often the throat area not only itches, but also burns or the itching turns into a burning sensation. This combination is often found in colds, as the mucous membrane of the throat and palate area is damaged by the invading pathogens. This is expressed at the beginning in the symptoms already described.

Burning the palate can also lead to the symptoms mentioned.

Find out more about the topic here: Burning palate

Runny nose

A runny nose is one of the most common symptoms accompanying the itchy palate. Both an allergy and a cold can be the cause here. While allergic runny nose is practically always watery, a cold can also lead to yellowish-green nasal discharge. This can then be a sign of a bacterial infection be.

Sore throat

The sore throat, which has already been mentioned several times, often occurs in combination or as a result of an itchy palate and throat area. The pain here is an expression of significant damage to the mucous membrane cells of the throat. They rarely occur in the context of the allergy, but rather are a sign of the onset of a cold.

However, it can be dangerous if the palate itches and hurts immediately after eating certain foods. This then indicates a food allergy. This can often lead to swelling of the affected regions, which in extreme cases can lead to shortness of breath.

diagnosis

An allergic cause of the itchy palate can easily be determined by visiting a doctor. Many ENT, dermatologists and some general practitioners offer the so-called prick test. In the process, substances that can trigger allergies, for example plant pollen, animal hair or extracts from food, are dripped onto the skin of the forearm in a dissolved form. Then the skin is slightly scratched in these areas. If there is an allergy, after a short time itching and a wheal will form at the point of the respective substance.

Learn more about it: The prick test

It is also easy to identify a cold as the cause of the itchy palate. Here the doctor lights up the patient's throat and can detect reddening or even swelling of the mucous membranes and tonsils in the event of an infection.

Treatment and therapy

The treatment of itching of the palate depends on the cause. If the uncomfortable feeling in the throat is caused by an allergy, the doctor can prescribe certain allergy suppressing drugs. These include the so-called Antihistaminese.g. Cetirizine®. Active substances like this block the messenger substance histamine, which plays an important role in the development of allergies. However, fatigue often occurs as a side effect, which in turn can be stressful in everyday life. For this reason, antihistamines should be taken in the evening.

Also preparations containing cortisone can be used for allergies. They can usually be administered in the form of nasal sprays and then mainly relieve the feeling of a blocked or runny nose.

However, if a cold is responsible for the itching in the roof of the mouth, the above measures will not help, and can even be counterproductive. In this case, physical protection is particularly appropriate. Often times, over-the-counter cold medication also provides initial symptom relief. If the symptoms do not improve within a few days, a doctor should be consulted again. The treatment of the rarer causes of itchy palate must also be discussed and determined individually with a doctor.

More information can be found here: Medicines for colds

Home remedies for an itchy roof of the mouth

A variety of home remedies can be used for allergic itchy palate. The actual effectiveness varies from person to person. The stinging nettle is a tried and tested remedy for the annoying itching. Especially infused as a tea, it can provide relief when used several times a day.

A spoonful of honey for sweetening can also be effective.

Chewing chewing gum containing menthol has also proven helpful for some affected patients. This leads to an improvement in the symptoms, at least in the short term.

Drinking ice-cold drinks can also help for a short time.

In addition, there are very simple measures that keep the trigger of the itching - the allergy - in check. Pollen allergy sufferers should, for example, ensure that their living spaces are only ventilated when the pollen count is low. In the city this is the case early in the morning; in rural regions it should be aired in the evening.

For pollen and animal hair allergy sufferers, it is also important to ensure that they have a suitable fine dust filter when choosing a vacuum cleaner.

Itching of the palate as part of a cold can often be alleviated with the home remedies already mentioned. In addition, it is advisable to drink warm cold teas and suck candies, preferably those with sage or other medicinal plants, to keep the throat moist. Because dry mucous membranes promote itching.

Duration - How long does the palate itch?

Itchy palate can be extremely annoying, but it usually doesn't last too long. Especially in the context of a cold, it disappears on its own within a few hours to a few days or turns into a sore throat. Treatment with the simple home remedies already mentioned for a few days can provide significant relief here.

In the case of allergic itchy palate, the uncomfortable feeling usually only occurs for a few hours or less. Here, too, a remedy is often already provided with cooling and moistening the mucous membranes.

If the itching in the palate persists for a long time or keeps coming back, a doctor should be consulted. If necessary, the doctor can then decide on a medicinal remedy.