Why itchy skin isn't just skin-deep

That maddening, relentless itch? It’s not just a skin issue. It’s a red flag that the body’s internal detox systems - gut, liver, kidneys - are struggling to cope.

In fact, sweet itch is now understood to be a systemic condition. Yes, midges play their part, but the real root lies deeper, in a condition called KPU (Cryptopyrroluria) where the gut lining becomes inflamed, the microbiome gets knocked out of balance, and detox pathways go haywire.

This leads to a cascade effect: the immune system becomes hypersensitive, toxins build up, and the skin - as the body’s emergency exit route - starts to take the hit.

When the kidneys get overwhelmed …

The kidneys do a heroic job keeping the body in balance - filtering toxins, regulating minerals, and managing hydration. But when the load gets too heavy, they hand over the job to the skin. That’s when you’ll see summer skin allergies inflame, and also why we see non-sweet itch related cases of itchy skin through the winter.

Fly rugs can help reduce external triggers, but they can’t fix what’s happening on the inside.

The silent stress beneath the surface

Here’s the catch: kidney strain often goes unnoticed until it’s advanced - up to 70% function can be lost before symptoms show. That’s why early support matters. And it's not just sweet itch - even horses with scurfy, itchy skin that isn't classic sweet itch often have deeper gut and detox imbalances at play.

Whole-horse harmony

To calm the itch, we have to look at the whole detox chain - gut, liver, kidneys - not just the surface. When any link is under pressure, it shows up in the skin.

That’s where SwItchTonic comes in - to help support healthy detox function and ease the load on the skin. It’s our go-to blend for Legends like Captain Jack Sparrow, where sweet itch meets KPU, EMS, and everything in between.