My legs, especially around ankles and back of calves, arms, neck and chest have been itching relentlessly for the past couple of weeks. I have explored changes in detergent and soap, none. No rash and it feels like my legs are burning when I shower and the water hits them! I don’t seem to be dry, but I am using an oatmeal non perfumed lotion. Helps for a minute, then it is back! Help!!!!
Most of the time, itchy skin is associated with a rash, usually dry or scaly or weeping. This is usually an allergic reaction or an irritant, which it sounds like you have already tried to evaluate. You may want to try high doses of both fish oils and omega-6 oils (borage, evening primrose, sesame seed), as they help with rashes and itchy skin. In the absence of a rash, one must consider a ‘neuropathy,’ usually interpreted as pain or numbness or tingling, but perhaps also as an itch. Strong doses of B vitamins and essential fatty acids are important to help all nerve or neurologic problems.
A couple of other helpful solutions to consider: one is Redmond Clay, which we can obtain for you through this site. Please let me know if you are interested and we can order some for you (and anyone else who would like some who reads about it in this post). The clay can be mixed with water and spread over an itching area, and it seems to soothe the itching.
Another important factor to consider is your emotional or stress state. Is someone or something irritating you? Our emotional state often manifests in our physical state.
My doctor says I can get all the vitamins and minerals I need from my food. What is your opinion on this?
I used to say the same thing to my patients, back in the days before I studied healthy alternatives. It is the party line of allopathic medicine, although that is starting to change. Here's the bottom line, and I'll follow up with some info on what allopaths are now doing:
4 responses so far ↓
1 Ben Homer // May 28, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Dr. Gardner, my intense itching is mainly on my scrotum and in arm pits. My Dr. prescribed 25 mg Hydroxyzine at 8 hr intervals. Worked fine for a while. I read about C, B-6, B-12, and folic acid. They work too, but only for about 3 hours.Taking more C (1000 mg calcium ascorbate) or something has given me a bad case of diarrhea.
can you suggest a solution?
2 Carol Howard // May 29, 2010 at 5:01 am
I also have been experiencing terrible itching for about 6 years now. I have attempted to eliminate everything that might be causing it, but have come to the final conclusion that it’s when my skin gets very hot, especially at night when I lay on one side of my body in a hot room too long without turning over. I have an over the counter antihistamine, which my doctor said is safe, but have also found that if I apply cold compresses to the area it releaves the itching in a few minutes. I absolutely hate to apply cold compresses in the middle of the night to my body, but it’s the only thing that helps. I have searched the internet for years for an answer to this problem, but only come up with heat hives. Also, I absolutely cannot scratch the itching area without worsening the situation.
3 Sheryl Scheer // Jun 1, 2010 at 6:01 pm
I use to have the same problem, relentless itching after taking a bath or shower. Try mixing 1/3 apple cider vinegar with 2/3 water. If that doesn’t work then try the solution a litter stronger until the itching stops. The itching stop with a few applications.
4 Dr. Stan Gardner // Jun 7, 2010 at 10:16 am
Ben, Just a thought–try anti-fungals and see if they help. Also, there is no reason to limit intake of B6, B12, folic acid–every 3 hours if need be. The fact that these nutrients help could mean that these are deficient in your body, or your need for them is increased. Stress always needs to be a factor to consider with chronic itching.
Carol, Itching on one side of the body is often related to the sympathetic nervous system, which is different on both sides of the body. Stress is the trigger for the sympathetic nervous system. Evaluate all potential stressors and pay attention to the serenity prayer–”God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” If heat is the final trigger, try better insulators, either in clothing (cotton) or sleeping on a foam under the sheet, and see if it makes a difference.
Sheryl, Thanks for your suggestion–Ben and Carol and many others should try it.
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