Itchy Skin

[snowcreature23]

Itchy skin, I really hate it nothing works for me and it icth on my back I can't get to it. ughh

[Ireneparalegal]

It is the cold/winter weather. I had a bad episode a few years ago where I was scratching myself raw! The doctor told me to use a lotion like AVEENO that doesn't have fragrance or perfume in it and to use it right after I shower BUT DON'T TOWEL DRY YOURSELF, use the water on your skin to help slather the lotion on. This should help the itchiness.

As for trying to scratch your back, I have a back scratcher. If you don't have one, use a brush to reach the part of your back that itches.

Also, if it gets real bad, take some Benadryl. Although it makes you sleepy, so best to use this at night. It is an antihistamine medicine you can get over the counter and it helps itchiness.

[OH Nuts!]

Try using Aveeno oatmeal collodial bath. It softens the skin. When I had varicella (chicken pox) the doctor recommended I soak in it.

Many of the drug store chains (Duance Reade, CVS, Eckerd etc.) likely have their own version of this that is likely cheaper than Aveeno the "Name" brand.

I also find that soaking in Vaseline or Calgon bath powder also helps.

[dawsongirl]

I have eczema, which naturally gets worse in the winter, and I scratch my skin raw all the time. Just make sure you use a lot of lotion. And good lotion, like the aforementioned Aveeno, or Eucerin, or Curel. Cheap stuff is too watery.

[PlayOn]

Itchy skin sux! Everytime I get out of the shower and dry off with a towel, a few minutes after I get comfy, my back starts itching.
Thanx, Irene, for telling about the lotion.

[AB]

You can also try over-the-counter cortizone creme or ointment, it works for the rash on my hands I sometimes get from washing dishes & cleaning.

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by annball1957

You can also try over-the-counter cortizone creme or ointment, it works for the rash on my hands I sometimes get from washing dishes & cleaning.

You've got to watch it with cortisone though - it shouldn't be used often. It has a ton of very bad side effects and should be used only for certain conditions which should be diagnosed by a dermatologist first.

Aveeno is excellent - bathe in the oatmeal stuff and as Irene says, when you get out, don't dry off - and slather aveeno cream all over.

The other thing I do is while I'm in the shower, just before I'm ready to get out, I slather baby oil on all over, give a very quick rinse, leaving a layer on a pat yourself dry. It really helps keep the itch down.

It's this winter dry air - really plays havoc on skin. You should be clearing up fairly soon with spring coming.

[Ireneparalegal]

Sounds like we all have had our issues with itchy skin.

When I was experiencing that bad itch and scratching myself to oblivion, I seen a dermatologist and it was he who told me that during the winter weather (what winter, it is 70 degrees here ) for me to do what I mentioned above. I actually do that year round just to help my skin stay smooth. I sometimes work a little baby oil in with my lotion when I slather it all over. Leaves you with some nice, soft skin. Of course, when it comes to dry, irritated skin where you are scratching yourself raw, don't use anything that has perfumes in it. The name brands like we mentioned AVEENO, etc. are great because they don't have any perfumes in it that can irritate your skin more. I also use a perfume free body liquid soap when that itchy skin develops. And! just to make it easier, I use baby shampoo for my hair. Think abt it, if you have irritated skin, the last thing you want to do is add any irritants like a shampoo that will run down your body in the shower. Baby shampoo is gentle. I think you can use baby liquid soap as an alternative to Aveeno too, I think it is perfume-free.

[TripperFan]

yup - baby and glycerine soaps are good - all natural. I find even Ivory can dry me out. The baby oil seems to work the best though for me. Lander put outs a good one for extra dry skin - again, odor and alcohol free. No matter what though you have to repeatedly apply lotions several times a day.

I used to bring tons in for the guys at work (my husband worked at Unilever and another company who makes this stuff). They were tough auto workers, but sure appreciated it. Their hands would be so bad they'd be cracking open with sores because of having to work in cold conditions without gloves. I felt so badly for them.

If this stuff doesn't relieve it to some degree at least, go see your doctor. It could be you are getting some skin condition. That Lichen Planus I had a couple of years ago was absolutely horrible and turned out to be an autoimmune thing related to eczema. For that, I did need all sorts of prednisone creams for. ugh

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by TripperFan

yup - baby and glycerine soaps are good - all natural. I find even Ivory can dry me out. The baby oil seems to work the best though for me. Lander put outs a good one for extra dry skin - again, odor and alcohol free. No matter what though you have to repeatedly apply lotions several times a day.

I used to bring tons in for the guys at work (my husband worked at Unilever and another company who makes this stuff). They were tough auto workers, but sure appreciated it. Their hands would be so bad they'd be cracking open with sores because of having to work in cold conditions without gloves. I felt so badly for them.

If this stuff doesn't relieve it to some degree at least, go see your doctor. It could be you are getting some skin condition. That Lichen Planus I had a couple of years ago was absolutely horrible and turned out to be an autoimmune thing related to eczema. For that, I did need all sorts of prednisone creams for. ugh

Ah yes good ol' glycerine soaps. I remember my mom used to buy those. When she died, I never saw those soaps in the house anymore. When I got older, I bought them merely to have the memory of my mom. I no longer buy bars of soap simply because of the germy thing I fret abt. I have to have liquid soap for the bathroom sink and kitchen sink as well as for showering. I think back to the days when bars of soap were the norm. the thought of all those germs on that bar of soap...

I never had a skin problem until 5 years ago during the winter I was scratching the heck out of my thigh. This particular area began to itch and I was scratching myself to the point it was bleeding. I went to the E.R. for some relief. It was there they told me abt Benadryl for itching. It was then I also began using Benadryl to help me sleep at night. It is non-addicting. The itching persisted and finally seeing the dermatologist who told me abt using non-perfumed/fragranced items. Of course, this was a temporary thing only, but when I did have another flare-up, I again used the non-perfumed products and allowed the dry skin period to pass. Weird, I haven't had another episode since, probably because I use lotion right after a shower and do what the doctor told me, "Don't towel dry your skin, leave the water on and slather lotion all over." I use Palmer's Cocoa Butter lotion.