Non-stop itching, no rash

[acuann]

[quote=Bahamas Itch;109687]I am so happy I found this thread! I am going to lose my mind with this insane itching! It started last year around my waistband for a couple of weeks then went away - I assumed it was stress-related.

Then it started again two weeks ago but on my back and now it's all over! There is no rash but sometimes I will see one tiny fluid-filled blister after I've begun scratching. And once I start scratching there's no turning back! It is maddening!

I had severe allergies as a child and was found to be allergic to EVERYTHING except potatoes. I hadn't had any problems for about 25 years (I'm 35) but after reading all the posts I think it may be attributed to allergies. I had cut out all products for about two weeks with Splenda because I thought that might be the culprit but the itching didn't stop. Guess now I'll try eliminating caffeine and a couple of other things.

Am hesitant to go to the doctor because i don't feel like being a guinea pig for all different kinds of medicine so think i'll try the dietary elimination approach first.[/quote

A NAET practitioner can help determine exactly what you are allergic to and what is causing your problems. NAET treatments can then help clear you of the allergies and get your life back. I cannot recommend this treatment enough - it is fantastic. www.naet.com

Best wishes
DOM

[diagnosis anyone?]

Iv been itching as long as i can remember now. I itch every second of the day but nothing i cant live with until i go into a "itching session" were for about 10-60 mins i have a really iritating itch, and when i scratch it leaves a big red mark where ive scratched. When this happens it feels like im getting hot and sweaty and the only relief is freezing cold water but it doesnt help at all. This is normally caused by being nervous, excited, when i exercise or it just happens out of the blue and mainly at night, i have trouble sleeping most nights because of it. I went to my Dr. and he put me on Anti-Histomines, Carbon Chloroxide, i used them for a month and they didnt do anything for me, so he put me on another type of Anti-Histomines, Fexo-Fenadyne, and i tried that for a month but still nothing. It seems nothing can get this to go away, but it is unbearable, i am having trouble living my life with this as i am only 15 years old.

[Here'sToHope]

My itch situation began 2 years ago. I don't know why it started, but they say that your body changes every 7 years and it coincided at that same juncture so maybe it is true. It began with my legs. No rash, just an itch so bad I would wake myself up at night scratching them. It got so bad, I would cry because I couldn't get it to stop. The itching was driving me crazy. I was so uncomfortable all of the time.

This lasted for months. My regular doctor treated me twice for scabies, even though he said that he was sure that was not the cause. He gave me prescriptions for Hydroxyzine, Permethrin and Prednisone. And they helped...while I was on them.

As soon as I was no longer taking the prednisone it came back with a vengence. I was scratching so much that there were sores on my skin. I took the prednisone again and again it helped until the prescription ran out. Then it spread to my **** cheaks, then to my arms, the back of my hands, my armpits and the back of my neck. Luckily I never got it on my face. I went to a dermatologist who told me he couldn't help me. He basically said there needed to be a rash first, before he could help me. He suggested I went to an allergist. I remember thinking, how in the world can this be an allergy.

I went anyway. The allergist ended up running some allergy tests. While running these test he gave me some steroid ointment that I could take (only during certain times so that it wouldn't affect the tests - and it helped immensely). First he ran environmental and foods that tend to be commen allergies. The only thing that came back was dust, a few weeds and cow's milk. He said that they are not severe, and definitely not severe enough to cause the itching. So the next test was for other foods. Some additional items showed some irritation, but again, nothing that could cause my body to itch like that.

He then ran some tests on chemical allergies. It is called a patch test. The test is run by adhering these small circles with checmicals on them to your skin, which you wear for 2 days. I found out that I have severe allergies to the Quaternium 15, Formaldehyde and a minor allergy to cobalt. He said that the patches were so irritated that they almost burst and most certainly would have scarred my back if left on any longer.

The most severe was Quaternium 15. This chemical is in almost every cosmetic item. From soap to shampoos, to lotions, to shaving gel, to makeup. It is a formaldehyde releasing preservative. It is not always in the same name. Azoniaadamantane chloride; chloroallyl methanamine chloride, etc. There are many other names. Formaldehyde is in almost everything: cosmetics, paper, glues, cleaners, medications, carpet, particle board, etc.

I looked through my toiletries and makeup and found out that almost every product that I used on a daily basis had one of these two chemicals in them. I think the only items that did not was my toothpaste and possibly my deodorant. One thing that I came to realize was that cosmetics companies are not required to put the ingredients on the bottle. I ended up find a website (Environmental Working Group - http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com) that I was able to use to find ingredients for some items, but not all. It also opened my eyes to the toxicity levels and the types of chemicals companies put in our cosmetics and toiletries.

I ended up having purchase all new products. I now have to carry around my own soap and lotion, because I can't use the soaps in public restrooms. I don't know what is in them and most likely it has a chemical I'm allergic to. It was very difficult to get used to and even know in public restrooms it is such a habit to use the soap in the dispenser (since I have dispensers at home) that I sometimes forget. I can tell within a few hours if I've used a bad item. I begin to itch on my legs and/or the back of my hands.

When the itching wasn't as severe I did end up finding little tiny bumps that were filled with a very small amount of liquid or puss after I have scratched at the itch, but never before. I now have the itching under control. Occasionally, I have an itch spell and generally it is localized to my lower legs or back of a hand. I rarely need to use the steroid oinment and try to wait until I can no longer take the itching (since the steroid ointment causes a thinning of the skin).

So for those of you that have been dealing with this and are at your wits end I highly advice getting a patch test done to see what kind of chemicals you could be allergic to. If you want any further information please feel free to email me.

Hope this helps at least one person!!!

[dreammer]

My mom had rashes all over her body for a long period of time. She had more when she ate food with more sugar and beef. She also had swollen knuckes, breathless. She was brought to hospital when she had increased backpain. Both of her kidneys were dead. So sad.

[dreammer]

My mom had rashes all over her body for a long period of time. She had more when she ate food with more sugar and beef. She also had swollen knuckes, breathless. She was brought to hospital when she had increased backpain. Both of her kidneys were dead. So sad.

[caitmin]

I recommend taking a look at the National Eczema Association site - they have a page that lists ingredients that should avoided as potential triggers of eczema flare-ups - its amazing how many potential irritants are in everyday products.

Their site is www.easeeczema.org

[tuesday]

I have never itched this bad in my life - My skin, everywhere, is unbelievably itchy. But there is no visible rash, my skin is dry but not out of the ordinary, and I have no idea what it's from. I've thought that it might be dairy making me feel this way but then I'll cut out dairy and it doesn't go away fully. Any ideas? Solutions? I use scent-free moisturizing lotion but it's not helping.

i'm sorry i don't know what this could be but i recently have broken out in a rash and i have no idea what it could be and it itches somethin crazy. i found a solution for the itch that helps a lot, but dries out your skin so you need to moisturize right after. first take some 100% oatmeal and grind it(i use my magic bullet), then i mix with pineapple juice to make a thin paste. spread this on your body wherever you itch. let sit 10-14 min. get in the shower and and dont use any soap. make sure your water isn't too warm. then whenever all the oatmeal is rinsed off dab yourself dry with your towel. after that i usually use a hemp lotion with a strong spf.

[Jerseyfishcat]

I have been experiencing the same unbearable itching for the past few weeks now. It is generally only my right arm from shoulder to elbow. Ice had been the only thing that helped until I tried, of all things, Preparation H cream. Rub it on the affected area as soon as that first annoying itch happens, and it is like a miracle (so far)...I hope it continues to work, it has been a Godsend and very inexpensive. Well worth a try!

[desrtrse]

I too have bouts with it is stinging itch that is not tamed. I also have been having chronic cracks mouth and now in the corner of one of my eyes. I eat healthy and aware with vit c and b intake daily. This is driving me crazy, sometimes cold helps temporarily. Help!!!!

[Unregisteredx]

Hi all, I have had similar itching with no rash that gets really intense at times, due to constant scratching I now have lots of scars. Apart from the itching I feel perfectly healthy. My doctor has asked me to go for blood screening for coeliac/HIV based on the itching and the fact that I am a 40 y/o male and single, he did say that the chances of it being HIV are very minute but the fact that he has not followed any other line of diagnosis worries me. No doubt I am now scared scared ****less and spend everyday worrying. I have not gone for the blood tests yet but will do so in the next few days. I do not think I can bring myself to live with HIV and the itching which is now a real problem for me. Incidentally when I am occupied doing other things I don't actually itch.