Non-stop itching, no rash

[Unregistered]

I'm itching like mad.. this last week. I'm wondering whether its chlorine from the swimming pool I go to twice a week. I try to shower thoroughly but its still there. It goes from my nose to other parts of my body, and feels like my skin is just super sensitve and tickly. Its driving me mad.

[Unregistered]

i have sjograns syndrome which causes dry skin,dry eyes,and im wondering if its the disease making my head itchy..i dont have lice or anything else.. bren

[Unregistered]

Alright - it's time for me to chime in. I've been losing sleep for weeks now, but last night was the worst - I was awake because of the itching for at least 6 of the 7.5 hours I was in bed last night. My itch is similar to what many others have described. No rash (although my doctor points out that I get the "skin writing" thing if he scratches me with his pen - but that seems obvious - everyone gets red marks on their skin when they get scratched with a sharp obejct). Intense itching over the entire body - face, head, arms, hands, chest, back, upper legs, lower legs, rectal area, and ESPECIALLY my feet at nighttime.

I had routine blood work done by my doctor and everything was normal (except for an elevated cholesterol level, which is totally bizarre given that I'm 30 years old, slender, active and have no family history of high cholesterol). I've been to an allergist. I have seasonal allergies (hayfever due to grass pollen, etc.). The allergist thinks my itching is associated with the seasonal allergies (atopic dermatitis). However, my itching started 3-4 months ago - long before allergy season. And I've had allergies my whole life and have never had any full body itching associated with the allergies. He told me to try Claritin at first. It worked great for my seasonal allergies but did nothing for my itching. Now, he has me taking baths (to help dry skin) and applying a topical steroid (triamcinolone). Sorry, that ain't working either. Not at all.

I think the next thing I'm going to try is a cleanse and/or an elimination diet to see if maybe it's a food allergy.

But here's my biggest question. All of us with itching problems have done enough searching online to figure out that there are some pretty serious conditions/diseases for which severe itching is a symptom (e.g., liver disease, kidney failure, diabetes, lymphomas, etc.). I brought this up with my doctor and he said that those things are very rare. He also said there would be some other pretty clear symptoms accompanying the itching if it were a major systemic condition. So, is that true? Is it possible to have itching be the only known symptom of a serious condition? Are there "special" tests (i.e., blood tests, etc.) that will detect one of these conditions where a routine blood test won't?

I'm starting to get pretty frustrated and maybe even desperate.

[Unregistered]

0H MY....I G0T THE SAME PR0BLEM.....ITS BEEN G0IN 0N F0R AB0UT 3WKS N0W....I DiDNT REALLY THiNK IT WAS N0THIN AT FIRST......BUT N0W IT D0ESNT WANNA ST0P..I TRIED EVERYTHING T00.......N0W IT TIME FOR ME T0 G0 AND SEE A D0CT0R......I ITCH EVERYWHERE......ST0MACH....LEGS....IN BETWEEN MY FINGERS...MY FACE...MY ELB0WS.......MY THIGHS....MY BREAST..AND MY BACK....AND IM S0 SICK 0F THIS ITS DRIVING ME CRAZY.....H0PEFULLY THE D0CT0R CAN D0 S0METHING AB0UT IT.......

[Unregistered]

I have also experienced the same problem as everyone else. I recently tried a product with emu oil and it helped me. Doesn't completely take away itching, but does provide some relief.

[Unregistered]

I don't know if this helps or not, but I have become increasingly sensitive to perfumes, chemicals, and caffeine. I used to get terrible itching on my scalp and arms, and even developed asthma. However, when I stopped using soaps, shampoos and toothpaste with SLS, and avoided petroleum-based lotions (even Chapstick) it got MUCH better. Also, I have found caffeine to be a big culprit, and when I cut that out, my asthma dramatically improved (the doctor attributed it to possibly some kind of associative acid reflux). Recently, I had a bunch of dark chocolate and then right away, my arm began to itch. The next day, I had a rash, my lips were cracked again, and my asthma began to act up. I threw away the chocolate and became more careful about avoiding caffeine, and now a few days later, it has cleared up again.

Hope this helps.

[acuann]

Itching itching itching?....please look into NAET (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique)!

Also, keep in mind many lotions actually contain alcohol, which further dries out your skin (and you buy more lotion - aren't they clever? ). If you have dry skin this can cause terrible itching - please look into many different kinds of lotion - I prefer Alba or Nature's Gate and stay away from cetyl alcohol or other drying agents that are common in cheaper lotions.

NAET can pinpoint exactly where an allergy lies, and it could be to something like vitamin A or vitamin E. Using acupressure along the spine, a NAET practitioner will clear you of this allergy so you will no longer have a problem - works for wheat, gluten, dairy, and so much more...this is a revolutionary treatment and really can help.

Best wishes
DOM

[LindaB]

I started with this last year and it turned out to be Urticaria (skin writing)
do you get red lines where you have been scratching that go away after a short while?
The doctor said this is due to the histamine cells leaking under your skin, and the more you scratch the worse it gets, absolutely everywhere, arms legs, scalp face. I now have anti histamine tablets for when I start itching and they work fine. Hope this helps

[Unregistered]

I have been itching all over since May 29, 2007.There is no rash, but I have dry skin but not that bad. When I first noticed the itching it was just on my arms and after i would scratch that spot I would turn red and the scratched area would swell up, then the next day the itching was all over. I went to the doctors and they told me I was having a delayed allergic reaction accompanied with hypertension. Then they gave me a prescription of hydroxyz HCL 50mg, medrol dose pack , and said to take 50 mg of bennadryl twice a day. I had to take all those meds for 7 days. After the medications took effect (3 days later), the itching went away for about two and a half weeks later but now the itching is back and it is mainly on my chest. To this day I still take the bennadryl so I can sleep but the itching is sooo irratating. I can not stop itching please does anyone have any suggestions. I would very thankful for any help I can get I have a 4 year old to care for by myself and any help I can get would be greatly appreciated.

[Unregistered]

I have had these symptons for the last 10 years - and have finally concluded that mine are allergy related. Every July I start itching and it last until September into October. Of course my allergist tried telling me it was the saop dry skin etc - but it happens every year at the same time. You know the intense I am going out of my mind itching with no rash. Also taking showers brings out the itching and it usually starts in the morning. To cope I double my allergy medication Zyrtec during those months and it does keep it to a minimum. Also Predisione helps. You are a walking zombie but its better than the intense itching.