I just posted this in my comments on the post below, but decided to make it a post too for anyone that might wonder or might have more information to share.
I had allergy testing done because every year I have sinus problems (to the point I’ve asked a doctor before if they could just cut them out) – and any time I end up congested from allergies, I then end up with a sinus infection – or this last time I ended up with tonsillitis. We know it is allergies because Claritin helps keep the congestion away. I’ve had swollen glands most of the fall & winter this year and my doctor suspected it is also due to allergies. Now that we have tested me and found out what my allergies are, they will mix up a special serum just for me and I will go in once a week for injections. (I think it is once a week – maybe once every two weeks?) This will help me build up immunities to my allergies – hopefully preventing the sinus infections and tonsillitis of my past.
My family doctor just gave me Claritin constantly to fight my allergies, without ever testing to see what they were. I went to an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist for my tonsillitis though, and he is the one that recommended it (I’ve always wondered why no one did it in the past). Now that we know what we’re fighting, we can fight it better.
On a positive note, I called my doctor’s office this afternoon and she had me come in so they could check my itchy arms. They hooked me up with some special prescription ointment that made the itch go away. For now. Cannabis products from https://d8superstore.com/category/cbg may also help reduce the effects of allergies like swelling or inflammation. If stress is what triggers your allergies or any other health conditions, Dab Pens offers products that may help relieve your stress.
1,336 replies on “Itch Relief…”
I have the same arm itch, although for me, it subsides in the warmer months when I am in the sun, (and I am in the sun quite a bit). The itch is bad in the cold, winter months, and as soon as I have my first dose of sunbathing, whether it be here in spring, or a warm climate vacation, the itch subsides. I do think it is related also to some sort of neck compression issues, as I have always had neck pain. I go to a masseuse who specializes in Pain Release Management and I have her work on my neck and upper body to loosen it. I also do many neck stretches, and I just bought a Posture Pump which is a contraption that releases the pressure on the disks in the neck. (they are also make one for the lower back). It was under $100 on ebay, and if it helps, it is worth every dime. But again, the weird thing with my itch is it only starts after I am out of the sun, usually late fall, early winter. Almost like a “withdrawal”. But I appreciate everyone’s advice. Last winter I was able to manage the itch with various topical remedies found on this site. Hopefully I won’t need to get into Rx rememdies, but it is nice to know that those options are available, if needed. Thanks for all of your suggestions, everyone.
Hello All, I have read numerous postings on this site, I know how you all feel, itchy. Sometimes so severe you want to take a scrub brush to you arms and around the sides of your neck at night. I have been to numerous Doctors, family practice, Infectious disease, a Dermatoligist, who said I should see a Psych Dr. because I had itched so bad for about a year, that I was creating scars on my arms and neck. But I KNEW it wasn’t my imagination. The itching was so intense sometimes. I tried creams, antiobiotics, lotions, ice packs, hot packs, sprays, benadryl, steriods, you name it I tried it. Then one day I took a friend to the local Health Dept. While waiting for my friend a Intern walked by, saw my arms and neck. Sores, scars and scratches. askd me if I have had this checked out. told him if he only knew… I made an appt to see him, gave him the history, he went over the usual paperwork, asked if I had any animals. Yes, 2 dogs, a cat. he did a biopsy of a spot that wasn’t scratched raw. 2 weeks later he comes back with YOU HAVE…Staphylococcal folliculitis I say OK. can’t even say it, what is it. it is caused by scratching what is called a Demodex mite-ectoparasites. You get it from a dog. So of all antibiotics I haven’t taken he gives me Cephalexin and Metronidazole Cream, let it soak in, then use Calmoseptine Ointment that you can get from the pharmacy for the itching, has calamine, lanolin, phenlo, zinc oxide, external analgesic, and a few other things but works so good. smell isn’t to whippy though. I think now I scratch out of habit, learning to stop. The bumps, sores, raw skin, and all irritation is going away. I can sleep peacefully. Oh.. The animals have all been treated with Advantage. Dont’t break the cycle. give it a few days before due to keep it working good. Now the only other thing I haven’t tried is Maderma, lol. to see if I can fade some of the scars. I want to say THANK YOU THANK YOU …. to the Intern. whom will make a wonderful Doctor because of his concern for someone in a lobby without a ticket. Good luck to everyone. if all else fails, have a biopsy done.
Wow, I have had this for about 8 yrs now. Forearmes only. Starts in June goes till oct. The only temp relief is ice and a menthol cream found at a 99 cent store. I have been surfing for years and I blame it on the sun. I am going crazy here. I will try to see a back secialist this week.
on August 25 o8 , i wrote a comment, try what i suggested, it will work, want to lose that itch, just do what i suggested, it will work.. I feel sooooo much better, thand God. Bless you all n sleep softly JoAnn Thanks to Talker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I grew up in Washington state, am fair skinned and had terrible sunburns as a child and into adulthood. My first experience with the itch started after a summer in the heat of Cape Hatteras, NC when i was 25. I then spent three years back in Washington before moving to Hawaii, where I have lived for the past seven years. I don’t recall whether it bothered me those 3 years in WA or not, but i have been dealing with it for these seven years in HI. It starts in August through till Christmas,is worse at night, no real visible marks on arms, only ice helps, and also bathing with MIracle2 soap and a bodybrush. If i don’t have a thorough shower that day it can be worse, which made me think it may have been a mite or mold. Although sun exposure was my first thought. I really didn’t want it to be that, i mean what a drag, huh! Although it could be nerve damage, i have had trauma to my neck. I had a psychic tell me it was something to do with a pinching in my neck. I don’t know, it makes me crazy and irritable. I felt so much better when i read all of these entries and saw that other people were experiencing this too until i realized no one is getting any relief. Sometimes i take a homeopathic at night called arsenicum, it really does seem to help if i lay down and breathe steadily and don’t itch and use the same pain coping skills i used in labor. I’m feeling acupuncture is next. And I think alcohol and chocolate do make it worse, maybe it’s just my body trying to tell me to clean up my act. Maybe we should all go macrobiotic and invest in bodywork and yoga cooperatives. Drink lot’s of fresh clean water, breathe fresh air, get lot’s of exercise, and laugh ALOT. Bless all of you on this life journey, may you find some sense of ease. Aloha!
Hey, everyone! Finally a study that mentions BRP as a legitimate condition…check it out! http://www.nature.com/ncpneuro/journal/v4/n6/full/ncpneuro0807.html
Linda mentioned in her Aug 9 note that she thought it might be environmental. I have wondered the same. I moved to Arizona within the last year, and have started itching about 3 months ago. I do know that they start treating the water here in the summer, and that water comes from a couple of different areas. I have wondered if it might be the water treatment. Although, I’ve also wondered if it’s the sun. I have the itching on my upper arms. I’ve tried the ice (helps for a bit). Weird thing is I just washed my arms off with water only after petting the dog…hmmmm..maybe I’m onto something. I really don’t think it’s the dog though (but stranger things have happened). I had to laugh at Michael post of Aug 7, when he said it sounds like he’s looking for a date. I’m not looking for one either 🙂 I am redheaded, 50ish, fair skin, and had rashes from the sun when I was younger. When I first got it, I too scratched until it broke the skin. Calamine lotion helps a little. One night I took a sleeping pill after laying in bed itching for hours (Sonota, which lets you sleep about 5 hours). I too have had thyroid problems, but it’s okay now. Thanks for starting this website, I too have done many searches for “itchy arms”.
Holy crap! I can’t believe how many people have this itchy arm thing. I am not one of them. I stumbled on this site looking for remedies for a major post-shingles itch that I’m experiencing. Well, I feel for all of you folks. It must suck having a permanent itch. Be well people.
Hi everybody, checking in after a brief absence. Laurie in Kansas thinks our problem is a mite ecto-parasite from a dog. No one commented about this theory. I for one lost my dog about three years ago and squirm at the idea that mites from her coat might still be living in my home and on me! What do the rest of you think? Does everyone have a dog?
Tracey in Columbus; you are not alone, you’re saying pretty much what all the rest of us are saying. I mean, your timing is not that different than a lot of us, welcome to the irritating club! I’ve aways said, the sun or seasons are the biggest ‘hint’ as to what’s going on, although I certainly don’t understand the connection. I have endless osteo-arthritis problems with my lower back, hip and sometimes neck but I still don’t believe the itch is related because it always starts and ends at roughly the same times of the year. My back issues are year-round.
Is it the same John that swears by the U-shaped pillow and then later the same day writes, “it’s back”? Probably not. I do use the pillow too, helps but doesn’t cure.
Joanne, I’d be willing to consider the cure you’re suggesting but I have no idea what you’re talking about.
I’m actually doing pretty good these days. After 5 or 6 years of this I’m learning to simply NOT scratch no matter what. When the itch ‘ramps-up’ to a serious prickle I just grab my ice pack or if that’s not an option I mentally distract myself with something and it does subside. I repeat… DON’T SCRATCH no matter what. You’ll thank yourself in about 10 minutes! There is a mind-body connection and our minds are stronger than we think. Take it easy.
I have two dogs, but I had a MRI done and it definitely shows spondylosis of the cervical spine, causing nerve root pressure. I was itch free most of the summer, and it came back with a vengeance a couple of weeks ago. I find it’s worse at night, when I’m tired, and it definitely has something to do with the inflamed muscle on the left side of my neck, as this time only the left arm is affected. I’m going for PT on Tuesday, and then a spinal injection on Thursday called a facet block in the area of the irritation. Hopefully, this will calm the inflamed area and lessen the extent of the itch. I’ve also been doing yoga at least every other day in a hot room (to warm your muscles before you stretch). This really helps loosen the area of tension in my neck which builds during the day culminating in the itch at the end of the day.I’m not in the sun at all this time of year, so I don’t think that has much to do with it. And my dogs don’t have mites, I hope….How would you find out if they did?
I am a nurse and also work part time for a vet. I have 6 cats and 2 dogs and have had BRP for 8 years. I have been tested for all types of parasites, but to no avail, nor my animals. This was certainly one of my first thoughts. I only wish it was this simple.
I had this itching before I got my dog.
Interesting about the mite ecto-parasite from a dog. I’ve wondered about the same thing, although I had worried about my puppy and her itching, but hadn’t thought about it for my arms. I thought our puppy had mites or something took her to the vet. He treated her for everything and anything she was still itching. I wonder now if it was allergies to her food (she seems to have quit itching, but it took a while).
I did not make the connection with the dog and my itching arms until the other night when I wrote my first post about three nights ago. I remember getting up from typing and getting a wet paper towel and wiping my arms off and the itching seemed to subside right away. I have not had the itching since. I’ve been obsessive about washing my hands after petting the dog, though. I’m wondering if I might have an allergy to dog dander?? I’m still not sure if this is the cause, but I’m hopeful as I have not itched to the awful degree that you all know what I’m talking about. The strange thing is that I’m in Arizona so I wear shorts and sleeveless tops and the dog rubs against my legs, but I’ve never had the itching there. To add a note of complexity, I have a connective tissue disease and when I saw my Rheumatologist about three months ago, she noticed the scratched, scabbed arms. I asked her about it, and she said “well you know you guys get the weirdest skin conditions” So, I went away thinking about it, but I wasn’t totally sold that was what was causing it.
I’ll check back in a week or two to let you know if I’m still itch free. Diane
Hi Diane, I have been able to stop the itching that was driving me insane for 5 years. Last year was the very worst. You mention sun exposure in your post: You said, “first let me start off by saying that I do not, The strange thing is that I’m in Arizona so I wear shorts and sleeveless tops”.
A lot of the people who post here have a conditon called BRP as you probally know from reading recent posts. I am pretty sure I don’t have that but I suffered from intense seasonal itching on my arms that would resolved itself in the fall. Until I realized that I was having an allergic reaction to the sun, I continued exposing my arms to the intense sun of Colorado. Last summer, as I mentioned, was the very worst. It had been getting worse every year. I finally took 2 benadryl tabs at the very fist moment I felt the itch (antihistimine creams did not work). Finally some relief! If I caught it right away the itch would disipate and go away. I am not a doc of course, but I belive I was “toxic” from the sun! (grew up basking the South Florida sun and now live at 9000 in CO!) Starting around July I would start to itch and would itch everyday! The antihistimines did help, usually stopping the itch altogether.
Eventually (nov,14 2007) the itch stoppped on its own, like it always did each of the 4 years prior. But each year it got progressively worse. I was terrified of the next spring and summer!!
Over the course of the winter I researched the disorders that lead to itching and I was able to rule out any of the associations of BRP – thank god. And everything else. Finally the light bulb went off – I was toxified by the sun! I began to believe that if I limited my exposure to the sun on my arms and slowly exposed my skin to the suns intensity slowly and in a controlled way I would be free of the itch!! I had HOPE!
So in the spring I did just that, I found really good sunscreen and started wearing long sleeve cotton shirts whenever I was in the sun. At first I thought this would be impossible! I hike, fish, bike, ski etc!! I am outdoors a lot!
But here it is, the end of Sept and I have been itch free all summer! I can even where short sleeved from time to time! And expose my arms to sun for hours now that I have “detoxed”! B/c I do now go on occassion without my arms cover I have had a few twinges of THE ITCH! But I immediately get out the zinc and apply more sunscreen, put on my shirt and the itch GOES AWAY!..
May I suggest that you try that experiment the next time you start to itch? Since you are in what we call an itch scratch cycle. Try taking 2 antihistimines at the first sign of the itch to get relief and than cover up for awhile so your body can detox. It’s worth a try!
Good luck! I hope you find relief! PS – I agree that the dogs thing is probally also allergies!
PS – I use “umbrelle” sunscreen by loreal. Also straigth zinc on spots that seem the worst for me it the crook of my arm on the top, also the tops of my hands).
Valerie
and the dog rubs against my legs, but I’ve never had the itching there. To add a note of complexity, I have a connective tissue disease
Well I have my dog all year round, I don’t have this itch all year round, my opinion, it’s not the dog.
I have had the itch for about 6 years- it is definitely seasonal- starts at
> the end of the summer-mid-August and goes through March. I have been in
> total denial that it could be related to the sun as I don’t itch at all when
> in the sun… but this summer I was fanatical about avoiding sun on my neck
> and arms- slathered on sun block and wore shirts. so far I have not itched
> and it has always started up by now. I regularly see a chiropractor and
> don’t have any neck issues. I have 2 dogs who do not have mites and I know
> they don’t as I am a vet. Mites cause skin issues in dogs- they would not
> have a mite that is contagious to people without having symptoms themselves.
> I did get immense relief last winter from acupuncture but I had to go weekly
> or it would flare back up and I couldn’t afford it after awhile. I am just
> praying that my lack of sun exposure will be the key…
> Kim from Minneapolis
>
Kim:
Thank you for weighing in on the dog issue. I have had animals all fo my life and they have nothing to do with the itch. Do people get demodex? Sarcoptic maybe, but demodex?
And wouldn’t there always be a rash?
Diane- It is extremely rare for people to get Demodex( only a few reported cases). Also Demodex is very easy to diagnose in dogs and is usually in puppies. It can occur in older dogs but they have to be sick from something else to get immune compromised. People can get sarcoptes(but most commonly from other humans, a different species).The dog form can cause a topical reaction in people but also doesn’t burrow under the skin. Sarcoptes can be difficult to dignose in dogs because it isn’t easy to find but yes- the dogs do have symptoms of intense itching and almost always skin lesions- esp from self excoriations. Dogs and other animals can also get Cheyletiela mites which don’t “infect” humans but can cause temporary rashes. Those also are easy to dignose in pets.
so- all these itchy arms we are living with in my opinion are not cause by mites from your pets.
Kim
Kim, I am so glad to hear that you were able to get relief from your itching by reducing your sun exposure! I also did accupuncture last winter, also massage and chiropractor visits. I also was taking things to boost my immune system (ie Astragalus) and also Matake Mushroom (given to people being treated with radition for cancer to help my body rid itself of toxic radiation just in case) I stopped all these treatments (except for an occassional visit to the chiroprator and a massage now and then). Also, my itch stopped last year immediately after an accupunture treatment but I attributed that mostly to my itch always self resolving in the fall. Perhaps the treatment help break the cycle. Did you ever get relief from taking oral antihistimines? Just curions about my theory!
Minimizing sun exposure has worked for me this summer. I am glad to hear that you got relief from this approach too!! I hope more people on this forum will at least try this approach!?
Valerie
It is difficult for people who love being in the sun, as I did, to admit that it has anything to do with the itching arms. It certainly did for me after denying it for years. I would stay out of the sun for a week and then say well that’s not what it is because it wouldn’t go away all the while never giving my skin time to recuperate from the rays.
Now I know, but I have never tried to introduce myself back into the sun because I am frightened to death that it will come back.
I always have the desire to try it again. Maybe one of these days. I will never forget how bad it was though. At one point I even had fleeting thoughts of suicide. It was torture!!!
I used to think if I would have this for the rest of my life and if I would ever have a stroke or something that would render me unable to speak or scratch how would I survive with that. That is how crazy my thoughts were with this affliction.
Hi Valerie- I occasionally took some hydroxyzine last winter when my itch was bad as it had been recommended on this site. I must admit I did not take it on a regular basis and so got no relief from it. Then I had started the acupuncture and it worked almost immediately so I haven’t tried the hydroxyzine again or any other antihistamines. I too refused to believe it could be from the sun as I don’t itch in summer- at least not until very late summer and then it lasts through the entire winter. It still doesn’t make sense to me that I would itch for that long after sun exposure has ended but like I said- so far so good (other than an occasional twinge which gives me jolts of fear!). I may try the antihistamine route if it starts up again- if so I will let you know.
Kim
I stayed out of the sun all summer long and guess what????? Its back, its driving me nuts again. This time its both of my upper arms from the elbows up and occasionally my left wrist gets tingley……I’ve tried just about everything, magnesium, enzymes, zinc, sleeping pills, about every vitamin that you can think of. All kinds of creams and lotions. THe only thing that stops it is ICE……
I even get massages every other week…….I just wish it would “go away”……
Itchy arms for three years. Have been to an allergis (no testing), dermatologist, my family doctor, a neurologist and another doctor that wrote an article on itchy arms.
I am pretty sure it is allergies as I get the itchy arms in the late summer to early winter. It is a deep itch resonating from the nerves and that is why it never goes away. I hate taking drugs, but the only thing that works is neurontin. It kinda numbs or calms down the nerves. I would take about 1600 miligrams in the beginning(I think as it has been awhile) than taper to 800 when it has been in my system for awhile. The itching completely goes away.
Look up Neurontin on the internet. I haven’t been to a doctor since last year and my itching recently came back. I am tire of going to the doctor and sounding like an idiot, but I will be going soon as it can get very tough to sleep.
Trust me, neurontin is the way to go. I found the answer 2 years ago on a chat just like this.
Diane and Kim, thanks so much for posting your experiences with sun exposure and THE ITCH!! I always thought the sun was related but also was confused that the itching continued after the suns rays were less intense and the days cooling off so I was exposing my arms to sun less. I am very glad to hear that others are managing the itch with reduced exposure.
Kim, I am so glad that you found relief. You were really been suffering. Wow. I sympathize, I was so sad and frieghtened to think that each year I would have to suffer so.
What a relief to not itch anymore! I am also much more confident, after reading both of your stories that this simple approach has returned our sanity and is allowing us to heal – both internally and emotionally!
I think I will have high levels of the suns toxins residing in forever perhaps? B/c I grew up sun bathing in So. Florida. I mean literally grew up basking as much of my skin as possible for the darkest tan imaginable until I left for college in DC at age 19! I think this toxity is with me for life perhaps? But it is managable now and I can acutally be in the sun (and expose my arms) without crossing over some kind of “threshold”. That is how I see it, a threshold; if I am careful I can lower it enough that I don’t itch. And I can lower it even more so I can tolerate some exposure. If I am not careful, I become slightly toxic and my body has begins to have an allergic response to the suns rays (radiation?) and responds with twinges of the itch. But as soon as I get the twinge I hide my arms and it goes away. I am not as fearful anymore when I feel the twinge either. And after reading your posts feel even less anxiety than ever!! SO THANK YOU both for your comments!! I think we are onto something!
Valerie!
Hi all you fellow “scratchers”…..I have been reading this site for a couple of months now and find it very interesting as well as comforting to know that I’m not crazy! The itching is maddening at times and so intense that without a good explanation of the cause, I just felt like it must be in my head.
I have had this itch for 20 years….I can pin point the exact time that I got it too. We were on vacation at Myrtle Beach and I got a terrible sunburn….I had welts on my chest and neck from sun poisoning and my arms were burned as well. Ever since that summer, I have had this damnable itch on my arms!! Mine seems to react to a buildup of sun exposure….or maybe it justs takes a good burning to start the cycle, but it usually doesn’t start bothering me until about July and ends around October. My family doctor told me years ago that it was a sun allergy and put me on antihistimamines, which cleared up my nasal allergies, but did little for my itch. I have suffered with this all these years thinking that part of it was in my head, but after reading all of your postings, realize that it is truly an affliction of some sort.
I visited a dermatologist last month and he told me that it wasn’t BRP because the itch only happens in the summer. BRP would make me itch all year long….any thoughts on his diagnosis? Anyway, he says its sun related and to stay out of the sun if possible. Not!! My husband and I do landscaping for a living so I’m in the sun all summer long. I will continue to check this sight for suggestions..considering a chiropractor next, but not sure how the itch and my back can be related.
Thanks for listening!
Vickie
Hey all you itchy arm out there…….
PLEASE…..PLEASE….PLEASE….
read the case study that Margot talks about on Sept 15 2008 posting. I have printed it out, and all we have wondered about, and thought about, turns out to be right on the money….Maybe now when we go to the Doctors we can bring this case study and they will know what we are talking about…
Wow….Wow…Wow…a real case study that tells what we have known all along….
Please take the time to find this and read it…..
Maybe we can get more Drs to understand what is really wrong with us…..
smalone
I come back to this site every fall when “the itch” starts Someone shoud do a creepshow movie…. Stephen King! Anyway, has anyone ever found vitamin D deficiency to be a possible cause. Is it sun related or lack there of…. I have been told that I am D deficient.
Martha,
I can’t say for sure, but I rather doubt your Vitamin D deficiency theory. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last summer and since then have really been concious (sp) of vitamins that help decrease your chances of getting breast cancer…..Vitamin D being one of them. I take 1000 IU each day in addition to pretty regular sun exposure, which of course, seems to be the cause of my problems, but I just can’t stay out of it. I would think that my D levels would be good,although I’ve not been tested. And I still itch from July through October. I believe it is cause BY the sun, not due to a lack of it or vitamin D. My personal opinion only, of course.
Okay, today I had a facet block. They numbed along my upper left spine, inserted needles while watching placement with an x-ray machine and they injected first a numbing agent (pain killer) then a steroid. It should start to take full effect anywhere from 3-10 days. He blocked the facets around c-4,5,6 and 7 where much of my disc deterioration is evident. The idea is to lower inflammation around the brachial nerve bunch on my left side, where my itching arm is, with the idea that reduced inflammation translates to reduced itching and firing of the nerve.
so far so good. No itching since he did it this morning, and no soreness of the neck area. PT also helped with some gentle manipulations to increase the rage of motion of my neck from left to right, lessening the stiffness that causes the inflammation. I’ll keep you posted, but this might be an option for you. First you need a doctor who will believe you – try the pain specialists, they believe you. Get an MRI for them to see and work with.
Vickie,
Definitely bizarre! A whole website dedicated to arm itch!!! Thanks for your input. I am beginning to think it is the sun. It has been worse since I have lived in NC and just spent 5 months in Hawaii where you know I was in the sun alot. I have been watching this site each fall for about 3 yrs now. Stumbled upon it the winter of ’06 while searching for remedies to this exceedingly annoying problem. Mine generally is from Sept. thru Feb. Then gone. Last year it didn’t arrive until Dec. Maybe less sun exposure last summer??? What are your best remedies? I only find ice packs to do any good at all. Affects shoulders thru mid arm and mostly my left arm…. weird. Also, doesn’t generally start itching until late in the day, evening or late afternoon. Can’t wear long sleeves.
I have suffered from the itching for 4 yrs. just by testing with different things my dermatologist put me on the antibiotic tetracyclin for 1 month I take allegra and hydroxizine aqnd use the ointment called Triamcinolone Acetodine Cream 0.1% and I have not itched in four months and I have been out in the sun, hope this helps someone.
Marta
Well, here it is September again and I had totally forgotten about itchy forearms until just now Googling to see what this incredible itch is all about, discovered this webpage and realized I had posted to it last year!
About three weeks ago I awoke with an intensely itching spot on my upper right arm, and it was a small crater. I suspected a spider bite, and the next day clobbered a small household spider under the nightstand.
Now with both forearms driving me crazy (with no visible sign of rash), I am wondering, could this be a spider bite reaction? What about the seasonality? We know mama spiders need to eat a lot in the fall to grow an egg mass. Could one spider bite in one place result in a few months of this intense itch?x
Martha:
I have found that the only thing that will STOP the itch is ice packs….but there are several things that I do that helps keep the itch to a tolerable level. Anything that has a menthol base and a cooling affect helps, such as medicated shampoos(applied to the arms) and ointments. My dermatologist also prescribed Pramazone ointment which seems to keep it under control for short periods of time. I also take Claritin every day, since we believe it is a sun allergy, and that also helps a little. Unfortunately, there seems to be nothing that can cure this aggrivating condition, outside of staying out of the sun completely!
Alright, not one person responded to me. I am serious, look up neurontin because I think it is nerve damage due to sun exposure. I don’t know a lot about the nerves, but neurontin focuses on the nerves and it completely stops my itching. It works better than allergy drugs, cold packs or creams, as I have tried all three.
Trust me, just try it. It will work. Plus, the drug isn’t really potent so the side affects are minimal.
Ok, if its the sun as many people think it is, then why does it really start to bother us in the fall when there is less daylight and less sun?????? Thats what confuses me…..
I also stayed out of the sun all summer long so its not because I had too much sun this summer….
Maybe its because we arent getting enough light or sun this time of year…….
I have to agree with that Cheryl…excellent point!
I didn’t get as much sun as usual this summer due to other issues…so I totally disagree that it’s the sun.
I haven’t itched BAD since December of last year, and the past 2 nights I’ve lost sleep again from it…! I am SO disappointed! I thought it was GONE! Nope….! So, I guess now I know I start in the fall too. This time, it’s my right arm…and not the left arm. Left arm typically gets more sun (driving, etc) too…
I personally do not think its the not sun not for me. I spent all summer either in the sun or the tanning bed and I am still not itching since the doctor put me on the meds I talked about. I wish someone would come up a cure for this.
From my own personal experience, it seems to be from either an excessive amount of sun or from a buildup of sun exposure. If I get a bad sunburn early on in the summer, then it starts then. If I avoid a sunburn, but continue to get sun exposure over the entire summer, then it starts later, like July or August and lasts until October. I feel like the sun damages the nerves in my arms and it takes a couple of months for them to repair themselves after the sun exposure lets up. It is the same for me every year! And in my case it can’t be due to a lack of sun, because I live in Tennessee and the sun is quite warm here until November and I’m out in it all the time. It just seems to be due to excessive amounts of sun. A person could drive themselves crazy trying to figure this out!
I don’t think it’s just the sun either. Mine starts in June and in Calgary there’s not alot of super warm weather much before then. I do know that when I get my back manipulated around the C5/C6 it tends to help. Now having said that about the sun I definately feel, for myself anyway, that the sun exaserbates it. I feel that way because when I’m driving and the sun is hitting my arms through the windshield my arms just go crazy and I have to find something in the car to cover them up with while I’m driving. Anyway, when we are at the pearly gates we can ask God what this incesant arm itch was all about haha!
It is interesting that many people have the spine issues with this arm itch problem. I, too, have a badly herniated disc in the lower lumbar area L1-4. Last night I suffered with arm itch, back pain (both with ice packs:)) and acid reflux from the pain medication for my back that didn’t help. I am a normally healthy, active person but this stuff is CRAZY! And then there is the hormone question. I do still think it is sun related; either too much or not enough. It is enough to make you insane! LOL….
I live in Northwestern PA and my itch seems to start when the daylight hours start getting shorter in the fall……and it starts to go away in the spring when the days start to get longer……so even if it is my neck problem in C4 to C6 why does it only really bother me now? and not in summer?
1. People with kidney disease get the same itchy arms which indicates toxins in the blood for them.
2. I seem to have control
(a) By cutting down on sugars (which seem to heat up the blood flow
(b) By cutting down on artificial additives and junk food
(c) By gentle accupuncutre on the spine (keep trying till you find an accupuncturist whose efforts work).
(d) By improving upper back posture by gentle exercise
(e) By taking nervous system vitamins – B, Magnesium and the Omega ones.
By doing the above, the sun no longer affects me at all.
Eight years of misery, three of control. Pretty fantastic and I will never take it for granted. I haven’t needed accupuncture this year and it is as if the itching part of
my brain has relaxed. The accupuncture (two years of it) seemed to help my brain let go the itch. I know I am no longer so intimidated by it.
I know this has been discussed before but just wondering your points of view. MOST of us on here are women. What is the mean age? 40-50? Is this at all hormonally related. My itch problem never started until I was about mid forties. And the toxins are all from things we crave; i.e. chocolate, coffee, fatty foods, etc. Just wondering…..
Martha-
I have been reading these posts for almost a year and there DOES seem to a common thread of most of us being in our 40s when itch starts…..most have some neck/spine/disk issues as well, and the sun thing seems to vary…..some stay out of sun and still suffer, some suffer more in summer, some (myself included) get worse when we are NOT in the sun…i.e. winter months. My itch is bad in winter, but as soon as spring hits and I am in the sun, it is much better. So almost like a Vitamin D withdrawal thing…..but I also have neck pain, so I try to do some neck exercises and it seems to help. I also use some topical treatments, ice, and generic Neurontin when really bad. Usually just an Advil PM is enough to get me through the night and allow me to sleep. I think it is a combination of sun exposure (or lack thereof) and neck issues, which make the nerves already vulnerable. Why else would it only affect the upper arms, when I am evenly sun-exposed and “tan” over my entire body? So I think it is related to both sun and neck.
I have had BRP for probably close to 20 years and have found ways to cope most of the time. Here is a new wrinkle…I have BRP in the summer and it does seem related to sun & my old neck problems, but it stops in the fall and I begin to have very severe itching on the palms of my hands (they get sore & flaky if I don’t use steroid cream), and also a severe rectal itch. I don’t have either of these in the summer. They seem to come as the BRP is going away. Has anyone else experienced such symptoms?
I’m finally back on here. Kim, thank-you for posting about the doggies, that you don’t think it is related. You are probably right.
Another thing I’ve wondered is if it might be the water. In Washington State I had two dry spots on my hips during the winter, and I figured out it was when they were treating the water (chlorinating). Hmmmm, I wonder if that might be the case in AZ. I had a guy come out to estimate a soft water system and I told him I didn’t think the water seemed all that hard, and he said “wait until summer”, your glasses will have a chalky whiteness to them in the dishwasher (and they do). He also said that the water would come from xxxx river during the summer (a different place than it normally comes from). So, my inquisitive mind is trying to find a reason for the itching (besides the sun) that makes sense. Anyone else wondered about the water? I know we are not all crazy.
Judith,I did not realize that one of the signs of kidney damage is itching. Some of my kidney tests have come back just a little off, but not enough for the Dr. to worry about them. Hmmmmm, I’ll keep that in my back pocket.
Hang in there to all my itching buddies, and thanks for posting.
My understanding is if there are kidney issues it is the entire body that itches not just a specific area.
Thanks Susan for the clarification on kidney issues. I don’t think it’s my kidneys, but I found it interesting.
Oh Valerie (and Kim), I forgot to thank you for the info. on the sun. I will try limiting my exposure and wearing sunscreen. I’m going to try Valerie’s “umbrelle” sunscreen by loreal.
About the kidney itch, I was with a friend who is on dialysis and both her arms only were itching either side of her elbow and nowhere else. She said she got it before dialysis. We are such interesting people.
I did so appreciate the brain article referred to about a month ago and about retraining the brain to react differently.
Please read this! There have been millions of sudies done and nothing concrete ever comes from it, but some say that fermeldehyde affects it along with the phosphates and bleach in your cleaning supplies which are trapped inside your house in the fall and winter. I know of some things that will help! Safer more natural cleaning products for your home and especially your clothes! Also, Renew lotion is amazing! It clears up excema in two weeks and is proven to be 7x more effective than eucerine. e-mail me if you have any questions.