Itching badly..

[yaseen_gem]

Hello,

I occasionally have itching (with rashes and bulges on skin). I am suffering from this problem from about an year. Mostly it happens in the evening and goes on.. It happens everyday. Only way to stop is taking an Atarax tablet..One tablet give me confort for about 3-4 days..  Then again the problem starts.. I have consulted general medician and Skin specialist.. Both of them did not give anything more than Atarax and Allegra 180. I am taking these tablets from an year.. But still once I leave the medicine, I have itching in a 3-4 days time. Doctros say soemtimes it is really very hard to find what I am allergic to.

What could this problem be and how do I know what I am aleergic to..
Is there any test / something, etc.

[yaseen_gem]

Thanks for the reply.. It is not localised to any part of the body.. It is the complete body that itches.. And it is very bad.

I do have a habit of spending a lot of timme in water.. Like bathing long, etc. But I have it since childhood and my itching started about an year back.. SO I am not able to correlate it.. However I will try for the rest of your suggestions.

Thanks.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Is it generalized itch on the whole body or it is localized to some area?

Itchy skin that isn't accompanied by other obvious skin changes, such as a rash, is most often caused by dry skin (xerosis). Dry skin usually results from environmental factors that you can wholly or partially control. These include hot or cold weather with low humidity levels, long-term use of air conditioning or central heating, and washing or bathing too much.

Other conditions cause itchy skin as well. Skin conditions like psoriasis,dermatitis, scabies and hives, internal diseases like liver and kidney disorders,diabetes, iron deficiency anemia, irritation and allergic reactions to chemicals,wool,soaps,cosmetics and certain foods  can cause itchy skin.

You can apply an anti-itch cream or lotion to the affected area. Oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl can also be used. You should take a comfortably cool bath and wear smooth-textured cotton clothing. Covering the affected area with bandages and dressings can help protect the skin and prevent scratching. You should choose mild soaps without dyes or perfumes and use a mild, unscented laundry detergent when washing clothes, towels and bedding.

Pls take a second opinion from a dermatologist if the symptoms persist. He/She will start with the specific medications. If an internal disease is found, whether it's kidney disease, iron deficiency or a thyroid problem, treating that disease often relieves the itch.Lastly,Phototherapy can also be tried.To find out whether you are allergic to something you can get allergy tests done by skin ***** tests and patch tests. In this a little amount of allergen is injected into the skin of the forearm by a doctor. The skin is closely watched for signs of a reaction, which include swelling and redness. Confirmatory diagnosis is by blood tests (RAST).

I hope it helps.Take care and regards.