Dry skin

I am concerned about what is happening to my skin. I have for years, when under stress (always) get little bumps on my arms that are very itchy and have many scars on my arms from scratching, I reduce this by cutting my nails very short, no over the counter medication works to releive the itchiness or the rash.  Recently (the past 2 year) I periodically get this same itchyness on patches of my scalp (not dandruff).  More recently (last 6 months) I get dry skin patches all over my body (leg, thigh abdoman,buttox,waist and upperarms) these are not as itchy.  All of these symptoms come and go as they please, I can not make them go away and have been unable to trace down what causes the flare up, they don't always appear at the same time.  I have tried eliminating certain foods and taken up meditation with no relief. Is there something out there that works?

[National Jewish Health]

Your description suggests a skin condition known as Tinea Versicolor, but the diagnosis can only be made by direct observation by one familiar with the common skin disorders and this may have to be a dermatologist.  The cause of flare-ups of skin conditions such as this one is seldom discovered.  This should be a treatable condition.