Itch

[Relentless05]

Hi,
About 8 days ago I had a minor itch only on the top of my forearms and inner parts of my lower leg.
The skin gets slightly irritated from the scratching but there is no rash.
The itching just doesn't stop, even when I place a cold bag of water on it.
I have tried 25mg Benadryl and still nothing.
The itching may subside for about 10 minutes and then it will start back up.
The itching seems to go away when I fall asleep.
Any suggestions?


This discussion is related to can't stop itching.

[Rowena Santos, MD]

How are you? There are numerous causes of itching or pruritus. It could be confined to a certain part of the body such as dry skin,  atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, or eczema. Or it could be caused by systemic disease like in kidney, liver, metabolic, nervous or blood diseases. It can also be hormonal especially in pregnant women,  exposure to some substances such as allergens, insects or medications and skin diseases.

The management of pruritus relies heavily on establishing the cause and then either removing or treating the cause to prevent further itching. In many cases, tests are necessary to determine the cause; while these are in progress, treatment to provide symptomatic relief of pruritus may be given. Topical treatment may include:cooling the skin with wet dressings or a tepid shower, calamine lotion which are both not effective in your case. Regular use of emollients,for dry skin and mild topical corticosteroids for short periods.

Other measures that can be useful in preventing pruritus include avoiding precipitating factors such as rough clothing or fabrics, overheating, and caffeine, alcohol or spices. Fingernails should also be kept short and clean. If the urge to scratch is irresistible then rub the area with your palm.

I hope this helps. Take care and keep us posted.