Itchy legs, no sign of rash or irritation

I found a entire page on this discussion and noticed it was closed.

I too itch all over the bottoms of my legs, and my forearms. I was told I have eczema which I dont believe because I see no signs of rash. I was also told I have flat warts. So I was given topcort and sent along. A month later the itching became unbearable and seemed to only be at night or mornings. Was this related? Don't know.

I was finally tested for scabbies and was told I had them. Which I didn't really believe because it was just my legs and arms and not places where the mites would gather such as groin area, armpits and or finger and toe webs. But I used the elimite twice as directed anyways and the itching lessend but is was still present and in other areas like the tops of my arms and legs and I was told the medicine was very very drying and my skin was reacting to the bug carcus, larvae and feces which could still be present and it could take 2-4 week to feel relief. I have cleaned and vacuumed everything in my house.

It has been about 2 weeks and I have resorted to steriods, Atarax to sleep and scrubbing my skin with a pummice rock. I am hoping the itching calms down because I am beside myself. I have had no contact with anyone that could have reinfested me. Will this itching stop?

A WORD TO TRAVELERS: Take the blankets off the bed, hotels (even expensive ones) dont change those everyday like they do the sheets. Keep your luggage off the bed and the floor and keep it closed. You can bring home bed bugs or mites that cause scabbies (which you can also contract by shaking hands or close physical contact).


This discussion is related to Itchy legs, no sign of rash or irritation.

[Jensjj]

hi i think i can help u if u have scabbies. some of my family has had them. My mother went to the drug store and bought lice shampoo. Take the shampoo and rub it generously over your entire body cover with pjs and socks and sleep in it.  Wash bed clothes after u sleep in them. Shower the next morning. U may have to do this more than once. My mother done this on my niece and it worked. If nothing else just give it a try.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Permethrin and oral ivermectin are the treatment options of scabies. Sometimes there may be recurrent and chronic cases which may require oral treatment of ivermectin. Also permethrin has to be used head to the bottom of the feet, paying special attention to skin folds and the webs between fingers and toes and this cream has to be left for 10-14 hours. Sometimes itching of scabies persists for a few days after completion of treatment also. So if you have the symptoms even after stopping the treatment then please consult a dermatologist.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[hallie133]

I did use the Permethrin twice as told. I didn't apply it to my head because I was told not to..neck down.

The itching lessened for a few days. My dermatologist wouldn't test my skin because he said if the itching lessened, then the test would be negative. That medicine kills them immediately. The itching started again. I had no contact with anyone who could have reinfested me. I went to my regular doctor for relief and she gave me Atarax which didn't work and prednisone. I finally had relief.

I am on the third day of the steriod and the itching seems to be coming back on my wrists. I am beside myself and have spent so much money on doctors. This is affecting my life in so many ways.

[JSJ99]

I am a 43 year old male and I recently have developed the itching leg syndrome.
I have never had anything like this before.  Mine started all of a sudden on my lower legs and my forearms.  I scratched so much that I made sores appear.  My derm said that it was bed bugs.  So I slept in the floor on a twin mattress for a while after finding no evidence of bed bug and did a thorough cleaning. I don't stay in hotels either.  I slept in long sleeves and long pants.  It didn't help.  The cream that I got from the derm helped my arms stop itching.  But my legs have started itching on the back sides and insides, not so much the lowe legs anymore.  I itch from my stomach down.  It is worse when I get into bed and it is really bad when I get in the shower.    I don't take medications.  The only thing that I know that I am alergic (allergic) to is the chemical in the Just for Men beard dye.  I stopped using that when it turned my face read and caused constant itching.

I cannot figure this out.  As I said, it was sudden and has stayed with me.  My wife is unaffected by this and she sleeps right beside me.  This is unbearable.   I wonder if there is something common that we are using like what we clean our showers with or the detergent that we use to wash clothes with.  

[icklegirl]

my legs itch too :( its been like this for as long as i can remeber, i wake up most nights in winter and summer itching and cry nearly everytime, i went to the doctors who just gave me E45 cream but that hasnt helped, so i tried some other moisturisers and that doesnt help either, wether i bath or shower my legs itch, and shaving just aggrivates it too even tho i use sensetive EVERYTHING!! i dont know what to do ... im 21 and its ruining my life, i cant do anything i get frightened of shaving coz its a little worse but even if i dont shave for a while my legs still itch alot! i live in the UK and it feels like its just getting worse and worse :/ and also, my bed covers and long pyjama trousers seem to aggrivate it even more so i try and just wear pants to bed and have no covers its a little better but i will still wake up and itch for about half an hour.

[hallie133]

Still itching. Had to get predizone from my primary care physician for some relief but I of course can't stay on it forever. Now I know it isn't a bug or parasite because it is off and on. Sometimes I am fine and will go a few weeks itch free, then suddenly I start itching uncontrollably (until I cry to claw my skin off).

I haven't changed a thing that I eat, wash my clothes in, use on my skin. All is the same and the problem is intermittent. The only thing I noticed....I was fine, no itching for a month, then I went to a public pool two days in a row and the itching started really bad that night. I did get sunburned. Is it the sun or the chlorine?

Come to think of it other itcy times I was going to the tanning bed. Could I have developed some sort of illegic reaction to the sun?

If that were the case....It has been 4 days with no sun or pool and I am still having a reaction. Also the under belly of my arms that didn't get any sun are also itchy and have tiny bumps only at itchy moments.

Back to the dermatogolist I suppose for my 5th visit.