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My legs will NOT stop itching...

I'm 24 years old this month, female, I live on the west coast where it's always mild and cool for the most part, and NOTHING I do will stop my legs from itching. I lived in the midwest for awhile and noticed my legs itched a lot more there with the humidity, but it didn't stop when I moved back home.

It's so bad it wakes me up a lot during the night. I will scratch until I am bleeding and bruised, I'll even take a pumice stone to my legs on really bad days and scratch with that, but then my legs burn for a few days although I'd rather have that pain than annoying itching.

Things that seem to trigger/affect it are showering (particularly hot showers - but i'm allergic to hot water, i get white bumps and red patches from it), sweating, dry weather or humid weather, being cold in the slightest, if my legs rest on top of eachother while i'm laying down, shaving (although sometimes it stops itching for the first day).

I've tried switching soaps, detergents etc all that, I generally avoid any perfumed items. I've tried not shaving, and it makes no difference. After a month of not shaving I was still itchy, just more hairy. Aveeno products seem to be the best for my legs.

Moisturizers seem to actually make it worse for the most part. The only one that seems to help is Cetaphil.

It itches most on the backs of my upper thighs and lower legs but once i start scratching it itches everywhere.

Other issues I have include vitiligo on my legs, pelvis, and lower back, I've been told that is due to the fact that I am iGA deficient, which also causes me to get sick a lot. I am extremely hypermobile and have chronic joint pain. I take medication for anxiety/panic attacks/depression and I have switched meds a few times, no change on the itchy legs with the switching.

Please make the itching stop, I'm going crazy here =(



This discussion is related to Itchy legs, no sign of rash or irritation.
80 Responses
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Avatar universal
I am 32 and live in kansas, but I'm from Cali. I have the same problem and it feels so GOOD to scratch them. Mine are my shine,back of my thigh and front and back ankle and sometimes my caff of my leg. I have scars from scratch and sore. I don't know what to do.
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Avatar universal
I know it is an old post, i am just glad I am not crazy! That others do suffer from this
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Hello Arlene, I was amazed to read of your symptoms as just last night, for the first time, I suffered exactly what you described. And I think I know what might have been the cause. I'm British, so drink coffee rarely but three days ago I bought a new coffee maker that extracts ALL the flavor from freshly roasted, ground coffee beans. The first night I noted that I was visiting the bathroom rather often and was aware that things didn't seem to smell quite right...
Next day, more coffee, stronger smell and more visits. Last night, took my coffee at 8pm. By 10pm my right leg began to itch. My wife noted that I"d developed a corpse like pallor. Tried to go to bed but by this time the leg had begun to swell, erupt in tiny red spots and was itching with such intensity I began to scratch from thigh to toes with my finger nails.
The symptoms gradually subsided within 3 or 4 hours and next morning I was pale but felt OK. I've stuck to tea since then and the smelly visits to the toilet are less frequent.

This has got to be the coffee. As a Britisher tea drinker I was a perfect subject for an experiment to see the effects of a high caffeine dose. I'm sticking to weak tea.

Hope this helps.







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1 Comments
i got excatly same stuff i itch them raw and usually worse wear my socks go up on my calf but thighs get it to what causes this feels so good to itch sometimes tops of my legs feel numb i to live in midwest plz help if find out any info about this Thank you
Avatar universal
Hi,though the post is old,yet can't resist putting my answer.I have had some what similar problem.Recently I tried taking an antacid when itching started..n it worked.I suffered for many years ,consulted doctor n tried so many things.In my case it turned out to be acidity.Its more after intake of acidic foods or some medicines causing acidity as a side effect.
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Avatar universal
I have same problem. It wasnt eczema, psoriasis in normal sense or an allergy. I have to use hydroxizine to stop it. It is a type 2 antihistamine blocker and tranquilizer. I take it 20 min before a shower. Mine is worse when I am stressed. It is related to central nervous system. Basically I get moisture on skin from shower or humidity and my nervous system sends wrong signals to brain that I itch instead of that I have goose bumps or moisture on skin. Doctor said could be either aquagenic psoriasis or aquagenic utecaria ... forgive me if spelling on those is wrong. Hydroxizine blocks the type 2 histamine receptors which is different from normal allergy pill or benedryl. It saved my sanity. I don't have to take it all the time just when its acting up.
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1 Comments
Thank you!  I have the "crazy itch" too!  I go out of my mind after a shower.  Stress does seem to make it worse.  It's definitely nerves.   The only thing I found that works is to to run cold water on my legs.  I literally stand in shower half dressed and m put one leg forward at a time.  I'm going to start taking zinc (previous blogger mentioned) and tak to dermatologist about hydroxide.  Thank you!  Seriously guys - try the cold shower.  It took me years to figure out - life/sanity saver!!!
Avatar universal
Not sure about your condition but I had a similar condition myself. My legs would itch for "no reason" and seemed to have no particular trigger. I visited "the best" skin doctors in my area and no one seemed to figured it out. Fast forward to about two years later I realized I had a zinc deficiency in my body and began taking zinc supplements (25mg per day). A few days after commencing on my zinc supplements the itch almost magically stopped. It was the best feeling I'd gotten in a long time. And I realized a few weeks after stopping my zinc intake, the itching is now returning. I'm no scientist but I doubt this unfolding of events is just a coincidence. Plan to resume my zinc intake and will update if there is any improvement. Good luck.
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Avatar universal
my friends have always always always commented me on my legs especially in the summer time.  Not that I have long sexy super model legs (at all), but they always say "your legs are so shiny and supple looking"...........well, it's because I use the Somaluxe Organic Firming Lotion.  There is NOT a better product on the market, if you want your skin moisturized and toned.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this Somaluxe lotion - it really makes your skin look and feel beautiful.
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Avatar universal
I've never been a soda drinker, only drink water and milk, and have had unbelievably itchy shins. My gyn told me it's something to do with peri-meonpause. Weird, but nothing seems to alleviate it - and I'm a no-soda, no-processed foods person, no allergies, so it's hard to imagine it's food related. I'm starting to believe my dr., though I didn't want to!
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1 Comments
I have same issue Dr can't find exact reason of my itchiness. Front of my lower leg is mainly affected of my itchiness. None of lotion or cream works I'm 50 year old woman btw :(
Avatar universal
I just put cold water on my legs and sit down and bent my legs for at least 10 muinets. And when they itched I just ignored it. Now my legs don't itch!!!
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Avatar universal
Thanks for sharing all. I think I am going to try cutting my soda intake and Epsom salt  baths.

I don't think sulfites are my problem because I rarely eat any of the foods on the high sulfites list.

I did notice it seems hereditary. My mom has a similar condition.

The first time I remember being really ichy was around 16. I am 34 now. As I get older it does seem to be getting progressively worse which is one the reasons I am on this site looking for more information.

I itch after showers or if I sweat at night. It will go away in about 30 min usually after a shower if I do not itch the aggravated area. If I itch it will take much much longer to go away. Patting down with a towel or rubbing my legs gently seems to be a much better option to distract myself from itching without aggravating it further.

Moisture seems to be the most common trigger, but sometimes temperature changes can bring on the itch.

The front part of thighs is usually my itchy area. It is less common, but sometimes I wake up and my back is itchy. Almost always the back itch is due to waking up sweating at night.

One of the things I have found that seems to help stop itching is using Curel Itch defense lotion after showers. At first it may make the area more itchy, but I noticed after using a few times that the itchy area is usually less aggravated the next time I take a shower.

If the itch gets really bad I can get relief usually in about 5 min by using a combination of lotion and baby powder. I put on the lotion to the ichy area and then applying good amounts of baby powder over the lotion.
The baby powder I think helps to soak up the moisture.

At night I also noticed doing things to keep myself from sweating helps to prevent itching. I try to sleep with layers of thin covers. This allows me to remove or add covers as necessary. It is important for me to keep my temperature at a level where I won't be too hot or too cold (sometimes my legs itch when cooling down).

A fan blowing a slight breeze can also help to keep dry.You have to be careful with blowing the fan on you at night though. I do, sometime do this, but it can make you sick if the breeze is too strong or too cold. ( I discovered never blow a fan on you at night if you are already sick. It will almost always make you more ill.)

Hope some of this info helps.

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Avatar universal
i've tried this after every shower. makes me want to itch more. :(
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Avatar universal
Aiene,

Have you found anything that works?  Your description sounds exactly like what I have.  It doesnt have any marks or bumps and unlike the others I dont scratch them at all bcs I feel it will make it worse.  My legs dont itch at all when they are not touching something (pants, bed).  I dont know if I would  really describe it as itching but it feels like when you touch the pink insulation that insulates the house.  Does this make sense to anyone?  Taking a shower definitly makes it worse if it is a hot shower so I have to take cold showers even in the winter.  Does anyone have any ideas for me?
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Avatar universal
I'm 14 and have the same exact problem. I've learned that olive oil helps with the itching but my legs are left with dark spots all over from where I have scratch. Is there anyway to get rid of these spots or will they eventually fade away?
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Avatar universal
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-hives/basics/definition/con-20031634

Chronic Urticaria is relieved with prescription strength Zyrtec....really does work.

I'm inclined to take the sulfate out of the diet cuz it's been about a year now....yeah, the burning in the shower feels orgasmic(and yeah, I've grown to love it), but it's not a cure and going swimming or being under a fluorescent light, you can see where the follicles are a bit pissed from the itching, the shower burning...jeesh, probably infected.

I'll keep ya posted - gonna try this tomorrow.  I did just get out of the shower....my nerves are still numb so I'm calm.
Good luck
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Avatar universal
I'm 11 I have really itchy legs , and whenever I scratch my legs they feel sore I always have an itch on the thighs or on the side of my legs and every movement I make it happens ... What should I do ???
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1_J
Did you get an answer on whether it is the calcium supplement causing your itching.  I just found out my blood calcium is high, I am taking calcium for osteoporosis but every time I take calcium for more than 2 weeks I start to itch and burn on my arms and legs and now my face.  Did a Dr confirm any diagnosis to explain why you cannot take it.  I am also lactose intolerance so I cannot eat dairy (which there might be a connection).  Thanks, I am also thinking that I am gluten intolerant but not sure if it was calcium supplement or gluten as I have stopped both and things seem to be improving very slowly.
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Avatar universal
I have noticed insatiable itching from waist down for a couple of years, mostly in upper portion of this area. My remedy was found by accident. I forgot to take my "Bone Care" supplement for a few days and noticed relief so I conducted a couple of follow-up test runs by taking supplements for several day, (condition returned), refrained from taking supplement for a few days, (condition not experienced). I have now been condition free for several weeks after having eliminated the supplement from my regimen. Blessings, timelylight
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Thank you....I've recently fallen off my gluten free diet and started this nasty itching.  I didn't have it while not eating it.  Your awesome!  Thanks again
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What brand of sea salt did you use??
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What kind of sea salt did you use?
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You hit the nail on the head.  In Florida the day the seasons change from summer to fall, almost to the minute my legs start to itch.  Then when spring hits summer the itching goes away.  Thank god for two things and I am not being religious here.  

One, in Florida although summer officially hits in June, it feels like summer March, so my legs stop itching.
Two, since I brush my dogs hair every day, I had to find a brush that would not hurt their skin since I usually brush stroke each dog about eight hundred times to get their hair to shine without hurting their skin from the amount of brushing.  That brush and I am not condoning scratching that itch, however, that brush has little hard plastic dimples on the end of each bristle and now in addition to brushing their hair with it I take it to bed with me and when I wake up in the morning I do not have any sores on my legs.

I can constantly scratch without even thinking or getting up out of a complete sleep with this brush and there is no damage to my skin let alone the type of damage I used to inflict on myself with my fingernails.   My thinking is if I am going to scratch then I do not want any other complications to breaking the skin.

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Avatar universal
So, I've read most of the comments and would like to add my own. I searched this because I'm suffering as well. It's only been a few months, but I had this last summer on the shins, but only briefly. Would scratch until I bled, but passed with the changing of seasons. Summer came again and it came back, only now the hot summer is over and I still have it, but much worse. I dig into my legs until I bleed and it spreads from the shins to the ankles, and sometimes thighs.
I have no answer, but the sulfite/sulfate allergy doesn't seem to fit in my case. Someone else suggested a vitamin D3/K deficiency, but I'm not sure about that.
Someone else suggested researching Candida, which struck a cord. I'm a 26/f and have been suffering from chronic yeast infections (sorry, gross). I went to a doctor and was STD free, so we really couldn't figure out what was causing it bc I was doing everything in a way that's meant to avoid a yeast infection.
But, I was at the dentist as well because my tongue seemed to be discolored (kind of yellow) and he told me it wasn't dental, it could be a bacteria and I should see a dr. The doctor couldn't really offer insight, but it's kind of coming together if it's a Candida-related issue. Yeast is obviously candida related, as can be bacteria on the tongue. I also read that probiotics can help eczema.
I started a 13 billion CFU/day probiotic regimen last week, to no avail, but we'll see if it helps.
Also, drinking enough water is probably a good simple remedy, too.
Also someone mentioned make sure your fingernails are clean. If you are going to scratch and break skin, it's probably better to not do it with dirty hands (or foreign objects i.e. hair brushes, or beer caps if you're me).
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Avatar universal
I am in my forties also and it is mostly the back of my thighs!  I swear it is going to drive me insane!  I soooo don't know what to do!  It just showed up one day and has been killing me ever since!
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Avatar universal
I know this is an old thread but I suffered the same things on my lower legs and nothing would clear it. It seemed to then spread to my thighs and hips. It was unbearable. Id been to the GP, chemist, health food shops and dermatologist to no avail. I then went and got Laser Hair removal done on my lower legs and since its been done I haven'rt had a single itch. The girl doing the laser treatment said my hair was growing back at an odd angle every time I shaved and it was causing the irritation and I made it worse by scratching. The relief when I got it done was unreal. That's what worked for me, if I hadn't gotten it done Id still be scalding myself in the shower for relief
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