Severe Itching on Legs

[Ferg2001]

Over the past few months I have had severe itching on my legs literally from top to bottom. I have tried Benadryl with no luck and I am constantly putting Calamine lotion on my legs. The Calamine lotion usually helps for about 15 minutes but then the itching returns. I am at my breaking point with this. The itching causes pain and it feels like needles on my legs. I scratch them so much that I have fingernail marks all over my legs and sometimes even brusies. This causes my legs to look horrible. I'm so ashamed that I won't wear dresses or shorts. I haven't been to the doctor yet just because everything I have read hasn't given me much hope on a clear diagnosis. This has been an ongoing problem usually I have the severe itching for a few months then it will go away and out of the blue will appear again. I haven't changed laundry detergant, soap, lotion, etc. Please any help or insight you could give would be greatly appreciated! I really don't know how much more of this scratching my legs or me can take!  Oh and I noticed on some of the other posts people who had the same symptoms as myself were telling where they live...I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not but if so I live in Alabama.

[4bearance]

I know this is difficult, but try to stop scratching.  I bear it for a couple of minutes and the itching goes away.

[Spookarena]

Good luck with that. Sure, that would be the ideal solution, but you and I both know it isn't practical. I really wish people would stop giving advice if they don't have any sensible  ideas. I'm aware you're only trying to help, but when someone is experiencing itching to the point of going mad, and they're at their breaking point, that's the last thing they want to hear. We are not talking about a little itch. This is a serious condition that lasts for YEARS. I don't think even the most disciplined of us could bear to "stop scratching" for that long :/

[Confusedanditchy]

Hey Talk2megoose,
I have had the same problem forever, does it happen most frequently when it's cold or breezy? Honestly, and I'm not totally sure, but I think this is more genetic then anything, it could very well be your skin type. I have very sensitive skin, what helps me the most is wearing tight clothing when I exercise. I know how annoying this is to hear, but you have to resist the urge to scratch it. When you exercise your blood starts flowing faster and your skin starts to heat up. I get it even if I just go for a walk outside sometimes. What I do is as soon as I can I wrap my legs up in a warm soft blanket and drink some water. And if I haven't itched it usually goes away within ten minutes. I started exercising indoors with tight clothing on, which has helped a lot. Make sure you are drinking a lot of water throughout the exercise and watch your body temp. Try buying some work out clothes from a sports store. I hope this helped!

[GSpix67]

I also suffer from these intensely itchy legs between knees & ankles, especially so during the winter months here in UK.

Someone mentioned that Folic acid might help, I'm not inclined to agree as I take 5mg tablets every day (helps towards a memory issue I have).

My own temporary solution so far that works for me is to basically scald the affected areas with hot water while in the shower. I use the jet/pulse setting and gently crank up the heat until I can feel it burning, then apply this to all the affected areas. My legs do sting a little after, but it does stop the itching for a few days. It might not exactly be 'healthy', but at least I'm not adding any other potential additives from various 'medicines' etc. until I find a permanent solution.

[Susankatherine]

Could it be ichthyosis? Try sanding your legs, there a few different things you could use. It sounds like a callous on your legs. Then use Shea butter or cocoa butter to keep moisturized.

[Susankatherine]

Could it be ichthyosis? Try sanding your legs, there a few different things you could use. It sounds like a callous on your legs. Then use Shea butter or cocoa butter to keep moisturized.

[Julesbeme]

I am so happy I've found all your comments...I suffered with this for years, it IS NOT due to dry skin, certainly not for me anyhow.  The doctor sent me for a CAT scan, to a neurologist but nobody could figure it out.  All I could do was put cold compresses on my legs or go out in the winter air with bare legs and that only helped a tiny bit.  I grew up in the prairies where it was dry as dry could be and didn't have it, moved to Nova Scotia and that's where I was when it started, it continued after I moved to PEI.  Finally it stopped and I have no idea why, no change in detergent or anything else like that but I always knew it wasn't something topical it just felt like a systemic type of problem (from the inside out).  I did divorce my husband though, maybe I was allergic to him lol.... anyhow it stopped.  Worse than that now, my 20 year old daughter has it and I had no advice for her until I read some of your posts.  

First thing I'm going to get her to do is boost her Vitamin D, I have no doubt she'd be deficiant, if that doesn't work then will research the sulfates she takes in....also plan to get her in for blood work to assess her Vitamin D, B etc. and perhaps allergy testing.  Whew at least we have something to try now.

Thanks so much everyone...it's nice to know it's not just us!