Very itchy

[Very worried]

About two weeks ago I began feeling very itchy in my shoulders and head.  My head in particular was very very itchy.  Then I developed about 3 pustules on my shoulder.  Thinking I might have folliculitus (folliculitis), I went to my doctor.  She didn't find anything on my head and stated that it seemed like I had inflamed the follicles on my shoulder.  She also noted that I had a few inflamed follicles on my back and thighs.  (I am pretty hairy.)  She told me it was nothing to worry about as this was just how my particular skin was.  She told me to use an anti-bacterial soap and some neosporin on on my legs and shoulder and that should be all.  (I did as told, and the ones on my shoulders are essentially fading away.)
     However, its been a week since then and my head started itching again, plus my arms.  I have been scratching my arms a lot and started noticing a few red dots on my biceps.  When I leave them alone, they too start to fade.  What I have become a little worried, is that I have developed a few pin point, blood red dots in different parts of my body.  One on the back of my hand, one on my bicep, and one on the other bicep.  I'm not sure if they have been there for awhile, or if they appeared there after I scratched my arms alot.  I've been basically taking a wait and see approach.
     I have been under a TON of stress lately, and wonder if I have been agonizing over nothing.  I was also wondering if the dust from my futon has anything to do with my itching.  Before I first went to the doctor, I had slept on the futon itself, after I started itching I put a blanket down on the futon, and slept on the blanket.  I noticed that my itching started to subside, especially in my head.  Last night, however, I slept on the futon again, and this morning I woke up and my head started itching again.  So, now I'm wondering what I should do?  My doctor told me essentially that I was totally fine before.  I have no fever, no high blood pressure, no real fatigue other than tiredness from not sleeping, just itching and a few inflamed follicles.  Also, my t-shirts are kind of tight, so maybe they are rubbing against my arms.  
     Is this normal?  Could I just start itching for no reason?  Could the small pin point dots be from scratching?  Could the dust have anything to do with it?  Am I just worrying over nothing?  Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

In my experience, most people who itch with little or no rash do so from stress and anxiety.  Much of the time, the itch itself becomes the source of stress, just as you describe, which then perpetuates itself.

The fact that your doctor diagnosed and treated you as she did helps support this impression.

My advice is to go to the drugstore and get some Sarna lotion (OTC) and use it liberally every time and every place you itch.

If that doesn't break the cycles, check with your doctor again.  But Sarna (and not worrying!) may well do the trick.

The red marks may indeed be secondary to scratching.  The proof will be if they go away when you stop.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[amieallan]

I have been itchy also, but in my belly button. I was wondering how to stop the itching in my belly button.