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itching arm

About two weeks ago, my right arm started itching.  I have had this flare up in the past and it usually affects one arm or the other but never at the same time and the itching seems to be in one area of my arm anywhere from my upper arm to my wrist.  I did go to the dr. and he prescribed Zyrtec and told me to use Benedryl cream.  I have been taking the Zyrtec and using the cream, but it is not helping at all.  My arm is itching pretty much all day, but it seems to get worse at night when I go to bed which is now causing me to lose sleep.  I have been feeling stressed for the last six to eight months and I'm pretty sure the itching is due to that, but why did it just come on out of the blue and what can I do to make it go away.  
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Avatar universal
There is only one rx that I have found that works for this.
Betamethasone topical, generic Diprozone.  I break out every April and have been using this cream since 2009 with great results.
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Avatar universal
Mine is on the top of my elbow joint. Same symptoms. Just because I had some, I tried an anti-fungal, athlete's foot cream one night and it stopped IMMEDIATELY. I've also used ice, which helps too. I happen to believe it's a neuropathy, that is, a brain issue. Ever been hit in the head? Or maybe just an aging issue. Best of luck to all. Even tho it's not a fungus (I don't think), the anti-fungus cream helped instantly and lasted for a while.  
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Does anyone with the itching arm syndrome sit next to a heat source, i.e., steam radiator, heater while reading/watching TV?
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I use alcohol pads rub it over the area few times it goes away.
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Oh this is such a relief to hear something helps. I'm going crazy from my upper outside arms and back of neck itching mostly at night. I feel dumb cause I felt I was the only one in the world to have this and maybe it was in my head. I've lost so much sleep. It's extremely miserable.  I have tried every cream and allergy medicine with no success. My dr initially thought it was scabies and turns out that's not it. Whew I've heard of it but don't know really what it is. Now she has me on prednisone and steroid cream for eczema. I'm on day 4 of 5 it and no relief. It's such a struggle every night. Sorry for rambling but I am so miserable. Does it matter what kind of Clorox wipes? And is there anything else that might as well? And what is this from?
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1 Comments
PEROXIDE
Avatar universal
Thank you!
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Avatar universal
I have the same thing. It typically comes around this time of year when the air gets a bit drier. It itches more so at night but does flare up sometimes during the day and it mostly from my elbow up my upper arm just a bit. I do the same as you, put on hydrocortisone which only helps a little bit but mostly a cold bottle of water or an ice pack relieves the burning/itching. I'm gonna join the watch list and hopefully we'll get an answer!
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Avatar universal
I have the same thing. It typically comes around this time of year when the air gets a bit drier. It itches more so at night but does flare up sometimes during the day and it mostly from my elbow up my upper arm just a bit. I do the same as you, put on hydrocortisone which only helps a little bit but mostly a cold bottle of water or an ice pack relieves the burning/itching. I'm gonna join the watch list and hopefully we'll get an answer!
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Avatar universal
I have your same symptoms, I can't sleep and I'm sooo tired, it itches so bad that I bleed. Makes me almost cry, I'm using creams & pills, but no luck.... Please help me if you hear of any relief.. I've been to Dermatology, I think it may be time to go back, and say nothings helping!!!
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Avatar universal
Clorox wipes work.  I had many of the same issues as some of you with shoulder and back pain and was convinced it was nerves related to those.  On one of these websites, a guy said he accidentally used a wipe.  Thinking it was just the clorox, I used just the liquid bleach but that was a very temporary help.  In looking at the ingredients on the wipes, I'm not even sure they have clorox in them but there's something in those wipes that calmed the areas of my arms.  The first time I used them, it worked for several hours and then after subsequent usage, the sypmtom went away.  Once it seemed to be coming back, I used a wipe and it was gone again.  Such a simple fix so I wanted to add my comment here in case it helps someone else.
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Avatar universal
To all if you have to scratch use a nylon nail brush I use one and I scub till it stops itching .I find this doesn't damage my skin and does stop the itching. Chris
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I am trying Sovereign Silver, which is a homeopathic gel, to my itch  on my left arm and it has helped much better than the cortisone, Gold Bond, etc. but I don't know for how long.  Will try to keep you posted.
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Avatar universal
I have had an intese itch in the exact same 2-inch spot on the inside of my upper arm for over 6 years!!!!  It itches every day, yet there are no changes in the skin...no rash, no bumps, no flakiness, no discoloration.  Doctors can't find an explanation and the topical creams haven't worked.  What in the world can be causing this?  
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Avatar universal
try apple cider vinager works wonders
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try rubing apple cider vinager on it helps me
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apple cider vinager stops my itchy arms right away
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Did you have what i had the infection?Read my blog lea 0770/I am cured 100 percent
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Avatar universal
I have had this intense itch for many years now. Been to doctors and no relief. I had the pleasure of sitting down with a lady and her husband that shed some light on my problem.My arms itch when I get stressed or tired.This lady and her husband had told me of years of agony she had went thru.I will skip a lot of the story and tell you this part that is true as she told it. She had lost here children due to health problems that was so severe she could not function at full capacity.He husband had taken her to several hospitals in the Dallas,Tx area and to numerous doctors and spent thousands of dollars. She had said that all the doctors she had met told her it was in her head and no medical reasons would give a diffident diagnosis until she meet a sleep disorder doctor.Her husband explained that they admitted her for sleep testing and after several sleep test and blood test she had a actual sleep disorder. The doctor explained that there are four stages of sleep we go thru. The most important one is the dream stage and without the dream stage the nervous system does not shut down and therefor causing all kinds of problems. Now I know your not suppose to take drugs from people you don't know but they both insisted that I had the same problem she had and gave me a hand full of her meds. I was so desperate I would have made a deal with the devil if it would have helped. I rolled up my sleeves and that's when they said I had the same exact thing she had. My arms and elbows were bleeding and scabbed over. I only sleep maybe 5 hours if lucky and never dreamed.  She gave me the pills and the first one I took I could tell the problem was getting better. I continue taking these pills until I got in to my physician and he told me these pills were the strongest narcotic drug on the market.  He went on telling me that with these pills he knew what I was suffering from, Stress, Problem solved . I quit my job changed my lifestyle and started getting the necessary sleep needed and problem gone .Its back. I have been stressed out and no quality sleep,go figure.  Please forgive my grammer
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Avatar universal
I have it too, on my left arm..same symptoms noted....I use lemon juice. I squeeze a lemon slice while running it over my arm...it works.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the thread! I havet had a burning scratching arm for about 5/6 weeks! Unberably at night! Tried most of what people are writing about above! Got a tip the other day about a Ayurveda medication! Bought sametinget called Mucuna pruriens (atmagupta churna), some sort of bean that you mix with milk and water! AND suprasingly it helps, i can still fel that i want to itch and scratch but its nothing camparen to befor! Sorry for misspellings! Love from Stockholm Sweden
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Avatar universal
Use the clorox wipes to make it temporarily stop. But in order for it to stay gone you must take garlic and apple cider vinegar capsules by mouth because it is coming from eating bread containing yeast. Wikipedia bread and you'll see why. I've studied heath and natural cures for 12 years to be able to understand what ills people. because I don't want people miserable. God Bless you all!!
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I googled about my itching  and bumpy right elbow area and got this site. I get cold sore bouts on my face often, and discovered (at least in my case) that extremely hot  wet  compresses applied to the area seems to make a faster cure.I just put my elbow area under extremely hot  kitchen faucet water and it knocked out the itch. I will see how long it lasts!
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Avatar universal
Has anyone been to a doctor for possible renal issues?  I've had this on and off for the past few years and it typically came for the rainy season only (live in Hawaii).  Last night, at the height of the humid season and with our bedroom a/c on, it felt like someone was driving 50 needles into my left arm - on the forearm side at the elbow.  I had to get up and apply hydrocortizone (sp?) cream.  No rash, no dry skin, yes I'm a bit stressed - nothing new, no new medications, no change in diet, etc.  
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Avatar universal
I have also suffered with this. For me it  has always been on the arm that is on the mattress most. I sleep mainly on my right side since I'm left handed, and I like to have my left hand more available. I've done so much research on this, as it makes me feel I'm going crazy. The itching gets so intense, I've woken myself by itching. It's definitely worse at night, or only at night. I've tried Apple cider vinegar, rubbing alcohol, itch creams and allergy pills, etc... Some provided temporary relief but the itching always returned. Then I found in my online research, the culprit.         It was Scabies. Anyone can catch it, despite how clean you are. They are microscopic mites we can't see with the naked eye and live off human blood. They lay eggs in one main area (our arm, neck, etc, in an area that will stay warm). It's the eggs that cause the itching due to our bodies allergic reaction to the eggs and excrement of Scabies. Due your research, and/or speak to your Doctor, as there are specific tests to check for and diagnose Scabies. There is only one known cure that's medically accepted: Permathryn Cream 5%. You must follow specific instructions for getting rid of Scabies, both in yourself and your home. Do the research. It's worth it. I am now, finally, itch free. Good luck to you all.
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