itching arm

[Tannin]

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.  

[ivantts]

wow this is going to make me crazy go back to the dr tomorrow  and no joke if what i get dont help i am going to torch my arm i played chicken with a cig we let it burn down all the way between are arms as a teen so i can take a burn and would rather have some short lived pain and a little scar then never sleep  im going to burn this mad itch away no joke its making me nutz  

[Ss6354]

I have been a sufferer of the itchy arm syndrome, I call it because cant get a diagnosis for it, for about  8 years, as like everyone else the same symptoms. I to have been to many doctors, have had 2 MRI on my neck, been to a neurologist , can't find nothing, my neck bone has been numb for years and when I run my fingers across the bone feels like electrical shock and really hurts, yet they say nothing wrong with neck. My itching,as with many of you, comes and goes with no warning, and when it hits it lasts up to 6 months. Ice packs are my only relief, I have made homemade arm bands to hold the ice packs in place so I can sleep. There is nothing in my life style that changes for example, don't eat any different, don't change or start different meds. Etc. My episodes usually flare up in the winter months but also has happened in the spring and summer. I to believe it is neck or back issues, nerves, etc. problem is doctors don't get it. As many I don't have health insurance and can't afford to go to the doctor as much as needed to try to get an answer. Not sure if I would go even if I could because as it appears many of you are going and still the doctors are ignorant to it all. I will try some of the things you all have listed for relief so I can get through this episode, I know it will just stop again for awhile until the next time. My sister also suffers from this irritation and has many neck and back problems. For me this does progress and gets worse, use to be just between my shoulder and elbow but now a little in my wrist. Also forgot to mention the itch is also in my face,chest, scalp, even my eyebrows, it hit fast and severe so I also want to rip my face off along with my arms. I really hope we all can find some relief for this or a cure.

[mamabear48038]

I feel like i am going crazy! My right arm only itches (feels like something is biting me) on the top of my arm only, from my wrist to my elbow and occasionly my right shoulder but not nearly as bad as my arm. I have had this in the past maybe about 3 or 4 times over the last 5 years maybe.I haven't kept track in the past when it starts or for how long i have it, but this time it started in October and i have had it for about 3 weeks now, it seems to be worse at night but some days it does affect me during the day. I have used Benadryl gel which does give it some relief, but I WANT IT TO GO AWAY PERMANATELY! Or at least KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS?

[Dannnyboy]

A few years ago, I had a very small,  intensely itchy spot on my arm.  At first the spot didn't look different from the rest of my skin, but after a while it got red because I scratched it all the time.  After a few weeks of unsuccessfully trying everything to relieve the itching I went to a dermatologist.  She did a biopsy on the itchy spot, but did not find anything unusual.  However as the small wound of the biopsy site healed, the itch went away.  So I figured whatever was causing the itch was removed by the biopsy.  About a year later a similar itchy spot appeared in another place on my arm. After a few weeks of suffering, I had the idea to remove the itchy spot myself by using a liquid nitrogen wart freezing kit.  The procedure is simple and doesn't hurt much, but it does leave a small  circle of dead, frost-bitten skin that turns into a wound when the skin comes off.  As the wound healed, the itch went away.   I have since developed one or two spots each year, which I cure in the same fashion.  It always works for me.   Hope it works for you.  

[Dannnyboy]

A few years ago, I had a very small,  intensely itchy spot on my arm.  At first the spot didn't look different from the rest of my skin, but after a while it got red because I scratched it all the time.  After a few weeks of unsuccessfully trying everything to relieve the itching I went to a dermatologist.  She did a biopsy on the itchy spot, but did not find anything unusual.  However as the small wound of the biopsy site healed, the itch went away.  So I figured whatever was causing the itch was removed by the biopsy.  About a year later a similar itchy spot appeared in another place on my arm. After a few weeks of suffering, I had the idea to remove the itchy spot myself by using a liquid nitrogen wart freezing kit.  The procedure is simple and doesn't hurt much, but it does leave a small  circle of dead, frost-bitten skin that turns into a wound when the skin comes off.  As the wound healed, the itch went away.   I have since developed one or two spots each year, which I cure in the same fashion.  It always works for me.   Hope it works for you.  

[rayvzer]

Another theory behind the itchy arm syndrome can be found here. For those of us with bad backs it is an interesting thought. I once had to go through 6 months of intense therapy because of a loss of feeling in my arm caused by my vertebrae being misaligned and many years of driving a truck causing it to have crushed discs.

http://www.drbaileyskincare.com/blog/a-new-explanation-for-intensely-itchy-arms/