itchy arms

My arms have been itching now for three years.  Little bumps appear after I scratch.  My physician recommended changing my meds, which I did and didn't help.  Now is recommending taking fish oil for dry skin and lotions, also not helping.  I am 50 and post menopausal.  Could it be related to this?  I have chosen not to take HRT but maybe I need to.  What do you recommend?


This discussion is related to Severe Itching on arms.

[Dr_Aparna]

Hi,
Senile pruritis is thought to be caused by senescent or aging skin.This disorder may also occur with post-menopausal women.

As the akin ages, it contains less water the youthful skin. This, combined with exposure to cold temperatures and dry climates leads to fine cracking and scaling of the skin. This causes the itching which is associated with this disorder.

Your skin is greatly affected during menopause because of hormones. Basically, menopause throws a woman's levels of estrogen off balance, which causes the skin to become thinner and drier. When the body produces less estrogen - it produces less natural moisturizig oils via the oil glands - and the skin loses much of its elasticity as a result.
You can make sertain lifestyle changes and in your diet to deal with this issue. Please  check out the site I have quoted below on menopause.

Secondary causes to be excluded  are cholestasis, drug reactions and renal insufficiency.
ref:http://www.myelectronicmd.com/get_reference.php?Id=1192
ref:http://www.menopauseinsight.com/blogs/menopause_questions__answers/archive/2007/01/19/104624.aspx