itchy legs in morning

[darbee]

I am a 37 yr. old female. sometimes when i wake up in the morning my legs will itch badly. It will sometimes last for about 30 min to an hour. It is a itch that u cant ignore. I will have to sit down and just rub my legs till is goes away. This has been happening since high school. There is no rash no nothing just itching. But not every day. My mom said she did the same thing but it just finally stopped after a several years. Mine is still going on. I have read several things on your sight and other sights and im sure stress has nothing to do with it. When i was younger it use to happen on my arms to but that has stopped it is just my legs now. I really believe it is something you should study more. I have been to a dermatologist and he could see anything he gave me different lotions to try but nothing worked. One lotion was more like a gel and it seems that made it worst. it seems when the itching is occuring if i cover my legs it gets worst. any help??

[Cristiana_Felgueiras]

I have the same thing and it is not exactly the skin. Using creams or not, drinking water or not, cold water of warm. It is a blood circulation problem. I have internal varicose veins. Nothing much visible outside but hurts the hell out in some days, much more than people who has them highly visible. Go get an ecography to your legs, behind the knees and see if that is your problem. The only thing that seems to make the morning/after shower itch go away is to take the blood circulation pills forever. In a few weeks it will get better. If you stop taking the pills for a few days, the horrible itch comes back and then it won't go away immediately, takes a few weeks again. It's not a skin issue. It's inside. Also, I stopped drying the legs with the towel from the knee down. I allow them to dry on their own or dry them out with the hair drier in the winter if it is too cold to walk around the house until they are fully dry before putting the jeans on. Is not a solution, but helps.

[Rickmat]

aquagenic pruritus - Ive also had this for years, no cure just learned to cope with it.

[alokshar22]

Dear Dr Bhupinder, I have been having similar kind of itching problem for many years now, it gets worse if mornings are chillier, if I take bath with hot water for relatively longer duration. For past one month, I am getting the itching almost every morning, only intensity varies, sometimes more & some times less, I also get itching in my feet while driving to work. Recently I also got it on my face as well. I haven't used antihistamine medicine yet, In the past I have used  Castor-NF skin cream, coconut oil, aloe vera gel, homeopathic medicines/oinments/oils. They have helped in reducing the symptoms temporarily but I haven't been able to find long lasting solution. Interestingly, the itching remains after the trigger for about half hour or so (accompanied by skin eruptions with extreme urge to itch, redness in the skin and skin feeling hotter etc.), and after making an effort to subside/control the urge to itch with help of medication, oils/ oinments etc. the feeling to itch and skin eruptions disappear and do not come again for the rest of the day but next day morning the saga repeats. Can this be due to any infections, does it require a blood examination (what kind of blood test may be required, if any?). Isn't there any long term solution for this problem? Thanks

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Itchy skin that isn't accompanied by other obvious skin changes, such as a rash, is most often caused by dry skin (xerosis). Skin conditions like psoriasis,dermatitis,lice,scabies and hives, internal diseases like liver and kidney disorders,diabetes, iron deficiency anemia, irritation and allergic reactions to chemicals,wool,soaps,cosmetics and certain foods  can cause itchy skin.

You can apply an anti-itch cream or lotion to the affected area. Oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl can also be used. You should take a comfortably cool bath and wear smooth-textured cotton clothing. Covering the affected area with bandages and dressings can help protect the skin and prevent scratching. You should choose mild soaps without dyes or perfumes and use a mild, unscented laundry detergent when washing clothes, towels and bedding.

Pls take a second opinion from a dermatologist if the symptoms persist. He/She will start with the specific medications. If an internal disease is found, whether it's kidney disease, iron deficiency or a thyroid problem, treating that disease often relieves the itch.Lastly,Phototherapy can also be tried.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Warm regards.

[jagesh50]

Most of these cases of itchy legs are due to ichthyosis,ie a dehydrated skin.Glycerine containing cremes help.