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itchy legs

hey guys! was actualy surprised to c so many ppl having itchy legs! and more specifically, the lower limbs, below the calf muscle, on the back of the legs.. i went thru a lot of posts here, n i can c dat a LOT of ppl get an itch after shower/swimming. well i too get extra itchy after a shower, but my legs itch otherwise also, for no rhyme or reason. although i havent tried any of the creams n lotions, i have been using herbal soaps for like my entire life, but this problem started just a month back. being a dietitian, i have already tried an elimination diet to check for food allergy, but NOPE. this thing isnt an allergy. m planning to seek help from a doctor soon. but till then, those of u who have suffered this for a longer time, cud u suggest some ways apart from alcohol/anaesthetic creams? n does this constant itching give u dark marks or nail scratch marks on the legs? pl help..


This discussion is related to Itchy legs, no sign of rash or irritation.
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Avatar universal
I've had a similar problem for years. While many suggest its related to shaving legs or nylons, I can attest that it's not, nor is it limited to women.

I regularly use baby powder on my legs and that seems to help. I'm going to try limiting my sugar intake as well.

However, the most helpful thing yet has been knowing its not just me and knowing that the Dr who told me it was "no big deal" needs to go back to school.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi.

I'm also suffering from this horrible problem since I was a child. Through the years I gradually developed my own theory. I always thought of it as the result of the skin pores being forced to close due to cold temperature. The areas usually affected are those which are, most of the time, covered with cloth since the skin on these parts are still soft and sensitive, unlike the exposed parts which are more firm and inelastic. When the pores close, the nerve endings send messages to the brain which in turn translates them as irritation or itch. I live in the Philippines which is a tropical country so this problem occurs only during rainy seasons or after a cold shower. So what I do is to have a hair dryer ready and use it when the itch attacks to make the pores close faster.

Hope this helps.
Helpful - 0
563773 tn?1374246539
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
It can be due to neurodermatitis. The other possibility is of lichen sclerosis chronicus. Neurodermatitis develops when nerve endings in the skin become irritated, triggering a severe itch-scratch-itch cycle. Common causes of nerve irritation include an insect bite and emotional stress. In such type of itching, cooling lotions like those containing camphor or menthol, capsacain or local anesthetic creams, amitriptyline and gabapentin tablets and electrical cutaneous nerve field stimulation prove effective.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.



Helpful - 0
2173525 tn?1337746920
I  WAS having the same problem. For  about a month or so I would get VERY itchy legs, especially my lower legs, after showers. Worse yet I would wake up  in the middle of the night scratching like mad! I found this site and tried Hydrocortizone  cream as suggested in a comment here. It worked at first, but  still  I woke up itching like crazy. I tried different  itch relief lotions that contain oatmeal but they were of no avail. Then I accidentally  discovered something that actually works and happy to say I've been sleeping through the night peacefully for  a week now! :) Well any way I was shopping and had to get some Shower to Shower bath powder and picked up a different kind than I usually get. It contains chamomile.  And ever since I've been using it I never once woke up to itchy legs! :) Relief at last!!
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