itchy legs

[tar26]

My legs get really itchy after shaving and at night while sleeping I start scratching them sometimes even without realizing it. And now I have scratches and marks everywhere on my legs, they don't seem to disappear. This is really embarrassing. Any ideas of what should I do? I've tried some balms and home made remedies but they don't seem to work!! :'(

[meeks17]

I have atopic dermatitis on most of my body (full legs, hands, elbows, back of arms, bottom of back). Atopic dermatitis is a dermatitis/eczema. Lots of people have it and unfortunately don't realise they have it and/or don't know how to treat it. I struggled with it for 8 years before a doctor finally gave me a punch hole biopsy, took a sample of my skin and sent it away to be examined. Extremely easy procedure (20 min) that can be done with any GP. Results came back a week later and I was diagnosed with Atopic dermatitis. Sounds simple but I was at the point where I had barely any skin left on my legs because I had scratched it off (was alot worse when I'd try lay down and sleep). When it's on such a large area of the body and it pops up randomly one day (not since birth) most people put it down to dust mites, shaving or ingrown hairs ect. Once I knew what it was the doctor put me on a high dose of oral steroids for about 3-4 weeks. This completely cleared my skin and any infections from the scratching (my skin was so inflamed and torn it was extremely painful and uncomfortable, felt like I was burning from the waist down). Unfortunately you can't continue taking oral steroids as over time it'll give you much worse, life threatening health conditions like brittle bones, thin skin,  gland shut down and withdrawals could send you into shock. Once I had come off the oral steroids the dermatitis began to return so the doctor prescribed me a steroid cream called betnovate ointment 0.1% 30g. I use it sparingly, rubbing it into my skin in circular motions. I do my entire legs every morning or second morning and I moisturise at night. My legs are completely healed and clear, with only scars left over which will fade over time. Make sure to use steroid cream sparingly as if you use too much too constantly you will get hives which disappear within hours but still better to avoid them. I always thought I had a ingrown hair problem because it honestly felt like when the hair would grow back it was unbearable and I thought maybe my hair is too thick for my pores. But even when the hair had full grown out it was still itchy and was always worse when id try relax or sleep. There was always blood on the sheets from me scratching in my sleep. It was so embarrassing and put me off going on dates and wanting a relationship. I was still struggling with it when I met my partner now and he has been by my side and extremely understanding the whole time. In fact if it wasn't for him I probably would have gave up and never fixed it. It was so exhausting trying to find answers and getting the same unhelpful responses. Anyway long story short, go to your GP, request a punch hole biopsy, if results come back positive, begin treatment :) hope this helps somebody, im sure it will. I know it seems like alot but once you get into a routine and just take that 10mins every morning to rub the cream on, you'll feel like a new person :) good luck.

[tar26]

Thanks, I should maybe try Vaseline. But do the scars fade away?  

[Caryopteris]

I get winter itch, which I always believed to be eczema.  The lotion that worked for me was Vaseline Intensive Care Smoothing or Skin Firming.  It is in a blue bottle.  It is hard to find but you can find it on line.  It worked for my dad, also.  

Now it turns out I have psoriasis, so I don't know if my winter itch had anything to do with a mild psoriasis, but it didn't look like psoriasis.  But for the areas that get a thickened plaque, I find Psoriaflora works great.  

Another option would be to use an antibacterial cream to heal those scratches.  I like Neosporin CREAM (not ointment) with anesthetic.  Make sure it says it has the anesthetic, which should help you stop scratching.  For soap try Dove Unscented or a tea tree oil soap.