severe itch

i have a severe throbbing itch on both of my forearms. Seems to only happen at night with no noticeable rash or bite marks. Itch creams offer no help and i have even used an elimite cream thinking it was a parasite of some sort. I am loosing a lot of sleep and need help.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be due to brachioradial pruritis. It is an intense itching sensation of the arm usually between the shoulder and elbow of either or both arms. The itch can be so intense that sufferers will scratch their own skin to a bleeding condition.

No cure has been found. The only thing that seems to help most sufferers is the application of ice to the area until the itch is diminished. Other treatments include cooling lotions like those containing camphor or menthol, capsacain or local anesthetic creams, amitriptyline and gabapentin tablets and electrical cutaneous nerve field stimulation.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.