skin itchy in the evening/lying in bed

[wolf30]

Hi

For the past 6 months I have been plagued by really intense itching all over the body which prevents me from sleeping every night. It is really affecting my life now and driving me crazy. The itch feels like something is crawling on my skin. The itch can be anywhere from my eyes, face, groin, anus, soles of my feet, etc. I do notice that it tends to itch a little bit more in the lower half of my body. I noticed most of the time it happens in the evenings or when I am lying in my bed. I thought it might have been bedbugs or mites or something so I tried washing all my sheets, blankets, pillows. That didn't work so next I switched all the sheets, blankets, pillows, etc. Still was happening, so i switched mattresses with my father and its still itchy. He doesn't seem to have any problems with my old mattress and blankets, and sheets. I also don't really see any rashes on my body. I went to my family doctor
and he prescribed antihistamine and hydroxyzine, and reactine. None of that stuff worked. I also switched from soap to body wash and then dove hypo allergic soap  thinking it could have dry skin and also tried to put lotion all over my body right before I went to bed or after showing but that didn't solve the itch.

My family doctor sent me to an allergerist and she did a allergy test on my skin where she pricked it with a needle or something then put drops of chemicals on my skin. The results well negative except one thing, I forgot what it was but she suggested that it may have been positive due to me taking those medication the night before seeing her. She told me to take a blood test which I did and she said she would call if anything was wrong with my test results and also if I want to go see her again in 2mths time, that was back in february, I have an appointment with her again this august.

I have also been to a dermatologist and they gave me reactine, tiamol/comphor/menthol cream but none of that stuff works. I also did another blood test for them. They said the results looked fine. They couldn't figure out why it was itchy either. They suggested I do light theraphy, so I am in the process of trying to do that.

This is really frustrating and driving me crazy. Please help!

[Doobie3333333]

I know this thread is old, but I came across it last night. I've had this problem all of my life and last night couldn't tolerate it so did some web research. I decided to try a green/natural remedy just to see if it worked - and I'm so happy to report that it did! A whole night with no tossing and turning or feeling as though I was being attacked by fire ants. I put 7 drops each of eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree essential oils into a clean spray bottle with 1 cup of distilled water and sprayed my pillows, comforter, and sheets with it. Immediately I noticed a change and slept like a baby all night. I read that these essential oils are known to neutralize and maybe even kill dust mites, which I think might be my problem since I'm really careful about moisturizing, using non-irritating/natural products, having a good diet, and lowering stress, etc. I had these oils on hand but you can get them for pretty cheap on Amazon or in the store and it will last a long while; at any rate in the long run, it's cheaper than buying the dust mite sprays you see. I plan to spray my mattress and carpet tonight. I hope this helps someone!!!

[jbpeperoni]

PLEASE LISTEN IM NOT SELLING YOU ANYTHING BUT I THINK I FOUND THE CURE, please please have a bath every day with some sort of moisturising  bath liquid in (in the morning if possible) or at night if that's not possible. And try to get as much sunlight as you can, a common theme that i have found is people don't get enough sunlight/natural light, and exposing yourself to that can also cause the 'itch' but it's NOT a bad thing, and unfortunately you have to go through it and eventually it won't be a problem. Even if you have to drive somewhere secluded and have a picnic on your own, or walk around i beg you to do it, because i know how bad it is and this is what cured me. Although if i didn't do this im sure it would come back so im not 'cured' but i can't emphasize enough PLEASE make sure you take a BATH not a shower every day with some kind of moisturising product in!!!!!!! That's the biggest thing! We think that moisture will cause us to itch more, TRUST ME it  might solve your problem on its own to take a bath with what i said ANY moisturising product in it.

THE SUN IS YOUR FRIEND!!!

GOOD LUCK and i hope i helped you

[adspeed]

This whole body itching-- top of head to bottom of feet-- just started a couple weeks ago for me. Sometimes it happens during the day, but it seems to ramp up as evening falls. Especially lying in bed, it gets worse. Several times I have woken myself up because I'm scratching myself, which I don't want to do-- it's temporary relief, but I don't think the scratching will actually help. Sure enough, if I wait it out, it will eventually go away and I can sleep, as if it is psychosomatic. But if that's the case, why would it wake me up in the middle of the night? Haven't started using new lotion, changed my diet, changed detergent, nor have I bought any new clothes. I have wondered if the water in my apartment might have something to do with it-- about a month ago it started to smell strangely, a difficult smell to describe. I even got paranoid that it was bed bugs, but there are no signs (blood, adult or baby bed bugs, bite marks, etc.) to indicate that there are any. Besides, sometimes my partner stays over, and they never have any ill effects from sleeping in the same bed. Even when I sleep on my couch, this still happens... I'm gonna see a dermatologist, so if I find out anything useful, I'll report back.

[Ackiy80]

This makes a lot of sense. Why don't you try a good moisturiser... No nonsense no perfume etc. I read an article that suggested that shower before going to bed. Dab off excess moisture do not dry and apply a moistureising  cream. During the day you can use a lighter moisturising lotion.
I am going to give it a go.
My problem by the way is it comes and goes... worse during the summer. It is liveable during the day most days but I can get relief with various creams and lotions including Vaseline. I swim for an hour each day and that gives me relief if anything, for a time at least. At night when in bed, my body heats up and away it goes. My back, sides below my arm pit, under my belt, and ankles are the worst. Most nights I get relief for long enough to get stints of about three hours sleep between applications of lotion. Greasy Vaseline type ointment maybe a bit longer but I find them messy and uncomfortable at first.
Good luck to all you unfortunates.

[LisaLove1023]

Ice packs & eating crushed ice have helped to ease the symptoms for me. I try to hold the ice between the roof of my mouth & my tongue as this is a suggestion for people with rosacea, which I also have. I also take 2 advil pm, 2 benadryl, and Xanax, along with super querceritin blend from the health food store.

[Lilly_jane]

hi there everyone, i have the same problem hense why i am writing this at 4;10 am, i can not sleep for the life of me, i have been to the doctors and hospital and it turns out i have gall stones and i am needing my gall bladder removed but one gall stone has got stuck in my bile duct ( the tube between you liver and bladder) which is preventing my liver from working properly, i know have jarndous ( i dont know how to spell it but yellowing of the eyes and skin due to my liver now working properly)   i am constantly getting in the shower and putting cream on taking piriton, nothing works!, so if i where you guys i would egt checked for this! cant wait for my operation! sooner the better i have forgotten what sleep is! hope you all get an answer to your problem soon!

take care
Lilly Jane
:)