My own skin is turning against me

I have been on treatment for 16 weeks out of 24 weeks the first 3 shots nothing then my skin started itching and was so very very dry.my doctor wants me to stop but she brought the head doctor in he said i could keep going they sent me to dermo clinic they gave me pills and cream now my skins hurts i can not walk on my feet my skin is cracking on my feet and hands clothes do not feel good next to my skin it feels like someone is sticking me i look as if i have been in a fire my skin is peeling or it is my pigmentation i cry a lot i think i am going to have to stop does this mean that the treatment is not helping me i do not want to stop is all this damage going to stay? i need help nothing is helping me PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!  The shot 180 The pill 1200

[copyman]

Sorry you are going through this. This can be the worst side effect of treatment for many people.

Dont stop! this is common while on treatment. Not always as bad as you describe but happens a lot. Did the derms give you Atarax pills? If not ask for them. Also you can try gold bond "extra strength" lotion. Oatmeal baths in warn water, not hot.

Drink plenty of water. Up to half your weight in ounces of water.

This can be treated most of the time to make it bearable. It will be worth it in the end.

Best of luck

[Mary4now]

I wonder if Argan oil will help at all, it has a very high percentage of Vit E.
I really dont know what you can do, I just feel for you.. I know Oatmeal baths can be very soothing.  I dunked a little one I was taking care of as he got systemic poison oak and the bath comforted him.  Good luck,
Mary

[Trinity4]

As copyman said, Atarax should help with the itching and also help you to sleep.  Aquaphor Healing Ointment or plain old Vaseline is also very good; it softens the skin and replenishes the moisture.  Apply a heavy coating to your feet at night and put some cotton socks on.  You could also do the same thing with your hands using a pair of lightweight cotton gloves.  While I was treating I developed a horrendous rash in both of my armpits. It was exremely painful and my skin looked as if I had been burned.  Then it cracked and turned hard and pulled because it was so wrinkled.  I could peel strips of skin off like we do with a sunburn.  I went to the dermo and he gave me a cortisone ointment which he said would reduce the inflammation but also dry my skin out even more.  He recommended I use Vaseline or Aquaphor Ointment and the Aquaphor worked very well.  Eventually if cleared up and I managed to keep the rash and dryness under control by using the ointment daily.  I also applied a light coating to my body daily.

Don't give up, I know you're miserable but you only have 8 more weeks to go.  24 weeks of treatment means you're a geno 2 or 3 with around an 80 percent chance of SVR.   Drink plenty or water and keep on top of the rash.  Ribavirin is more than likely the culprit and after you stop treatment your skin will start to heal.

Hang in there
Trinity

[starwalker981]

Hi:
I had terrible itching and dry skin that nearly drove me mad. I tried 'EVERYTHING'. Finally my girlfriend in America suggested I try Bag Balm, which is normally used for skin problems on cows and other domestic animals (charming, eh?). She sent me a couple tins of the stuff. You can get it in Walmart and a bit alarmingly in TSC! It absolutely stopped the itching and cleared up the Riba rash. I haven't had a problem with itching for nearly 2 months now. I absolutely swear by it.

One thing I have noticed is that if I do not drink enough water throughout the day, my skin is the first thing that is affected. I don't think I can emphasise enough how important it is to down that water.
Best of luck to you-
Star

[Susan_1a_CC]

I, too, would recommend the Bag Balm.  It also has antibacterial properties which help prevent further probs when skin cracks.  Oddly, or not, the back of my right hand feels like an alligator so, I've been loading on the bag balm and then a pair of socks, and it's really helped with the dryness.  I also find that I have to use a very heavy cream on my face.