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Undiagnosed.. extreme itching! Cant take it! Help!
25 white male, good health, in shape, no history of skin problems in family.
Story:
Summer of 2008 (late June-ish) I started to itch a little bit at night.. which progressively got worse. To the point it was waking me up and/or preventing me from falling asleep. By August I start getting some small red bumps in the places I am most itchy. Primarily thighs, waist, stomach, back, and arms. We start off treating for basic itchy symptoms, like mites, scabies, etc. Going a few rounds with those, we notice no difference and my spots are only getting worse. As it starts getting colder, and I wear longer shirts/jeans.. I notice the rash spreading down my forearms, and calves. So we immediately get me into some all unscented soaps, free and clear detergents, off dryer sheets, and anything else my skin comes in contact with. Still no change, and getting worse. However the doctor also mentioned trying Zyrtec.. and in all reality, it does reduce the itch from INTENSE to very light by day, not much help at night. By November I have developed large (dime sized at the largest) crusty edged red spots all over my body. Especially my back, shoulder and biceps. By November, we had been through: Ketoconazole, Premethrine, Hydroxyzine, Cephalexin.
When I finally break into this nasty state, the doctor that I am seeing believes it to be Guttate Psoriasis because of the shape/look and does a punch biopsy on one of the worst spots and a throat culture to check for Strep Throat which is the main cause of GP. Results are in, and I have had an untreated Strep Throat. No conculsion drawn from the biopsy. So I get some Triamcinolone cream to put on my spots, a steroid of sorts im told, and **HERE'S THE KICKER**.. an antibiotic called Erythrocin 500MG ST TAB. It's a ten day antibiotic.. within ten days, I go from large scab like crusty bumps that itch to the extreme to almost completely back to 100% normal. My body loved whatever that medicine did, which I assume means it cleared the strep and my body responded by healing the spots. I noticed I did retain a very slight itch in comparison to where it was on the intense scale, but it would come and go, some days here, some days completely gone. But no bumps or rash anywhere. December 08 to April 08 I was just like that.
Starting in May, I started noticing that I was itching a little more at night. No bumps, just a slight itch, started the Zyrtec again by June. July it started getting intense at times again. Got appoinment to see a new dermotologist who after seeing my skin (hardly any small little bumps to even show) does not believe it's Guttate Psoriasis, 1) because of the response to the antibiotic that cleared me, and 2) thought it seemed more like Eczema. Continued to cut down on allergy-related stuff. No juice, back to cool showers, etc. August-September I started getting bumps again. Here it is beginning of October, and I'm starting to get larger bumps and bigger rash patches on my stomach, biceps and as always, my thighs. This doctor put me back on Triamcinolone cream and a pill called XYZAL. This pill does ok, but never lasts..
November 09: Got bumped up to a cream called Flucinonide. It works better than the Triamcinolone for sure, but still only about 6-8 hours and I have to re-apply. However, the spots that were getting bigger have disappeard, but im sure that the intensity of the itch has increased greatly, because when the Flucinonide wears off, its INTENSE and fast! Also, started waking up at the same exact time each morning itching primarily my inner thighs (which have always been the worst), and the back of my ankles. No matter what time I go to bed, 10pm, 1am, 3am and take my Xyzal and Flucin-cream, I have for the past 6 days woke up between 7:43 and 7:48 am. No alarm, no usual schedule of that, nothing.
My current dermotologist takes over a month to get into, and he seems convinced that its an allergy thing and wants to run a allergy test on me. I think it has nothing to do with allergies. I've changed everything I could possibly be allergic to around, tried different things, removed things, and nothing has made it any better, if anything, made it worse..
The only connction I see is that it's happening around the same time of year, but I dont even live in the same state anymore. I cant think it would be anything seasonal, cause its still warm here.. and not back where I was from. But this time, no big crusty bumps, just insane iching.
Please help...
Thank you..
Story:
Summer of 2008 (late June-ish) I started to itch a little bit at night.. which progressively got worse. To the point it was waking me up and/or preventing me from falling asleep. By August I start getting some small red bumps in the places I am most itchy. Primarily thighs, waist, stomach, back, and arms. We start off treating for basic itchy symptoms, like mites, scabies, etc. Going a few rounds with those, we notice no difference and my spots are only getting worse. As it starts getting colder, and I wear longer shirts/jeans.. I notice the rash spreading down my forearms, and calves. So we immediately get me into some all unscented soaps, free and clear detergents, off dryer sheets, and anything else my skin comes in contact with. Still no change, and getting worse. However the doctor also mentioned trying Zyrtec.. and in all reality, it does reduce the itch from INTENSE to very light by day, not much help at night. By November I have developed large (dime sized at the largest) crusty edged red spots all over my body. Especially my back, shoulder and biceps. By November, we had been through: Ketoconazole, Premethrine, Hydroxyzine, Cephalexin.
When I finally break into this nasty state, the doctor that I am seeing believes it to be Guttate Psoriasis because of the shape/look and does a punch biopsy on one of the worst spots and a throat culture to check for Strep Throat which is the main cause of GP. Results are in, and I have had an untreated Strep Throat. No conculsion drawn from the biopsy. So I get some Triamcinolone cream to put on my spots, a steroid of sorts im told, and **HERE'S THE KICKER**.. an antibiotic called Erythrocin 500MG ST TAB. It's a ten day antibiotic.. within ten days, I go from large scab like crusty bumps that itch to the extreme to almost completely back to 100% normal. My body loved whatever that medicine did, which I assume means it cleared the strep and my body responded by healing the spots. I noticed I did retain a very slight itch in comparison to where it was on the intense scale, but it would come and go, some days here, some days completely gone. But no bumps or rash anywhere. December 08 to April 08 I was just like that.
Starting in May, I started noticing that I was itching a little more at night. No bumps, just a slight itch, started the Zyrtec again by June. July it started getting intense at times again. Got appoinment to see a new dermotologist who after seeing my skin (hardly any small little bumps to even show) does not believe it's Guttate Psoriasis, 1) because of the response to the antibiotic that cleared me, and 2) thought it seemed more like Eczema. Continued to cut down on allergy-related stuff. No juice, back to cool showers, etc. August-September I started getting bumps again. Here it is beginning of October, and I'm starting to get larger bumps and bigger rash patches on my stomach, biceps and as always, my thighs. This doctor put me back on Triamcinolone cream and a pill called XYZAL. This pill does ok, but never lasts..
November 09: Got bumped up to a cream called Flucinonide. It works better than the Triamcinolone for sure, but still only about 6-8 hours and I have to re-apply. However, the spots that were getting bigger have disappeard, but im sure that the intensity of the itch has increased greatly, because when the Flucinonide wears off, its INTENSE and fast! Also, started waking up at the same exact time each morning itching primarily my inner thighs (which have always been the worst), and the back of my ankles. No matter what time I go to bed, 10pm, 1am, 3am and take my Xyzal and Flucin-cream, I have for the past 6 days woke up between 7:43 and 7:48 am. No alarm, no usual schedule of that, nothing.
My current dermotologist takes over a month to get into, and he seems convinced that its an allergy thing and wants to run a allergy test on me. I think it has nothing to do with allergies. I've changed everything I could possibly be allergic to around, tried different things, removed things, and nothing has made it any better, if anything, made it worse..
The only connction I see is that it's happening around the same time of year, but I dont even live in the same state anymore. I cant think it would be anything seasonal, cause its still warm here.. and not back where I was from. But this time, no big crusty bumps, just insane iching.
Please help...
Thank you..
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the forum!
This could be due to very dry skin. Itch starts first and scratching can cause welts to appear. Applying a good moisturizer will help. Well, if what you have is urticaria then your present dermatologist sis right in suggesting an allergy test. Urticaria is usually triggered by allergens, such as drugs, foods, insect bites, inhaled substances, in response to sunlight, cold, heat, stress, exercise, or a viral infection. Other common allergens are pollen, mold, dust, pet dander, or cosmetics. Food allergies like to gluten, lactose, sea food, and alcohol etc too should be looked into. It could also be due to new soap, talcum powder, clothes etc. However you rule this out. Since you experienced an itch, just go over these possibilities in your mind. Something may strike you. Some liver problems and gall stones too can cause generalized itch.
I think you should discuss these possibilities with your doctor. It is difficult to comment beyond this wit
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Welcome to the forum!
This could be due to very dry skin. Itch starts first and scratching can cause welts to appear. Applying a good moisturizer will help. Well, if what you have is urticaria then your present dermatologist sis right in suggesting an allergy test. Urticaria is usually triggered by allergens, such as drugs, foods, insect bites, inhaled substances, in response to sunlight, cold, heat, stress, exercise, or a viral infection. Other common allergens are pollen, mold, dust, pet dander, or cosmetics. Food allergies like to gluten, lactose, sea food, and alcohol etc too should be looked into. It could also be due to new soap, talcum powder, clothes etc. However you rule this out. Since you experienced an itch, just go over these possibilities in your mind. Something may strike you. Some liver problems and gall stones too can cause generalized itch.
I think you should discuss these possibilities with your doctor. It is difficult to comment beyond this wit
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
I have no idea what's causing this itching on your body, since you already seem to have ruled out detergents & soaps. I've had this problem in the past, & it was just related to the scented detergent I was using. When I stopped using it & started using one of those "free & clear" detergents it got better. But my skin is really sensitive & I have found from time to time that certain spots, mainly my legs, will start to itch really intenslely at night. Whenever this happens, I always take a Benadryl Allergy pill an hour or so before I go to bed. It seems to help better than any kind of anti-itch creams, & it also has the added bonus of making you sleepy so you're not spending so much time focusing on the itching. If you haven't tried this, I would definetly suggest it.
Also, do you sleep with a pet or anything? I have a small dog that has slept under the covers in the bed with me for years, & then out of nowhere I started to get these sudden itching epsiodes. I couldn't figure out what was wrong since I had been using the free & clear detergents, then I realized that I had recently given him a bath in flea shampoo. I gave the dog another bath in some sort of dog shampoo they made that didn't have any kinds of scents or additives in it, & the itching stopped. I realized I could've just kicked him out of bed, but I just didn't have the heart.
Hopefully you can at least get these symptoms under control until you get in to see your dermatologists. Good luck!
Also, do you sleep with a pet or anything? I have a small dog that has slept under the covers in the bed with me for years, & then out of nowhere I started to get these sudden itching epsiodes. I couldn't figure out what was wrong since I had been using the free & clear detergents, then I realized that I had recently given him a bath in flea shampoo. I gave the dog another bath in some sort of dog shampoo they made that didn't have any kinds of scents or additives in it, & the itching stopped. I realized I could've just kicked him out of bed, but I just didn't have the heart.
Hopefully you can at least get these symptoms under control until you get in to see your dermatologists. Good luck!
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