Itchy arms

[Skyline1948]

Itching arms? I have had this for, I guess, 6 or 7 years now. My GP doens't know what it is. He wants to send me to a dermatologist. My GP gave me a perscription liquid that has some effect.Mometasone Furoate Topical Solution USP .1% Doesn't cure it. I have to continually use it from August till January. Seems to disappear for those remaining months until July or August and then here we go again. No visual sign on my arms of anything except little red "dots" that bleed and this is as a result of scratching. My GP has a theory and he thinks that this problem is related to the sun. Photogenic. Seems to begin to be a problem in August after being in the sun with my arms exposed for several months. I use SPF 30 minimum on my arns. There are times that i feel my skin on my arms tingling/burning from the suns rays. When driving my car I have to keep my left arm away from the suns rays because it makes my arm tingle and burn. By the way, each year that I have had this it has slowly moved up my arm from one year to the next. It began near my wrist years ago. Each year it progresses up my arm. Right now the top of each forearm itches plus it itches near my shoulders. There is also an area, on both sides, that itch which is on my chest near my armpit.


This discussion is related to Itchy Arms.

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, itching arms seems secondary to allergy known as atopic dermatitis and also other strong possibility is irritant dermatitis. Remember if you have been exposed to any chemical (detergent, shampoo etc.) or certain garments which might have caused irritant dermatitis. if it is present, Avoiding these situations is helpful for acute flares as well as for long-term management. Sunlight and sweating can be precipitating factors.

Other causes for itching are worm infestations like ascaris and liver flukes, cholangitis and biliary stasis, thyroid disorder and delusional parasitosis.

I suggest you to get the following parameters checked like liver function, thyroid function and absolute eosinophil count. Treatment includes anti histaminic and glucocorticoids against prescription.  Apply moisturizing agents to prevent dryness of the affected skin. Take a bath before sleeping, so as to shred the allergens.

I suggest you to consult a skin specialist. Take care and regards.

[bookin]

I have had this condition for 9 years now.  This year seems to be a bad one again.  I am outdoors a lot.  This year my left arm is worse.  When it is really bad I put ice on to the point it burns my skin and numbs the itch.  This helps.  I've been reading about "witch hazel" helping when the tingling begins so will pick some up today.  I find most creams and ointments just make the itch worse.  The nuero thing makes sense.  My neck and shoulders are pretty messed up from work (I am a dentist) and martial arts.  Does anybody else have neck and shoulder issues? I guess the proffesionals have termed this condition as "brachioradial pruritus.

[krissy91]

This has also been a problem for me off and on since I had mono in 2001 and got the milk of the yarrow plant on my arms.  Currently my doctor has sent me to the gastro to get my stomach and colon checked out.  They are looking for Celiacs disease.  For me, I do really believe it's related to both allergies and cervical spine misalignment, which I just learned could be the reason today as I googled...  Good luck to you in finding the cure.  It is difficult to live with and we have to keep searching for our own answers.