Extreme Itching all over body w/NO rash, welts or hives.

[cantstopitching]

I've recently been diagnosed with Urticaria. My doctor says I fall into the 99.9% of the people who have it without any signs. My itchiness has been getting progessively worse for the past few years. I'd say almost 3 yrs now. It's to the point where I can't even engage in intercourse with my partner, go shopping or even go out in the sun. I keep hearing and reading how Urticaria, usually has signs on the skin surface but I don't, except for the really bad itchy feeling. Sometimes I question whether or not I have something else because it's really bad and it feels like I have a sudden burning rush of nails/needles stabbing my skin and I can't even move but only twitch. It's like this on a daily basis with my skin, whenever my body temperatue goes up. I feel like my body's thermostat is broken and I'm constantly overheating. I've been taking Claritin and Benadryl but that doesn't seem to help at all. My doctor also gave me a prescription medicine called Atarax, which only makes me drowsy and doesn't help the itchy feeling. Any suggestions? Btw, I've taken blood tests to see if there is anything wrong but everything came out fine. =/

[maneegirl]

I have had this problem of itching all over my body for almost 7 years. I have only been able to make it bearable with Zyrtec every, and I mean EVERY day. I take a whole pill by 5pm. The drowsy period hits me about 10pm so I can sleep well and since I take the pill early on in the evening, I am not groggy in the morning. My problem is...the Zyrtec has worked so well and for so long, it isn't working as well anymore. I now am taking it as well as 1/2 of an Allegra in the morning and at this moment - 5 hours after the Zyrtec, I am itching itching. I for a long time have thought my allergy was that I am allergic to my own hair. If a loose hair slides down my back or chest it actually burns my skin and when I pull it off it welts the skin as well. I have heard the very itchiness is also a sign of some cancers. Anyone know anything about that?

[eastbusymom]

I have itched for two years now. I've change laundry soap, I've got new clothes, I've change diet two different times, tried all kinds of meds and lotions. I know sometimes I stress or have anxiety but I find I'm itching most at night and sometimes I go to bed happy because I have nothing on my mind. I even have a new matress. I live in a town that is almost two-hundred miles away from where I used to live and where the itching started, so I don't think its the water. I've changed bathing soaps and shampoos, lotions. Nothing is stopping it. No bumps, no hives. No microscopic organisms.  And I don't think fibers from materials I wear are getting into my hair folicals. I don't think dust mites or any other mites are on me. I feel like things are biting, or crawling or stabbing like little needles in my skin and sometimes it hurts more than other little irritations and the itching is unbearable! I put lotion on and it feels worse sometimes! I heard other people with this and they don't have any relief! This is horrible. Is it a vitamin deficiency, or is my liver or kidneys not working right? Does drinking alcohol make things worse? I need to know if any of you have any of the itching when you drink alcohol or if you get frequent U.T.I. maybe something is wrong with our main filtering organs even though some of you had them checked. Are maybe there's a thyroid disfunction. Some doctos misdiagnose or say they don't see anything wrong but there may be and you may need to see other doctors. I know we aren't crazy! Lol

[JohnE60]

I am 60 yrs old and starting in late June of 2012 I started to itch.  At first i thought it was a bug bite as it showed red spots, but nothing raised.  This lasted about 3 wks and then just vanished.  Then on August 3rd, I was moving some boxs for a yard sale and the spots came back with the same bad itch.  I am not one to scratch at anything so I figured it would go away with over the counter anti itch meds.  This time it stayed and became so intense as to keep me awake at night.

The itching always increased in intensity in the evening.  I described it as crawling naked thru fiberglass.  Prickly and very sensitive to have anything touch it , like blankets or clothing.

Finally I consulted with my PCP and was sent to a dermotologist.  Now going on 2 months of care from him.  The first course of treatment was to burn off what he called Keritosis on the skin, as he said this was the primary cause as they became irritated in the sun.  Two weeks later, with the itch at an all time high, he determined that was not the cause and started me on an injection and prednisone, along with a anti itch lotion he prescribed for me.  This took the edge off, but I found that Aloe Vera worked the best to sooth the itch.

Next came the neurotin, excuse my spelling as it is 2:17 in the morning in the basement where it is cool, and I am not awake but can't sleep because of this.  At long last I felt we had the fix.  The itching disapeared and finally I was sleeping  again.  Until just last saturday when I could feel it start up again.  Now two nights in a row, have been sleepless.

With me I find the coolness of my basement is where I like to stay.  No heat, hot showers, or exercise.  Blood tests have so far shown nothing, but I am finding some very interesting comments here and some new avenues of approach.

Good luck to all out there.

[kit1005]

I have itching all over my body with no rash or hives either, however I'm a little different from what I've read above.  I DO have seborrheaic (sp?) psoriasis on my scalp and in my ears.  Over the last six months, I've also gotten a sporadic rough patch here and there on different parts of my body ... shin, arm chest ... maybe about 4 in all.  I rub the shampoo I've been prescribed on them - Clobex - and they eventually go away.  About a month ago I had a breakout on my eyelid and was prescribed another cream that worked. Then I had eyelid surgery and it's coming back on both eyelids.  So I'm wondering ... is it possible that the psoriasis comes out when I'm stressed physically or mentally and do you think it's possible that the psoriasis is sort of "looming" throughout my body and that's the reason I itch even if there is no breakout?

[Moniebearr]

If you get a hair dryer and place it really close to the itchy area until it starts to burn the itch will go away just keep doing this whenever your body is itchy and slowly move the hair dryer over your body. The heat stops the itching for about 8 hours.

[chadDISC]

You seem to be the only one with any kind of solution on this comment list. Can you give more specific information on what kind of itch you had, how long it took to get the yeast under control, and what other things you did while doing the treatments?  Your advice will be greatly appreciated, I think.