Feet and hand itch: Nighttime only

[SFKelvin]

All my adult life, I've had recurring problems with either my feet or my hands developing a severe itch (usually not at the same time), almost always at nighttime (around 11:30 PM), occasionally earlier in the day or where standing. The itch is not confined to my soles but can be the entire foot and both sides of all my fingers. I am a thirty-year old very healthy male. The itch keeps me up at night.

The itch is a deep itch, and there is no rash/eczema/redness, and the itching is not seasonal. It does not respond to corticsteroids (including prescription ones), and it is not contact dermatitis. It does not respond to Hydroxyzine either.

I have ruled out peripheral neuropathy (pain in the extremities due to Diabetes), and my blood sugar and liver blood tests all come out fine.

The itch is not athletes foot (I know because I have had athletes foot), and wouldn't apply because it's on my hands occasionally.

The itch is not due to dry skin because I 1) use moisturizers, 2) live in very humid San Francisco, and 3) it is a deep itch with no visible symptoms.

I do have a history of depression, but I have noticed no correlation between the itch and depression and stress. It still occurs at some of the least stressful times of my life. If there is a correlation with stress, it's because the itch itself is stressful.

The only relief I have discovered are cold compresses. I have a freezer full of them. Heat does not help. People have spent time with me can testify about how strong this itch is. It occurs 2-3 times a week and takes about an hour before it calms down. The odd thing is it occurs only at night.

My current best theory is it may be due to a hormonal problem. In light of this itch manifesting itself only at night, a circadian hormonal spike or imbalance makes sense. Pregnant women report itchy hands.

Another theory is a metabolic intolerance. If I eat something I can't metabolize during the day, the itchiness would therefore only show itself at night as whatever I can't digest builds up. I can't find any correlation with it and my diet, however. Recently, I was assaulted and had to spend two days hospitalized. The second night, the itch showed up (the nurse thought I was crazy asking for ice rather than a sudafed: I told her the sudafed wouldn't work), but I hadn't been allowed to eat anything, so It couldn't be metabolic.

That leaves dietary deficiency - my body needing something, but I regularly take a multivitamin. Also possible is dietary over-eating (I pledge guilty to too much processed food and sodium), but, again, no correlation as far as I can see.

I have read about 10+ postings across the magikall interwebs describing the same phenomena in others, all with stupid follow up suggestions about athletes foot, et. al. If there is a reasonable theory of what is going on with this itch out there, I would much like to hear about it!

[JNich1988]

IVe had this, whatever it is, for years! Only at night, both hands and feet! An itch that cant be relieved no matter how much rubbing or scratching! Does anyone see a relationship between the itching and the amount of daily sodium. Guilty pleasures olives, I can guarantee if I eat just one I will scratch all night. Anybody?

[Ofruiy]

The last 4 months I have got this.I had cancer in 2010, and have lympademia in both legs and my abdominal area. I'm 56. It starts at night.I take,alot of benadril. Nothing helps. I had my physical, no issues there. I've been really stressed out since November, my husband had a massive heart attack. I don't have the money to explore Dr's and troubleshoot at my expense. Hope someone can help us,all.

[SmartBaker]

I have suffered from all of these symptoms for 5 years now.  It always starts in January and lasts until March. Intense itching with no rash on my toes and sometimes the soles.  The other night, in desperation, I put BioFreeze gel on my toes and it was amazing. The itch stopped!

[Berryblondswede]

I too am suffering from the same thing. 46 yr old female. For me it starts around 8pm every night. I have no rash or correlation to anything (like many of the others that posted). I do find relief temporarily with benadryl cream and then a blast of CryoDerm spray which offers a cold sensation. I spray it on right before bed so I can fall asleep. I do have rheumatoid arthritis and have wondered if it is from swelling from working all day, but still happens on my days off. There is no correlation to meds as I have changed many times to different brands and nothing changes. When I wake up in the morning I am better. Wish I had answers.

[Phileene]

I, too have all the symptoms described here. Although I do experience the worse of it at night, I also get flare ups during the day.  I am diabetic and also have very dry skin, but I remember having this long before I was diagnosed with diabetes. I haven't tried the cold compress yet but I will the next time it happens.  I am 59 years old, live in CT and so ready to find a solution.  My hands and feet are so sore to the touch from scratching. I've had thoughts of sticking myself with pins and/or needles but somehow knew that wouldn't work.  I've told my doctor about this but she just looks at me like I'm speaking Latin and shakes her head in confusion.  I have other health issues but again, I don't think they have anything to do with this problem.  I've noticed lately that my upper back itches terribly but not in the same way my hands and feet do. I scratch my feet so hard that I end up with peeling skin.  Like all of you, I am in dire need of answers or solutions to stop this madness!!  

[itchytoes]

Put a nice dose of Campho Phenique on the toes twice a day, BEFORE they start itching. Do this for one month.  Don't stop just because the itch goes away.  This is the ONLY thing I found to work.  My fourth toes itch like CRAZY.  It was even hard to determine the exact location of the itch, so I had to profusely rake my toes against the bed so much they were in distress.  After finding over the counter cortizone and left over prescribed anti-inflammatory creme, I desperately found an old container of campho phenique, and it worked.  Because my itch started right after leaving the spa, I think a germ was in my cuticles and skin gtew over it making it hard to locate, so I had to beat my toe for relief.

[Match10]

Same, same...  Female, 45, fairly healthy (30 lbs overweight) terrible intense itching on hands and feet - only at night, no rash, redness, etc. (until I scratch so hard I break the skin) not consistently every night, sometimes nothing for a couple weeks and then a season of 3-4 times a week awakening with it. I think the 2 benadryl only help because they knock me out so hard I sleep through any itching. Over the last 5 years or so it has gotten worse. I agree with hormonal spikes maybe even triggered by certain foods? The endocrine system is all linked together and related to nutrient intake and hormones.
Something new I just noticed...  I have been on a strict diet for about 2 months, have lost 26 lbs (no carbs, no sugar, no processed food, limited salt) have had almost no itching in the last month! Until tonight, but I have been once again slipping into bad habits (3 days now) but today was the worst probably. I had bread, and sweets, and tons of salt. Thinking that all that garbage is trying to escape my body? Maybe it spikes hormones or thyroid? Either way, I just scratched the crap out of my hands and feet with my hairbrush and after an hour of sleeplessness will head back to bed (4:30 am) ugh! I do love food, especially processed, but for the sake of sanity, sleep, and health - I guess I just need to grow up and eat the nutrient rich foods my body needs. Not worth the dermatological war with my appendages :-/
Hope you all find relief as well. It really is a blessing to find other people with similar issues - misery loves company??? Lol I will repost soon with another update to see if my hypothesis is correct. Sleep well all - no scratching.  

[Kasb3317128]

I am suffering from exactly the same thing. I'm a 44yr old female. Every night my hands and feet itch so bad I wanna go crazy. I've tried many things and have had many tests done with no relief. The cold compress does offer very temporary relief.
Please if anyone has any suggestions!!!!  I also take benadryl but it's not working too good.

[ItchyMcItcherson]

Wow this is crazy. I am a 33 year old female, 7 months post-partum. This is the third or fourth night in a row I have woken up with burning, intensely itchy hands. I have never experienced this before. However, I was recently doing Whole30 (you know, eating no processed foods, very clean eating), and then went off it 5 days ago. I wonder if the itching is in response to diet?? Otherwise, I don't know what it could be. I take no meds, have no allergies, no depression or anxiety, no ailments that I know of. I just had my third little one and never experienced this with the other two. My skin is not red, nor does it have a rash, just extremely itchy and burning. Constant ice and cold applied seems to be the only thing that gives relief. I will go back on Whole30 tomorrow and report back as to whether it gives me relief!