Sever itching hands

[nursing student]

For the last two weeks my hands (the palms and between my fingers)will begin to itch periodically without warning. When I scrath them it only gets worse, the itching is intensified and they begin to burn. I have tried multiple things to relieve it but to no avail. It starts and stops continully through out the day and there is no one indicator of what might be causing it. I am worried that it might be my liver or gallbladder due to stones in my gallbladder. Or could it be decreased tissue perfussion to my hands? I know just enough to get into trouble and am concered about this due to the fact that I have tried everything and it does not seem to go away. I changed my soaps, lotions, and detergents. I have tried Benadryl and creams applied to the skin, they do not phase the itching. Please help.

Thank you

[Lalapipp]

I was doing some research as I am having this problem more frequently now than I was before. It has happened twice this week and now tonight. The itching is severe there is no rash. My skin gets red from the itching and then when it seems like I finally have relief there is swelling, mainly around the joints and it is hard to bend my fingers, grip things etc. There are a lot of things that can cause this and they range from liver and kindey disease to tumors or malignancy. I am guessing that is would take quite an array of tests to determine and rule out so many things.

[lcell]

i have had this same problem for the past 9 years.   nothing works except hydroxizine, but hate taking it, it makes me very groggy.   It is an itch that cannot be reached or relieved.  Alot of time if my right hand itches it will itch the exact place on the left hand.   It is the same on both hands.  if my wrist itches on one hand the other will itch in the exact same place.   It is just so wierd to me that it is only at night.   No visible rashes, just annoying itch and burning.    I sure hope someone can come up with a cure.  I have been to several doctors, no one offers any diognosis.  ugh.

[Maverick0749]

Well. I understand . I have the same condition. I actually soaked my hand in apple cider vinegar and it relieved the burning sensation. The redness is still there and I will probably see a specialist to see what it is and how to treat it.  I will post what I have so maybe it will help you as well. Sounds like we both have the same condition.

[Reeni57]

I have the same problem, it started about two weeks ago, it seems to be so much more worse at night, I thought it was not big deal at first I just kept using lotion even though I dont have dry hands, but nothing seems to work, I even try benedryl. Tonight is really bad so I thought I would search it. Does anyone know what causes this, sometime the itching and heat is almost unbearable.HELP!!

[Kelkies]

Zyrtec or the generic form of it is the ONLY thing that helps me, too!  I take one every day and it keeps me from getting flare ups.

[PatJohnAustin]

I have the same problem. For me, it's urticaria, which is another symptom of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. It started out with crusty lesions on my scalp. For the first 10 years I had no idea what it was. I saw 5 dermatologists during that time, each of which gave me a different (guessed) diagnosis. I finally found a wonderful, conscientious dermatologist who was the first to even suggest a biopsy. The pathologist said it was immediately obvious what it was. Fortunately, the form of LV I have is not deadly, it just causes skin irritations. It's an autoimmune disease, so my derm referred me to a rheumatologist who prescribed Plaquenil, which helped. Then by accident, I found out the lesions were even better controlled by taking Spironolactone (which is used for hormonal acne). However, the urticaria, which is another symptom of the LV has begun to appear from time to time. The doctor said that if it is bothering me, to take an antihistamine every day. I haven't done that though, because I hate the dry mouth antihistamines cause. Instead, when I get the itchiness and/or fluid filled bumps on my fingers, I run cold water over them to stop the immediate itch, then I slather on Eucarin Skin Calming Itch Relief Treatment lotion. That is the only lotion I have found that actually stops the itch.