Severe Itching on Legs

[Ferg2001]

Over the past few months I have had severe itching on my legs literally from top to bottom. I have tried Benadryl with no luck and I am constantly putting Calamine lotion on my legs. The Calamine lotion usually helps for about 15 minutes but then the itching returns. I am at my breaking point with this. The itching causes pain and it feels like needles on my legs. I scratch them so much that I have fingernail marks all over my legs and sometimes even brusies. This causes my legs to look horrible. I'm so ashamed that I won't wear dresses or shorts. I haven't been to the doctor yet just because everything I have read hasn't given me much hope on a clear diagnosis. This has been an ongoing problem usually I have the severe itching for a few months then it will go away and out of the blue will appear again. I haven't changed laundry detergant, soap, lotion, etc. Please any help or insight you could give would be greatly appreciated! I really don't know how much more of this scratching my legs or me can take!  Oh and I noticed on some of the other posts people who had the same symptoms as myself were telling where they live...I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not but if so I live in Alabama.

[micelle]

I have severe itchy lower legs also.  I can't believe it happens to so many females out there and there has to be a hormonal relation to it.  It seems to happen more at night but also happens throughout the day.  Myself and my husband notice that it only happens during PMS and then again a week after.  The itch is so intense and there is no relief.  I started taking maca root powder because it is supposed to balance hormones naturally. It hasn't helped because I still get itchy especially during PMS.  Sometimes I get an itchy rash on my knee and on my face.  I was thinking it could be an undiagnosed gluten allergy that is more pronounced during PMS because of the hormones?  I am going to get an allergy test to get some answers.

[DrNot]

A LETTER I WROTE AFTER GETTING ITCHING

Morning,
Could you please tell me the full ingredients of the above product and what type of sulphates are you referring to.
Because I purchased two two litre casks of your Tawny Port on Wednesday and was a little reluctant to do so as in the past when I had a good drink of this port I developed red rashes on my legs and thinking maybe surely the port wouldn’t have caused that as I have had other brands of port and never got rashes.
Well on Wednesday I got stuck into your Port and after had six standard drinks over four hours in the morning I noticed I was itchy and I seen I had these small red rashes over my legs and during the day getting worse. Today when I woke up most of my legs and back are all red with rashes with hot itchy feeling and now my arms have rashes.
So I never had is problem with other brands of Port so it must be something you do or put in your Port and if it affects me it will affecting others and I am sure it’s not good for our health.

WAITING TO HEAR THERE REPLY BUT ITS THE SULPHITE IN DIET AND TOXINS IN OUR FOOD OUR BODIES ARE OVER LOADED

[mzlaird]

You have joggers itch!wear loose fitting COTTON pants for a while, when you run or workout.

[XSandiX]

I suffer from the same itchy leg syndrome as others here are complaining about. Sometimes I thought the extreme itching at night would drive me mad! No matter what the Dr. prescribed (usually a steroid cream) what I found to relieve the itch was using Solarcain (sunburn spray) or other first aid sprays containing Benzocain or Lidocaine . Peppermint oil also helps. Eventually after a few months it would subside. I have signs it is starting up again after almost 2 years without it. This time I am going to add Omegas to my regimen. I understand they can be very helpful.

[MHumphries]

I developed this problem three years ago.  I have tried a lot of things also.

I have found that using T/Gel® which is a therapeutic shampoo for chronic Scalp Psoriasis, Seborrheic Dermatitis and common Dandruff works for me.  I use this EVERY day in the shower on my legs and then rub pure coconut oil on my legs as a moisturiser as it is claimed that coconut oil is good for several skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema.

Its a relief which I find manageable but not a cure.

T-Gel is a product made in New Zealand, I'm not sure if it is sold anywhere else.  (www.neutrogena.com).

A big thank you to the people who suggested trying Vitamin D and K.  I am going to give that a go and see if it may stop itching for me.  I really hope it does.

[Mika987]

I am a 74yr old male, and I have suffered from itchy legs for the past 25 years, in spite of seeing three skin specialists; several doctors and courses of Prednisone, 40mg; every kind of oily cream or past you can imagine, with no real satisfactory relief. I was also encouraged to bathe my legs with a Pinetarsol solution, but that had no effect either, other to make my legs feel that I had been scalded, although the solution was only hand-hot. Some home research has led to the following conclusions:
1. Put an ice block in a plastic bag; rub it on the itchy area and get some relief; enough to help one get to sleep, etc.
2. Smother the itch area with Calamine paste; make by allowing the fluids in Calamine to evaporate; brush it on (paintbrush) and get sustained relief.
3. Watch what you eat; MSG and its derivatives (621, 627, 631, etc.) are to be strictly avoided.
The doctor now thinks that this may be an exposed nerve ends syndrome; similar to shingles.
As a footnote, I was unaware of the bread problem, but it seems to me that it may also be a culprit. Today, I am itchy and I believe this is because I had toast at lunchtime yesterday. I will keep experimenting! TTFN   Mika