Severely itchy legs (at night) driving me crazy

[D7D]

My legs have been itching so badly, but there is no persistent rash in any spot! Over the last two-three weeks I have had the strangest most excruciating itching at night time It usually gets worse once I fall asleep. If I don't self control, I would probably draw blood accidentally scratching too hard. Every now and then during the day, there is a slight burning on the legs in various areas but it's so subtle and doesn't itch so badly that I want to scratch at all. It just lingers. At night is when its like a switch is flipped.

I don't think it's dust mites because my boyfriend sleeps right next to me and hasn't been itchy at all. However, I did sanitize wash my sheets just in case. I plan to buy new pillows, too.

It's so weird because just looking at the skin there are no marks whatsoever, but it just itches atrociously. I start to scratch and it gets worse. It's like my legs are on fire! Then they get red and with slight little tiny red dots and few tiny bumps. Once I stop itching (and sometimes cool with water) within ten minutes the redness/bumps goes away and you'd never be able to tell there was a problem! The other day I did leave a little bruise though. Now I just try to NOT let myself scratch no matter what, but it's very difficult. I end up touching or rubbing the areas slightly.

The itchy areas change from night to night. One night the itch was symmetrical on both of my thighs right above my knees and on the sides of my knees. Another night it was my lower left calf and last night it was the back of my right thigh. There is so much radiating pain there when it itches!! It's really perplexing to me. I'm such a healthy person, no sugars, processed foods; I eat fruits and veggies, take whole food vitamins, omegas, fruit/veg juicing everyday, etc.

Does this itching sound like an allergic reaction of sorts???

I've tried to think of WHAT has changed in my routine that could be the cause. Well, I came up with only two things that have changed in my routine. Either could be the culprit.

1. About a month ago I bought this organic shea hibiscus coconut shower gel. I've shaved with it about 5 times, I think. I think I might be allergic to something in it and it's gotten into my hair follicles. ?? I have discontinued the product. My last shave with it was 3 days ago.

2. Also about a month ago, I started an herbal supplement called Bacopa Monnerei. It's for increasing mental clarity/sharpness and memory. (It works, amazingly so I hope it's not the problem!). After a few days on it, I noticed an odd itching on the side of my left breast and into my underarm. The itching was very subtle, not intense, and lasted a couple days. - But you know what I just realized, this was around the time I started using that shower gel, too (I used it to shave my underarms).

I've discontinued both the herbal supplement and the shower gel. I really hope this crazy itching clears up. It's driving me crazy at night, it hurts so bad.

Thoughts anyone?? I'm going nuts!

[Shawn1980]

Not sure, but I had this problem for days when I took an aleve, I couldn’t go to sleep, it bothered me only at night, I think I put a hole in my foot from scratching and digging. No more aleve for me

[veteranchuck]

  Maybe you are reacting to sugar. Sugar intake starts itching at my ankles. Then at times of lots of sugar intake, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, the itching turns severe and goes up my legs to above my knees. I once thought it was do to the onset of cold weather, but now am convinced  it is associated with high sugar intake during the holiday season. Your legs probably itch more in bed at night because the warmer your legs get the more they will itch. I sleep a lot wit my legs outside the blankets.
  I am now experiencing itching year round, mostly my ankles. Sometimes my knees, or my waist or scalp. I suspect I have become sensitive to sugars in fruit, bread, milk and many other products associated with milk. Also it all may all tie in with gluten intolerance, which I am beginning to experiment with. I experienced a severe bout of Vertigo about a month ago and was told "you will have to live wit it". Well, I associated the Vertigo with the substantial amount of French Bread and other breads I was consuming and the vertigo has all but subsided. Doctors seem to know very little about all of this, and when they say "you have to live with it", well, it is simply not true.  I am now experimenting with "gluten free" and sugar free foods and hopefully eventually the sensitivity to sugar and gluten will go away. I have heard that a period of avoidance causes the body to accept those foods again.

[Koops2]

Research histamine intolerance. Monitoring and controlling  my intake of high histamine foods has helped psoriasis.

[Uloi]

I think you may have eczema. I personally have it and I have the same bumps and red marks (sometimes that lead to bleeding) too. Eczema is a condition were your skin is unbearable itchy do to dryness. You should ask your dermatologist about it when it's convenient. Try applying lotions such as eucerin vanicream or Cerave after getting out of the shower to avoid drying up or when it starts to itch. It is also important to try to take more cold showers if you can; it really helps in the long run.

[Jade8568]

This also happened to me a couple yrs ago. It ended up bein vericose veins..or Venus Insufficiency is the medical term. Even if you don't have the sigature bulging blue veins, this is still what causes the itchy feeling. Definitely try & get to a vein specialist & at least let them evaluate.  I ended up having to get a bunch of my legs veins ablated (disolved) they don't rip veins out like they used. Now it's just taken care of with sone painless injections. Good luck!

[desimed]

I apply coconut oil mixed with camphor. itching subsides immediately and doesnt reoccur for several hours

[elizabeth_o1]

I have the same problem but all over my legs and it has gotten so bad that I lose sleep. One night I put some pink calamine lotion all over my legs and put a fan on me in my room and I don't think I had any itches that night. I've had this problem for almost a year now and I didn't have it until I stayed at a hotel. I'm only 14 and school starts soon, so I need answers so I can sleep at night.