itchy legs

[leahjane10]

hey... umm.. i'm 18 now and have been getting severely itchy legs for about 3-4 years... when I went to the doctor they told me it was hormonal and it would be gone within a few months... they also said to use lots of moisturiser on my legs.... I'm always self conscious about my legs... since the itching started because of the marks the scratches leave... I had my mum stressing about me thinking that I was cutting myself on my legs... I don't blame her for thinking that though because the scratches look so bad... the itching is always from the lower part of my thighs and all the way to the ankle... it occasionally can be itchy on the feet as well...
I know that it's definitely not from shaving... because I have stopped shaving for a while during winter to see if that was the cause... I have also tried getting IPL treatment to get rid of the hair on the legs... but I'm still itchy...
I don't know what to do...
I want to know what other causes could be???
I keep being told the same thing and its not working...
what could be wrong with me? and how can I find out?
leah x

[Timi56]

I had itchy calves at night for three weeks straight, my dermatologist said it was because I wasn't drinking enough water! Should drink at least 8 glasses a day especially if you drink a lot of coffee, also moisturizing with a paraffin based cream helps! Short showers in warm (not hot) water helps too

[JStiles]

Gluten could be it.  Any food allergy or vitamin deficiency.  Try cutting out gluten (wheat, bread, baked goods, cereals).  I have the same thing, and then I connected to the fact that I also have an itchy back and scalp.  I noticed my back would itch after eating gluten, I have just now connected it to my legs and scalp.  Give it a try!

[Harley555]

Hi, Thanx for presenting your problem on the forum. I also had this problem. The itch was so bad I could dig the skin off and it would just itch more.. The only relief was to soak in a hot tub and scrub them with soap and then soak them reigiously with a good moisturizing lotion.. I've used Curel, Nivea, vasaline and all the otc ones.. My dr. looked at it and said it was a form of dermatitus..alergic reaction to something.. could be a food, the dye in my jeans, detergent..but what ever it was she ordered an ointment for  me.. I would cover my legs with it and either premix it with my moisturizer or add it after, it applyed easier and it worked.. I also would take benadryl at night and sometimes during the day to stop the itching.. I have been doing this same ritual for years and it works great..It doesn't happen half as much as it used to..Dry skin also accounts for those ailments and also mites...little, tiny bugs who burrow under your skin.. If you look closely you can see v. small grayish trails under your skin..
Hope it works..load on the moisterizer daily and wear cotton slacks at home.. when  I wear sweats it's not so bad except in hot summer.. also the tanning beds and laying in the sun seemed to help..

Good luck, Eringirl