Aa
crawling skin feels like bugs ??
feels like bugs crawling and nothing is there. it is driving me crazy ?? what could it be my skin is crawling all over back legs head help
It's possible, given that you have so many pollens, that you are developing other allergies as well. There is a possibility you are starting to develop Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). By the way, it can take three or more days of being away from the said allergen before any of the symptoms start to calm down.
Something that I do, because I have MCS myself is to use as little shampoo as I can get away with to begin with. This is something I definitely recommend especially while you are experiencing these symptoms. It is not going to make you have dirty hair, oddly enough. What to do, if you can stand to be in the shower at a moderate to cool temperature (Too warm and you will irritate your already irritated skin more) and simply massage your scalp (no fingernails). Doing this will help to get the scalp to balance out its own oils, because experts I have seen on TV say this works for all types of hair from dry hair to oily hair. It definitely helps dry hair and dry scalp.
Don't worry, later, when you feel better, you will be able to try shampoos of various kinds, but I don't recommend the stuff most people typically think about that they buy at the drug stores and grocery stores. Not even the hair salon kinds. There is a handful of natural or less toxic shampoos at natural health food and vitamin stores that are fragrance free, such as Jason and Earth Science. They are for all hair types. They have conditioners, too. From now on, you need to patch test the hair product you want to try on just a small portion of the area of skin that reacted to the baby shampoo you mentioned. This way, if you have a reaction, you won't be nearly as miserable.
While you are experiencing irritated skin, do not use any other soaps anywhere near the skin that is already irritated. For the rest of the body, I recommend a natural type of real soap called Sappo Hill. It's all natural, but only get the one they call Natural. It is the neutral and fragrance free one. The soap cakes are round. They do not cost more than other kinds of soap. This soap does not contain the chemicals that irritate sensitive skin. It is actually hypoallergenic soap. They make it the traditional old fashioned way that is thousands of years old, except they use coconut oil instead of traditional lard.
Ask the allergist to run some chemical allergy tests. There are many ingredients in that shampoo, so take the bottle with you when you ask the allergist to do this. This way they can find out which of the chemicals you had the worst problem with. Likely, the sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), because it is a known irritant. It's also a known carcinogen. From now on you will want to avoid those antibacterial soaps, too, because the chemical Triclosan is the chemical used to make the soap antibacterial. Besides the chemical being so terrible for the environment, the chemical is more irritating to the skin than the SLS is and is another known carcinogen.
You will want and need to take it slow and exercise patience to find safe personal care products. Look for limited ingredients and definitely look for fragrance free. Even the natural skin care products will need to be fragrance free. The natural fragrances are usually herbs, but they can actually still irritate and burn the skin of sensitive people. I mistakenly once bought a bottle of the skin moisturizer brand I had been using only to discover to my horror that it had natural scents from herbs in it. This is fine for people not so sensitive, but it burned and irritated my face and I couldn't wait to get it off. This is because Earth Science skin moisturizers all use the same bottle design and the same color of lettering. I learned I had to make sure to read the label before purchasing that one.
FYI: Earth Science does use soy in its moisturizer, so if you're allergic or sensitive to soy, you can't use it. I can't eat soy, but so far I can still use it on my skin. I wish they would use the coconut oil, but for some reason they want to go "cheap" and use soy.
I had a much worse reaction when I tried the moisturizer by Jason that's in a jar type of container. I was thinking to myself: How does this friend of mine who told me she uses this stuff get away with using this stuff when I know she has MCS herself? I couldn't wait to get that stuff off of my face. I've never seen a fragrance free version in the Jason moisturizers as of yet. Maybe there is one and I haven't seen it yet, but unless it says fragrance free, you need to avoid it.
Anyway, for now use nothing in the bath or shower. Nothing at all. Unless you can find that Sappo Hill soap and keep it away from your upper portion where you had the reaction.
By the way, you can find an aluminum free baking soda, like the one that Bob's Red Mill makes and you can use that as a natural deodorant or something to soften the bath water to make it feel better on the skin. Remember that your skin is the largest organ of our bodies, so you won't want to be using large quantities of the Arm and Hammer and cheaper baking soda brands. Unless the packages say "Aluminum Free", the baking soda or baking powder contains aluminum. Aluminum makes it more fizzy and more active, but it's been proven that aluminum should be avoided if we consume it or use it on our bodies, as the skin absorbs everything it touches. This is why transdermal medicine patches work to deliver medicine. While I know that it shouldn't be used as regular reflux medicine, I tried the aluminum free baking soda one time when it was a temporary necessity, so I know that the aluminum free baking soda is also much milder in taste, too. It was actually far more helpful on the stomach without the aluminum, too. I never knew the regular baking soda had aluminum in it 'til I read about it on mercola.com. Now I know why the cheaper kind was actually more irritating to the stomach.
If you can stand to use oatmeal baths, I would try that. But, you will need to make it yourself. Don't use the ready made oatmeal bath mixes. They're full of all chemicals. Just buy yourself some instant oats. Put some in a food processor, such as one of those small ones that are good for herbs and nuts. My larger one doesn't work well for this, which is why I said that. You will want to grind it into a powder form. Use approximately 1 cup or 2 cups in a lukewarm bath. Soak as long as you can stand it, but not so long you're turning into a prune. Concentrate on putting your upper portions under the oatmeal water as much as you can, in order to help soothe that irritated skin. If you're allergic to oats or to gluten--don't do this.
Something that I do, because I have MCS myself is to use as little shampoo as I can get away with to begin with. This is something I definitely recommend especially while you are experiencing these symptoms. It is not going to make you have dirty hair, oddly enough. What to do, if you can stand to be in the shower at a moderate to cool temperature (Too warm and you will irritate your already irritated skin more) and simply massage your scalp (no fingernails). Doing this will help to get the scalp to balance out its own oils, because experts I have seen on TV say this works for all types of hair from dry hair to oily hair. It definitely helps dry hair and dry scalp.
Don't worry, later, when you feel better, you will be able to try shampoos of various kinds, but I don't recommend the stuff most people typically think about that they buy at the drug stores and grocery stores. Not even the hair salon kinds. There is a handful of natural or less toxic shampoos at natural health food and vitamin stores that are fragrance free, such as Jason and Earth Science. They are for all hair types. They have conditioners, too. From now on, you need to patch test the hair product you want to try on just a small portion of the area of skin that reacted to the baby shampoo you mentioned. This way, if you have a reaction, you won't be nearly as miserable.
While you are experiencing irritated skin, do not use any other soaps anywhere near the skin that is already irritated. For the rest of the body, I recommend a natural type of real soap called Sappo Hill. It's all natural, but only get the one they call Natural. It is the neutral and fragrance free one. The soap cakes are round. They do not cost more than other kinds of soap. This soap does not contain the chemicals that irritate sensitive skin. It is actually hypoallergenic soap. They make it the traditional old fashioned way that is thousands of years old, except they use coconut oil instead of traditional lard.
Ask the allergist to run some chemical allergy tests. There are many ingredients in that shampoo, so take the bottle with you when you ask the allergist to do this. This way they can find out which of the chemicals you had the worst problem with. Likely, the sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), because it is a known irritant. It's also a known carcinogen. From now on you will want to avoid those antibacterial soaps, too, because the chemical Triclosan is the chemical used to make the soap antibacterial. Besides the chemical being so terrible for the environment, the chemical is more irritating to the skin than the SLS is and is another known carcinogen.
You will want and need to take it slow and exercise patience to find safe personal care products. Look for limited ingredients and definitely look for fragrance free. Even the natural skin care products will need to be fragrance free. The natural fragrances are usually herbs, but they can actually still irritate and burn the skin of sensitive people. I mistakenly once bought a bottle of the skin moisturizer brand I had been using only to discover to my horror that it had natural scents from herbs in it. This is fine for people not so sensitive, but it burned and irritated my face and I couldn't wait to get it off. This is because Earth Science skin moisturizers all use the same bottle design and the same color of lettering. I learned I had to make sure to read the label before purchasing that one.
FYI: Earth Science does use soy in its moisturizer, so if you're allergic or sensitive to soy, you can't use it. I can't eat soy, but so far I can still use it on my skin. I wish they would use the coconut oil, but for some reason they want to go "cheap" and use soy.
I had a much worse reaction when I tried the moisturizer by Jason that's in a jar type of container. I was thinking to myself: How does this friend of mine who told me she uses this stuff get away with using this stuff when I know she has MCS herself? I couldn't wait to get that stuff off of my face. I've never seen a fragrance free version in the Jason moisturizers as of yet. Maybe there is one and I haven't seen it yet, but unless it says fragrance free, you need to avoid it.
Anyway, for now use nothing in the bath or shower. Nothing at all. Unless you can find that Sappo Hill soap and keep it away from your upper portion where you had the reaction.
By the way, you can find an aluminum free baking soda, like the one that Bob's Red Mill makes and you can use that as a natural deodorant or something to soften the bath water to make it feel better on the skin. Remember that your skin is the largest organ of our bodies, so you won't want to be using large quantities of the Arm and Hammer and cheaper baking soda brands. Unless the packages say "Aluminum Free", the baking soda or baking powder contains aluminum. Aluminum makes it more fizzy and more active, but it's been proven that aluminum should be avoided if we consume it or use it on our bodies, as the skin absorbs everything it touches. This is why transdermal medicine patches work to deliver medicine. While I know that it shouldn't be used as regular reflux medicine, I tried the aluminum free baking soda one time when it was a temporary necessity, so I know that the aluminum free baking soda is also much milder in taste, too. It was actually far more helpful on the stomach without the aluminum, too. I never knew the regular baking soda had aluminum in it 'til I read about it on mercola.com. Now I know why the cheaper kind was actually more irritating to the stomach.
If you can stand to use oatmeal baths, I would try that. But, you will need to make it yourself. Don't use the ready made oatmeal bath mixes. They're full of all chemicals. Just buy yourself some instant oats. Put some in a food processor, such as one of those small ones that are good for herbs and nuts. My larger one doesn't work well for this, which is why I said that. You will want to grind it into a powder form. Use approximately 1 cup or 2 cups in a lukewarm bath. Soak as long as you can stand it, but not so long you're turning into a prune. Concentrate on putting your upper portions under the oatmeal water as much as you can, in order to help soothe that irritated skin. If you're allergic to oats or to gluten--don't do this.
Last Saturday I took a shower w/Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo, about an hour later I started itching all over my body. I took 2 benadryls, not effective, so about 2 hours later I repeated the benadryls, still no hope. I think before midnight I had taken about 8more benadryles. Now this is Saturday and the same thing ...itchy, stinging , feels like my nerve ending are coming out of my body. Is their anything I can do to get relief? I am also itching stinging on my face around my nose & on my cheeks,and ears. Would welcome any advise you can giv e me It is driving me crazy. I am a 61yr old that also takes Allergy shots for all things outside...trees, grasses dust etc..
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
If you are a female and in the menopausal age, then this is a common symptom. Hormone replacement therapy often helps. It is also seen in people who are very anxious and stressed out. Take up yoga, deep breathing exercise, walking etc to relieve stress. Music and aerobics are also good stress busters. Drink plenty of fluids and water (not caffeine), eat fresh fruits and vegetables and keep yourself busy throughout the day.
Very dry skin and disorders of thyroid gland all can precipitate a crawling sensation.
The other possibility is Morgellons disease often mimics scabies. The disease is believed to be caused by weak immune systems in people that have contracted the tick-borne Lyme Disease at some point in their life. It can also be a fungal infection like Tinea corporis.
Do discuss this with your doctor and get yourself examined. Take care!
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
If you are a female and in the menopausal age, then this is a common symptom. Hormone replacement therapy often helps. It is also seen in people who are very anxious and stressed out. Take up yoga, deep breathing exercise, walking etc to relieve stress. Music and aerobics are also good stress busters. Drink plenty of fluids and water (not caffeine), eat fresh fruits and vegetables and keep yourself busy throughout the day.
Very dry skin and disorders of thyroid gland all can precipitate a crawling sensation.
The other possibility is Morgellons disease often mimics scabies. The disease is believed to be caused by weak immune systems in people that have contracted the tick-borne Lyme Disease at some point in their life. It can also be a fungal infection like Tinea corporis.
Do discuss this with your doctor and get yourself examined. Take care!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Undiagnosed Symptoms Community
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.
