1. < Autoimmune Diseases

Chronic itching, no response to various diets or skin treatments

Posted by fran0529 @fran0529, Feb 18 4:09pm

I am a 84 year old male blessed with good health for most of my life. I work out 4-5 times a week and play tennis on a regular basis. About two years ago I began to have moderate to severe itching on my scalp and forehead. I have been diagnosed with candida, SIBO and histamine overgrowth but none of the medical practitioners I have seen have been able to provide me with a treatment that relieves the itching. Other symptoms include significant diarrhea (ameliorated only by a round of xifaxon). My weight has decreased from 160 pounds to 145 pounds where it has stabilized. I also have significant bloating but no nausea. I have used aloe and various creams to ameliorate the itching with mixed results. I no longer drink alcohol which generated the worst systems. My diet consists of oatmeal, blueberries and oat milk for breakfast, three eggs, egg yolks and Uncle Daves bread for lunch and quinoa, veggies and mostly chicken for dinner. Eat very little sugar products. Has anybody seeing this had a similar problem that has been cured or knows a medical practitioner who has helped them get rid of this problem

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mannism | @mannism | Feb 26 5:18am
In reply to @samcal9977zz "Very sorry about the problems. Here is an article from the American Academy of Dermatology: 10..." + (show)
@samcal9977zz

Very sorry about the problems.

Here is an article from the American Academy of Dermatology:

10 Reasons Your Skin Itches Uncontrollably and How To Get Relief
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/itchy-skin/itch-relief/relieve-uncontrollably-itchy-skin
++++

Article from an MD re Candida and various treatments, including natural ones:
https://centrespringmd.com/symptoms-of-candida-and-6-natural-remedies/
+++

My thoughts (having been in endless support groups for medical problems)

Be mindful of optimal hydration. Getting those 8 glasses of water daily is really necessary when dealing with any health issue.

Make sure you really sleep all those 8 hours and every night. Some folks try to push it and do with less. If you have any medical problem, getting a full amount of sleep is essential.

Re itching...I would switch to all scent-free products...for laundry. Can only help. You could possibly be developing an allergy to some perfume / scent they are using in one of your products. The idea there would be you are now allergic to the detergent used on your pillowcases and sheets, hats, and etc.

And, generally, go scent free if you can.

Your diet sounds excellent, but it does look like too many carbs for someone with candida. I am not a doctor, so I can't give you a figure of how many grams per meal and per day is ideal...but my quick look at what you write is, yes, too many carbs for someone with candida.

Topically, oatmeal products have been used to calm down itching. Again, I am not a doctor. But maybe you could ask your dermatologist if some of those products might help.

Here's one article from Web MD about using oatmeal to relieve itching:
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/colloidal-oatmeal-baths
There are anti-itching lotions, products with that collodial oatmeal.

The company Aveeno makes a couple of those products.

Again, from the American Academy of Dermatology:

How To Relieve Itchy Skin:
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/itchy-skin/itch-relief/relieve-itchy-skin
Three of their suggestions:

Apply a cold, wet cloth or ice pack to the skin that itches. Do this for about five to 10 minutes or until the itch subsides.

Take an oatmeal bath. This can be very soothing, especially for blisters or oozing skin due to chickenpox, hives, poison ivy or sunburn.

Moisturize your skin. Always choose a moisturizer free of additives, fragrances and perfumes.

So, that is what I came up with, hope something helps.

I once had a bad reaction to medication and had maniacal levels of itching for a few hours. It was extremely unpleasant. My sympathies. Take care now.

Jump to this post

Medications can cause this, especially blood thinners, thyroid drugs and beta blockers. Prequel is a lotion that works wonders for me. Dermatologists probably have some answers, though you might have to try several of them. If you are dealing with alternative practitioners, make sure they have either functional medicine or the Andrew Weil Fellowship.

REPLY
1 reply
mannism | @mannism | Feb 26 5:21am
In reply to @covidstinks2023 "fran0529, Have you tried an antihistamine like Zyrtec or Benadryl? Benadryl cream is good for itching..." + (show)
@covidstinks2023

fran0529, Have you tried an antihistamine like Zyrtec or Benadryl? Benadryl cream is good for itching as well. Aveeno Oatmeal soaks (these come in packets at Walmart or Amazon) in the tub are good for itching. Are you on a good probiotic for your gut issues? Candida can cause skin issues. Sounds like you are eating high protein and low carbs which is good. Curious, did you have COVID and did this come on after having COVID? Old Timey Corn Huskers Lotion (smells awful) helped me through at time of tremendous hives and itching. I am praying for you to get better.

Jump to this post

Candida yeast occurs normally in the body, so technically you naturally have it. You can have a yeast overgrowth caused by antibiotics or a diet that has excessive sugar and carbs. I use yogurt and fermented products to help correct the symptoms.

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mannism | @mannism | Feb 26 5:24am

If you are not on blood thinners, I can recommend Bromelain, which is pineapple extract. It works like Benadryl without the sleepiness. It is a natural blood thinner so it doesn't work with the prescription blood thinners.

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samcal9977zz | @samcal9977zz | Feb 26 10:34am
In reply to @mannism "Medications can cause this, especially blood thinners, thyroid drugs and beta blockers. Prequel is a lotion..." + (show)
@mannism

Medications can cause this, especially blood thinners, thyroid drugs and beta blockers. Prequel is a lotion that works wonders for me. Dermatologists probably have some answers, though you might have to try several of them. If you are dealing with alternative practitioners, make sure they have either functional medicine or the Andrew Weil Fellowship.

Jump to this post

I tend to agree. I trust any natural medicine practitioner who is also an MD.

There are Holistic MDs, Integrative Medicine MDs (as in the Andrew Weil folks), Functional Medicine...Osteopaths too.

No one who goes to school for 8 years past high school is an idiot.

(well, I guess there are exceptions. After all, Doc Holiday was a talented murderer and he was a dentist).

I also trust massage therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and others.

But, I also think they don't necessarily have a full range of experience and knowledge. To my mind the best way to go is to run the alternative therapies by an MD. If the MD approves or just thinks it won't cause harm...then you have some confirmation.

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