1. < Kidney & Bladder

Itchy skin

Posted by Candy @megwill100, Sep 21, 2016

Tonight I woke myself up clawing at my skin from top to bottom, does anyone have the itchy skin with their CKD? If so what do you use to control it? I'm allergic to benadryl so I can't take it.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Apr 9, 2018

@glinda, @contentandwell , @hopeful33250
I want to invite you to this conversation where there is a discussion about itchy skin that might interest you.
Rosemary

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 9, 2018

Hello @megwill100

Dealing with that kind of itching is very disturbing, especially to your sleep! I hope that your doctor is able to give you some help.

While I don't have CKD, I do have patches of very dry skin that resembles snake skin. It often does not itch, but just very rough. I use a prescription cream (triamcinolone) which is a steroid cream and hydrocortisone cream. It works quite well.

I hope you get some relief. I would like to hear from you again and see what has worked for you.

Teresa

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1 reply
ujeeniack | @ujeeniack | Apr 9, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @megwill100 Dealing with that kind of itching is very disturbing, especially to your sleep! I..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @megwill100

Dealing with that kind of itching is very disturbing, especially to your sleep! I hope that your doctor is able to give you some help.

While I don't have CKD, I do have patches of very dry skin that resembles snake skin. It often does not itch, but just very rough. I use a prescription cream (triamcinolone) which is a steroid cream and hydrocortisone cream. It works quite well.

I hope you get some relief. I would like to hear from you again and see what has worked for you.

Teresa

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I have been told that both CKD and Diabetes can cause itching. I take Allegra twice a day, including at night about 9-10 PM.

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Gaybinator | @gaybinator | Apr 9, 2018
In reply to @2011panc "@gaybinator I have had the best relief from itching by using Dove Brand Body Wash for..." + (show)
@2011panc

@gaybinator I have had the best relief from itching by using Dove Brand Body Wash for sensitive skin. I use an exfoliating nylon scrub towel in the shower and dab myself dry. If I am alone I apply one of the spray-on lotions immediately; either Aquiphor or Vaseline brands. If my husband is home he will apply Sarna for sensitive skin or a menthol lotion (Gold Bond or Wal-Mart brand) for me. I also have reduced my full showers to twice a week and just wash up my armpits, genitals and feet on the other days. I have heard bathing in baking soda, Epsom salts or oatmeal helps, but I don't like baths much and have not tried them. I have also had oatmeal soap recommended but have not tried that either. Your husband should be able to use anything I have mentioned because none of them are harsh. Prayers for comfort and healing.

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He has tried all of the above except Vaseline spray. Never seen or heard of it.

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Gaybinator | @gaybinator | Apr 9, 2018
In reply to @beverlynm "Hi, I'm new here, and have CKD with Lupus. I had the horrible itching problem head..." + (show)
@beverlynm

Hi, I'm new here, and have CKD with Lupus. I had the horrible itching problem head to toe for over a year. It drove me nearly insane and I have scars from scratching. After being hospitalized and getting my potassium and phosphorus levels under control, the itching is almost gone! I believe I have read that extreme itching can be a side effect of the high blood phosophorus levels. I take a phosphate binder for now and avoid all dairy and foods with high phosphates. Hope you get some relief soon.

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@beverlynm Were the phosphorus levels normal before you started taking the binders?

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2011panc | @2011panc | Apr 10, 2018
In reply to @2011panc "@gaybinator I have had the best relief from itching by using Dove Brand Body Wash for..." + (show)
@2011panc

@gaybinator I have had the best relief from itching by using Dove Brand Body Wash for sensitive skin. I use an exfoliating nylon scrub towel in the shower and dab myself dry. If I am alone I apply one of the spray-on lotions immediately; either Aquiphor or Vaseline brands. If my husband is home he will apply Sarna for sensitive skin or a menthol lotion (Gold Bond or Wal-Mart brand) for me. I also have reduced my full showers to twice a week and just wash up my armpits, genitals and feet on the other days. I have heard bathing in baking soda, Epsom salts or oatmeal helps, but I don't like baths much and have not tried them. I have also had oatmeal soap recommended but have not tried that either. Your husband should be able to use anything I have mentioned because none of them are harsh. Prayers for comfort and healing.

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That is too bad. I really only went after the sprays because my worst itching was right in the middle of my back where I could not reach. I tried different "wands" and things, but the best is still to have someone else do it for me. I drink 2-3 liters of water each day also. I hope you find some relief soon. I know how miserable it is to want to peel your skin off.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 10, 2018
In reply to @2011panc "@gaybinator I have had the best relief from itching by using Dove Brand Body Wash for..." + (show)
@2011panc

@gaybinator I have had the best relief from itching by using Dove Brand Body Wash for sensitive skin. I use an exfoliating nylon scrub towel in the shower and dab myself dry. If I am alone I apply one of the spray-on lotions immediately; either Aquiphor or Vaseline brands. If my husband is home he will apply Sarna for sensitive skin or a menthol lotion (Gold Bond or Wal-Mart brand) for me. I also have reduced my full showers to twice a week and just wash up my armpits, genitals and feet on the other days. I have heard bathing in baking soda, Epsom salts or oatmeal helps, but I don't like baths much and have not tried them. I have also had oatmeal soap recommended but have not tried that either. Your husband should be able to use anything I have mentioned because none of them are harsh. Prayers for comfort and healing.

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2011panc
Thanks for that good info. I wasn't aware of the sprays. I have a problem mid-back so that sounds like a good plan.

Teresa

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katem | @katem | Jun 17, 2018

Hi. I’m wanting to know if anyone has this rare condition. It’s damaged or malformed keratin that works it’s way through hair follicles. I have it because I’m diabetic and have chronic Kidney dysfunction. It itches before it it pokes through the skin and itches after. Would THC or CBD help with the itching?

REPLY
Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Jun 17, 2018

Hi @katem,

You may notice that I moved your message and combined it with this existing discussion on Itchy skin in the Kidney & Bladder group on Connect. I did this for two reasons: one, you mentioned you have chronic kidney dysfunction, and two, I thought it would be beneficial for you to be introduced to the many members who have discussed much of what you are experiencing.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.
I'm confident @2011panc @ujeeniack @macarl @upnorthnancy and others will return with some information that might help you.

@katem, could you share a few more details? What have you tried to get some relief from the itching? When were you diagnosed with CKD and diabetes?

REPLY
jin51 | @jin51 | Aug 11, 2018
In reply to @predictable "Hi @megwill100! I'm a little surprised to see your concern about itching in the Kidney and..." + (show)
@predictable

Hi @megwill100! I'm a little surprised to see your concern about itching in the Kidney and Bladder discussion, yet nothing seems to get less enduring attention than the itch. Maybe that's because itching seems to be far more discomforting than it is hazardous. In my case, the cause of interminable itching is still unknown, and we're not doing anything right now to identify the cause. In this discussion, we've dealt with chronic kidney disease and allergy histamines -- apparently without much success.

We started instead with the standard dry air of winter as the cause, despite the excellent humidifier on my heating system. No luck. Then we checked out soaps, both laundry and personal bath soap and shampoo and cosmetics, looking for the ingredient Isothiazolinone (a "biocide" or pesticide that soap manufacturers add to extend shelf life by preventing biochemical reactions -- the name is usually prefixed by such chemical signs as "metho-," "benz-," "octyl-," or "chloromethyl-"). A non-allergenic soap helped somewhat, but not enough.

So a dermatologist took a look, threw in the towel without any contact tests, and prescribed: an anti-itch salve to eliminate the symptoms, but only for a few weeks before it's limit on extended use kicked in. After that, the final tactic in the sequence has been shorter, cooler showers along with skin moisturizer lotions. Waiting now for Spring and higher humidities in the atmosphere. Fortunately, the itches are less intense and limited now to arms, legs, and belt line. If it continues in the summer, we'll take another pass at my kidney disease and histamine sensitivity with contact tests of my skin this time.

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Sending you a hug, hope thing are better now!!!

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