Unexplained Itching

Hi Chris, I think you asked me if I had neuropathy and I can’t remember on which thread you asked that or whether I answered that question so I’m doing so here - possibly again!
I haven’t been diagnosed with that, but I do have pain in various parts of my body (just like my itching, each part takes over from another!) but that could be because I also have fibromyalgia, and in 2006 I had a bad case of shingles, and a minor attack about eighteen months to two years ago.

I am new to this site and have joined about four threads I think, but keep forgetting which thread I have commented on and have to wade through several comments before I find responses to one of mine. I know I am not going about it the right way so could you please tell me how I can follow threads more seamlessly?

I had horrible itching years ago that nothing helped. Tried prescription creams and Benedryl to no avail. It was awful. My dermatologist told me of a patient of his who was helped with an itching problem by bathing in water with baking soda. He repeatedly told me to totally avoid eating anything acidic. This included juices, potatoes, soda, tomatoes, acidic fruit, catsup, all processed foods that included anything with acid in the ingredient list. I didn’t want that many restrictions in my diet so avoided following it until the itching was so bad I was desperate for help. So I did as he said and totally avoided all foods with any hint of acidity. In 3 days the itching was gone. I knew that was the cause because I could bring back the eczema and extreme itching by drinking a glass of orange juice. After a few years of following this diet, the reaction to acidity lessened. I no longer have a problem with acidic food but clearly remember when I did. It’s worth a try.

Good morning @rashida, what's happening? The list of your diagnoses and health incidents is almost overwhelming. However, I don't immediately read neuropathy. Maybe forerunners to or causal of neuropathy.

And I am glad you found a dermatologist and can connect through telemedicine.

And now to how to find your four threads on Connect, What device are you using? Here are some tips for a laptop. When you return to the top of any page, you will see two things that can help.

Attempt number 1
Step 1: Across the top of your screen you will see the word HOME and then Groups. When you click on Groups, you will see every connect group in alphabetical order. Skin Health is one of those groups.

Step 2: When you click on Skin Health you will be taken to a welcome page and a list of all discussions in chronological order. You might recognize a familiar discussion or others you can explore later.

Step 3: If you click on a Discussion you will be taken to a page just like this one where you can choose "Oldest to newest" or Newest to Oldest on the right-hand side to view the posts.

Attempt number 2
Step 1: On the right-hand side at the top of the page you will see a blue bar with the word "APPOINTMENT". Next on the left is your frame (we are awaiting your beautiful photo) and a down arrow.

Step 2: Click on the down arrow to open your profile. Click on the word Profile. As you move down the page you will see all of your own posts chronologically. That might be a good resource for you.

Attempt number 3
Step 1: To the left of your frame....you will see an envelope (for private messages) a bell and a magnifying glass in an empty box. Enter a user that you are seeking, e.g. "@mollymcgee" or a few words about the discussion you are following e.g. "itching everywhere".

Step 2: A drop-down will open with prior searches from which you can choose. If none of the printed options fit just click again on the magnifying glass and see if it has enough information to find your post.

Good luck. This is the first time I have walked someone through these options. Let me know if it works for you.

May you have contentment and ease
Chris

I have itch but I also sometimes get hives and have eczema. It is a terrible thing to deal with, no matter the cause.

I get relief from general itch (not eczema, unfortunately) from Eucerin Roughness Relief lotion. The ingredient list reads like a pre-workout supplement - lysine, threonine, histidine - can stabilize mast cells. Arginine and citrulline are interesting as they could increase nitric oxide (NO) production. Increased NO may help you - or it could go the other way. Patch test, I guess. Red light (Photobiomodulation) will also increase NO production.

I like the epsom salt bath idea. Topical magnesium chloride ('magnesium oil') might be something else to try as it has helped me with pain - most likely neuropathic pain. Another thing that has helped me a lot with sciatica and plantar fasciitis is static stretching - holding positions at least 2 minutes several times a day. Not pleasant but much better than plantar fasciitis. If your itch is sort of like neuropathic pain - these things might help. I also take fish oil; static stretching promotes release of resolvins - substances that promote resolution of inflammation; DHA is needed for resolvin production.

You may want to look into how much of the various B vitamins you are getting from diet and supplements (and what forms). Cronometer is an app that can help with that.

Hope you find something that works.

Forgot to mention the importance of clean air for skin conditions. Air quality is often overlooked in comparison to things that directly contact the skin and food sensitivities. This is especially relevant to people living in urban areas. From a quick search, I see that airborne cadmium and particulate matter have been implicated in psoriasis, for example.

I have found some modest improvement from using a home air HEPA filter; in pre-pandemic times I have worn a 3M half respirator when working in places with high levels of air pollutants (e.g., a cat rescue shelter - lots of particulates and ammonia from the cat litter). Now that there is a pandemic on, I can wear a face mask without being viewed as 'eccentric' . If you can find an N95 mask, they are good for most things, but don't wear one that is past its expiration date or has been stored improperly as they can degrade and make things worse (my own experience). Home HEPA filters can be expensive but there is a video on YouTube by an allergist showing how to make a filter out of a box fan and a furnace filter.
~
PS - ACV also kills my stomach, but this was not always the case. I have had GERD off and on for many years and found that broccoli sprout smoothies (look up Rhonda Patrick for information on this) gets rid of it - worked much better for me than PPIs and seems to do something for the disease rather than just symptoms. For a few years AVC actually helped my GERD (temporary symptom relief) then something changed when I started having all my skin hypersensitivity reactions. The GERD flared up again and I tried ACV (It takes a few days for the broccoli sprouts to start working) and OMG my stomach pain was so awful - I felt I had been stabbed. ACV contains not just acetic acid but also histamine, yeast residue and of course apple. My skin issues started up around the same time my daughter started having her Celiac and oral allergy syndrome symptoms. I believe our health problems were most likely triggered by an infection of some kind.

@artscaping Thank you! Yes, I am a mess of conditions, and a veteran of surgeries and procedures (thankfully the last surgery was a laparoscopic gall bladder removal some twenty years ago), lol, which is why I follow that many threads at Mayo Connect! Have been learning a lot through the various members’ experiences. 😊

@rashida Me too! I'm a real veteran of so many of the conditions discussed on Mayo Clinic Connect!

What causes severe itching of all parts of the body, thereby causing lumps and rashes in parts that are itched. Even after receiving treatments of all sorts.

Hi @becca123 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You will see that your post is now part of a discussion taking about unexplained itching. I moved it here so you could connect with members like @artscaping, @artist01, @rhyo9 and @dsisko

How long has this been going on with you?

Good evening @becca123. I would also like to welcome you to Connect. Our moderator @amandaburnett has suggested that you may need some help with severe itching. I don't know if I have solved it....however I have found something that works immediately within 15 or 20 minutes and lasts about 6 hours. It is a topical called Dermeleve with no steroids.

It is not a fix-it forever treatment. It gives you immediate relief on a temporary basis. I also use a heavy-duty topical when my flare is being stubborn and trying to hang on. It is called Tacrolimus ointment. You can use it twice a day and it helps for the long haul.

In the group "Skin Health" look for discussions about unexplained itching or neuropathic itch. @johnbishop has also posted about how to contact the company for more information on Dermeleve in the same group.

In your comment, you mention bumps and rashes. I start a flare with the bumps and know that I had better do something ASAP if I don't want the rash to appear.

Do you think that your itching condition is aroused when emotionality or stress is high?

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris