Pruritus (severe itching)with CKD

@hellab Ouch, what a way to get through each day. Actually, not getting through very comfortably, right?!

Has your husband taken a look at what his meds and supplements are? His electrolytes may be out of balance, likewise high levels of calcium, phosphorous, etc. From the National Kidney Foundation, here is a very informative article that will probably answer many of your questions: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/chronic-kidney-disease-associated-pruritus-itchy-skin#:~:text=CKD%2DaP%20is%20very%20itchy,has%20been%20associated%20with%20itching.

What stage is your husband in for chronic kidney disease? I am on daily dialysis, and some days experience the itching you talk about. I tend to go to a more conservative resolution, looking at my labs to see if something is amiss, checking my diet, using rich creams, even a shower gel like Neutrogena Rainbath rather than soap. Often it is a trial-and-error, because sometimes one thing works, another time it is something else. I don't want to add any medications to me laundry list of prescriptions, so I steer clear from steroids.

And, it will never hurt to ask a dermatologist for their input, after explaining the situation! Good luck and let me know what you decide to do/find out!
Ginger

Thank you for answering so quickly, Ginger. My husband is stage 4. He has tried all the lotions and creams, including the one his dermatologist recommended as well as the antihistamine frequently prescribed. He is now using a CBD capsaicin cream with very limited success. We are both so excited about your suggestion to turn to the kidney foundation. Thank you so much for the link. It feels good not to be alone in this.

@hellab You're never alone when you're here on Mayo Clinic Connect! That's one of the reasons this forum works so well for us. Sharing experiences, concerns, treatments that work [or don't for us!]. We each have our unique journeys.

Feeling "not alone" is important, and I know you understand that!

One ointment that I liked is a homeopathic arnica cream. It is usually used for bruising and arthritis type symptoms, but for some reason it works on my itching also, at times.
Ginger

So sorry to hear this is an ongoing problem for him. Sometimes a warm Epsom salt soak has helped me . I try not to use one with lots of fragrances etc. Not too hot either. I use it before bed, so it helps soothes my skin a little, eases my Muscle pain and relaxs me for sleep.

I have stage 4 CKD and have also experienced episodes of severe itching from time to time. First off I try to stay well hydrated from the inside out as recommended and approved by my nephrologist. Also I tried to link the itching to anything else that might explain why it was and what to do about it. I mostly came up with external causes related to seasons, weather and temperature plus the associated clothing. For instance hot, humid, sweaty in the summer. Cold and dry during the winter heating season. I live in Minnesota. My husband has very sensitive skin and allergies so we use hypoallergenic hygiene products and household cleaners; so I felt comfortable ruling out products as the source of my itching. In addition to this I found that natural textiles rather than synthetics for clothing was helpful. For skin cleansers consider Basis, Eucerin, Cetaphil, Neutragena, Almay. For moisturizers try plain baby oil. I also like baby powder or plain talcum powder to help wick away sweat and too much moisture (in creases and crevices). Avoid fragrances and additives. Simple is better.

@hellab @gingerw @cehunt57
It is my understanding that if diagnosed with CKD-aP, there is a new drug out called Korsuva which treats this disease, specifically. It does include patients on hemodialysis, but not sure about those who are not. Obviously, that will be my next stop to my nephrologist as my severe itching over the last few months is confined only to my face, nose, eyes, and ears. I have been cleared with no allergies by my allergist, and no visual spots by my dermatologist. This is important information for me as all my lab values are normal with exception of Cystatin C and creatinine eGFR. Good topic with great information.

Thank you so much for mentioning Korsuva. We will try and get an appointment ASAP, which here in Florida is not easy. I will report on how it goes.

Thank you for your suggestions. Most of them we have tried but there are a few new ones. I am off to the drustore. Thank you!

Thank you so much for your support! He has tried arnica as one of the ingredients in a sports gel. Now we will try the pure arnica cream.