96 year old woman has itchy scalp and neck

@woojr I was going to suggest your mother may have psoriasis or eczema on her scalp and neck, but it seems she doesn’t as your dermatologist would have told you if she did have it. Since psoriasis and eczema seem to have been ruled out it is apparent her itching is due to something she is using or ingesting.

I too have a very itchy scalp (I have psoriasis on my scalp as well which is kept in control by medication) and I find my itching gets worse when I use any kind of conditioner so I don’t use conditioners anymore. Not using a conditioner makes my hair frizzy of course, but for me it is a small price to pay to reduce the itching.

Apparently mom's anti aging creme was making it worse. It was retinal and has an abrasive effect making skin have a shiny appearance. She'll be on two weeks of a steroid creme. She's also instructed to clean everything she comes in contact with and we're washing all her bed clothes and nightgowns and she's to use fresh wash clothes every time she applies the steroid. The lesson here is we can't be too careful and clean. She appears to be ready to do her best to get this fixed.

Funny story here... my wife just spoke to our daughter who called mom to ask her about her Dr's visit yesterday. Apparently mom left with a different understanding than my wife and me. She told my wife that mom's world was ending having to keep up with all the stuff the doctor required. She was so depressed she canceled her hairdresser appointment today. My daughter managed to talk her into making her hair appointment where she's been getting something put into her hair to help with the itching. It was from her first dermatologist appointment a few weeks ago. I'm so glad my daughter keeps tabs on mom because she always gets a different version of what's going on. If she would just tell us what she's experiencing it would be easier on her. God bless her.

@woojr I suffered with severe scalp itching and would get itchy whenever I would work out in the yard. This went on for years. Sometimes when I would get into bed I would start itching like crazy. I saw an allergist and had the allergy testing and found I am allergic to acrylates. I thought no big deal. I wasn't sure what acrylates even were. Well I found out they are in make-up, hair products, laundry soap (even the dermatologist recommended), nail polish, surgical tape. They are in everything. It was the top allergy in 2012. More and more people are becoming allergic to this ingredient that they are putting in everything. Maybe your mom has this same allergy. It is no fun. I have to get shots of Xolair every month just to keep the itching at bay. My mother had the same thing when she was 98 years old and we tried everything, creams, lotions and it wasn't until she was on hospice and they finally gave her a prescription for the itching that she was able to finally be normal again.

Very interesting. Mom started meds today and had a good, itch free day. It only seems to be on her lower back where she is putting the creme. It would be nice if it works. I will definitely keep your story so when we check back with the dermatologist I'll let her know if there's a problem. We'll see her in a couple weeks. Thanks again

I recently read that there are molds and stuff in the shower hoses and shower head. It is recommended to run the shower for 30 sec or more to clear out the bugs before you step under the water.

I don't know if she would put up with the 5 Day Extended Patch Test to identify Allergic Contact Dermatitis, ACD. Yes 5 full days with patches covering your back upper torso from below the neck to the bra area shoulder to shoulder. In middle age I became allergic to over 2 dozen chemical and common natural contact which are used in grooming products, fibers, shoes, clothing and so on. The itching is insane. This test identifies these allergens. This is not the 30 minute patch test for environmental allergies to pollen, grasses, dogs, cats ,and so on. She'll need to see an allergist or dermatologist who is licensed for these registered tests. Medicare will pay for this expensive $1,500.00 test if justified by the doctor Not all allergists are licensed for this test kit. True Test is a good patch test kit. She needs to ask her dermatologist if he or she is licensed for it.
In the meantime, only use 100% cotton linens on the bed, no memory foam in the pillow or mattress, use a safe laundry soap like All Free and Clear (not All Free and Clear for Sensitive Skin it has ingredients in it I'm allergic to), bi fabric softener, order on line a shampoo free of fragrance or other toxic chemicals like MI/MCI or other preservatives, a good shampoo for me is DHS Clear Shampoo. Avoid conditioner until the itching subsides, never hairspray or setting lotion. The baking soda may be drying her scalp. No permanents.
Be aware that the topical or oral treatment's the doctors are prescribing are only treating the condition not eliminating he cause. She needs to find out what is causing this itching. I was prescribed steroids for years, not only topical but injections which do help for a limited period of time only to return once treatment is discontinued. Steroids are a double edged sword, they can help temporarily but have long term side effects which may be irrelevant at her age,

Thanks for your comments. Well put that steroids can be a double edged sword. So can so many other meds and who knows what can trigger ill effects. A big part of her problem is she's been searching for something to be wrong. She gets tons of advertisements for supplements to cure things they want her to believe she needs. It's been getting worse since she got a new computer and listens to podcasts convincing her she has all sorts of problems. Today it's a swelling in a leg. She's had these off and on for over ten years and has a prescription for it. Now she tells me she needs some pills off the internet. Her legs are thinner than 90% of the people on this planet. 96 is pretty old and she drives, takes PT twice a week, cooks her food, cleans much of her clothes and goes to the hairdresser, Post Office and Dollar General. I take her to the doctors and see her 3-4 times a week. My wife helps her with big jobs like bed clothes and vacuuming the floors as well as food shopping a few times a week. Almost everyone she's known is dead. Most had a lousy end of life. She's basically lived a great life and expects to live another great 25 years because someone sold her pills off the internet that guaranteed it.
Anyway we have a plan to see her tomorrow to see if she needs to stop the steroids and -or her BP meds and see the PCP next week. One last thing, we've been through this before with her cardiologist who retired a year ago. The swelling that is. She doesn't recall taking the lasix and that she has it with her other meds. She demanded the pills off the internet.