Chronic itching, no response to various diets or skin treatments

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

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Article from an MD re Candida and various treatments, including natural ones:

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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:

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:

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.

@fran0529 Well, you’re one healthy person and you’re not! I sort of keyed in on the SIBO because it could be causing your problems. Here is a link to Mayo’s information about it.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/small-intestinal-bacterial-overgrowth/symptoms-causes/syc-20370168
Is a doctor following you for this condition? What medications and/or diet does he have you on?

Thanks a million for all your excellent suggestions. I will begin implementing them today. You are right on re carbs. I forgot to mention that I also take a protein shake daily - should take two, and also snack daily sunflower seed butter which adds about 10 grams of protein daily.

Sound familiar…I have chronic itch triggered by water/sweat and change in temperature…I was taking a B Complex with high dose of B6 which made it worse…
I also take Beta Alanine, which is typically a preworkout supplement that kills the itch… I take 750 mg every four hours as needed…I buy the NOW Brand on Amazon….it takes about 15-20 mins to kick in…I take 1500 mg before showering…for some odd reason, showering in the evening works better…

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.

I'm a 69 yo woman. I imagine you have switched hair care to minimal ingredients and "natural". I can use Matrix brand and Dove soap without problems. I had rashes on arms, legs, and back for decades. Dermatologists would just say "its dry skin" and give me hydrocortisone cream. In my case, the eczema was due to gluten intolerance. Rashes went away 14 years ago, after the intolerance morphed into celiac. I have kept a food log since, and am also sensitive to a lot of chemicals (including hair and skin products), NSAIDs, some legumes, and dust and sap of some trees (woodturner). My diet is mostly FODMAP. For me, eating a bite of Uncle Dave's bread (gluten) would bloat me up like the Pillsbury Dough Boy, the skin rash would come back, as would problems with balance, sleep, GI, and other symptoms. Oatmeal would do the same because of cross contamination. Oats are gluten free, but have to be certified as such because of crop rotation and processing in same plant as wheat/rye/barley. Elimination diets are one way to see if your skin is affected by what you eat.

You may be going down the wrong itch pathway entirely! You have focused quite a lot on the histamine pathway of itching as well as the whole candida/topical/what’s going on with the skin… but I hear nothing about the health of the nerves. If you are getting (and have gotten) that much sun exposure with tennis over the years, I am wondering about (but not actually diagnosing because this is an internet chat) neuropathic itch, which can be almost untreatable (sometimes). 1) become absolutely scrupulous with sun protection, do not step so much as a foot outside without being covered by UPF 50+ fabrics covering all of your itchy areas and any areas near your itchy areas! Sunscreen is insufficient as you will still receive UV radiation that will induce itching! 2) speak with your provider about medications to help with neuropathic itch- these medications are used for lots of different things and can sometimes have side effects like making people feel sleepy, so it is important to ask questions and talk through options for which option you are comfortable trying. 3) short application of ice packs can sometimes be helpful 4) capsaicin cream can sometimes be helpful, but talk to your provider first- especially since it is delicate skin on the forehead!

Good luck- do continue to use the sunscreen, but you have to shade that skin PLUS sunscreen- don’t let any UV rays touch that itchy skin ever. I have the same affliction on my arms… it is just the worst. Every couple of summers I think “maybe it’s gone away… probably a little sun exposure won’t hurt, right?” And I spend agonizing days trying to not scratch my own arms open into bleeding, scabbed messes until the itching, burning nerves calm down. It is the only itch that feels WORSE after scratching!

None of the practitioner I have seen have mentioned neuropathic itch. I will look into that further, and be more careful to use sunscreen when I am out in the sun. Thank you for your help..

Thanks very much for your suggestions and comments. I will be more careful about the oatmeal I buy and I will switch to Dove soap and take a crack at FOODMAP.

Thank you for your comments, and questions. I have heard about Benadryl cream for another source as well, and will give it a try. I have not yet tried the Aveeno OatmeaI soaks so I will try them as well. I have not yet had COVID thank God. I will pray for you as well.