Has anyone experienced itchy skin (pruritus) with CKD?

@pranny I know your surgery is scheduled in a couple of days. How are you doing? Thinking about my own itchy skin concerns, like @cehunt looking into soaps and lotions, our bodies can change over time, and we become more sensitive. For many years, the only thing I use to wash my face is liquid Castile soap, not the latest-and-greatest-it-will-change-your-life cleanser.

Our metabolism can change as we go through a dis-ease process, so please give yourself grace in that. And remember hydration can play a big part. Not to mention that clothes are simply not made the way they used to be done. There are many finishes added to the process that could irritate us unknowingly.
Ginger

@gingerw yes my surgery is Friday still having this awful itch. Got so severe last night I haven't been to sleep at all so this morning not only am I still itching but I'm exhausted but I've already started eliminating things so hopefully we'll see how things go thank you for responding I'll do an update in a couple of days

I don't have itchy skin but my skin has become VERY dry along with looking scale-like along with with feeling crispy much like a fish's scales. Oh yes, and I have largish brown patches. Oh dear ....

According to kidney-related websites, itching is very common with advanced stages of CKD, but it also occurs in people with earlier stages of the disease. https://www.kidney.org.uk/chronic-kidney-disease-associated-pruritus-ckd-ap.

A few years before I was diagnosed at 3b, I would experience intense roaming itching when trying to get to sleep. By roaming I mean, for example, my head would have intense itch, scratch it, then my arm, then a foot, maybe a hand next or my back. It was like it was jumping all over, very pinpoint, not a wide area. And, yes, very intense. We've always used laundry soap that was for those that are sensitive - so that wasn't the problem. Shampoos, I've noticed, can be an issue, it took some time to find a brand that didn't contribute to the problem. It could have been my blood levels being abnormal. Eating a diet to keep that under control - in the normal range - MIGHT have helped alleviate the issue. I met with a dermatologist, he prescribed some ointments, those seemed to help, but you can't predict where the itching will be and it's usually only for 10 seconds, then it moves. Antihistamine seemed to help, but with stage 3b, you can't take those each day or the usual dose. I don't have the issue anymore. This year, is the best I've been, no eczema on my hands, very little on the scalp. So, what changed? Diet hadn't changed much in the previous year, yet I saw improvement this year. The only thing I can think of is the addition of eating Chia seeds and Ground Flax seeds, daily. Doing a little research, it seems Chia offers compounds that improve the health of your skin. Some say, with CKD, be cautious due to high oxalate levels. That hasn't been an issue for me in the past, but it could be for some. A serving is 2 tablespoons, I usually do 1 to 1 1/2. You have to soak them for about 20 minutes to get the benefit. Can't say this would be the resolution for anyone else, not even for me. I only know the itching and irritation (eczema) disappeared. As the dermatologist said - keep doing what you're doing, it's working. Hope this helps.

Yes, I think a lot of people have.

My itchy skin has gotten worse. I have changed multi vitamins recently so for the last three days have eliminated the new multivitamins and the itching had been reduced.

I have the same problem. I did read somewhere that it could be CKD. I haven't discussed it with my dr. because I knew I would get a similar answer to yours.

@gwladj76 That kind of makes sense to me. Chia can be used in place of shortening in recipes so it must have a lubricating effect. Unfortunately, I am not able to have any seeds due to bowel obstruction.

Hi pranny - I definitely know what you are talking about, and I would actually say the itchiness was part of my earliest symptoms, even before I knew what was going on with my kidneys. I am now stage 5.

I have actually found Epsom salt baths to be quite helpful both for pain and for relieving itchy skin. So you might try that, and then of course you put a lotion on afterwards. I find the products from Kiehl’s to be exceptionally helpful. And I have very dry skin to begin with, so adding moisturizer seems imperative.

There are soothing lotions out there as well… some more medically proven than others. Ask a nurse to recommend a brand?