PV Itching Not After Bathing

@claire39, do you mind sharing the lotion that you mention in your previous post that helps when you have an outbreak? Susan would like to know.

What lotion do you use?

Good morning Trillium.......I have ET and MPN, I have been on Hydrea for three years. Before diagnosis I developed itchiness on my scalp with outbreaks of blister like spots. Dermatologists said it was an allergy to fragrance. After I started to take Hydrea it slowly calmed down to just a bit of itchiness sometimes at night. My Blood Doctor said it was side effects of the cancer. I have a lotion that I put on it if I have an outbreak. I do not have itchiness anywhere else. Hope this information is helpful

I have polycythemia and experienced extreme itching for years, especially around my ankles. I mauled my poor ankles to death, especially at night. Triggers: warm/hot showers, exercise, hot (or even just warm) weather. But the itching happens even without those triggers. Nights are absolutely the worst.

Eventually, I broke the itch/scratch cycle:
1. I rid myself of any and all skin care products except Aveeno's special body wash and cream for dry itchy skin. No, my skin is not dry, it's just that I have found these products work for me like no other. I even use the body wash as simple hand soap. So, no acne washes, etc. No product hits my skin other than the above Aveeno products.
2. I lather myself up with the above body wash PRIOR to getting into the shower. Then, I turn the shower on and quickly rinse myself off in just-warm water. I do not linger in the shower or use hot water.
3. Whenever I start to itch, I rub the Aveeno cream into the itchy area.
4. Hypo-allergenic laundry detergent.

After a week or so, the itch/scratch cycle broke. My problem is now all but alleviated. But I am careful to NEVER scratch, knowing that I could start the cycle all over again.

I have polycythemia and experienced extreme itching for years, especially around my ankles. I mauled my poor ankles to death, especially at night. Triggers: warm/hot showers, exercise, hot (or even just warm) weather. But the itching happens even without those triggers. Nights are absolutely the worst.

Eventually, I broke the itch/scratch cycle:
1. I rid myself of any and all skin care products except Aveeno's special body wash and cream for dry itchy skin. No, my skin is not dry, it's just that I have found these products work for me like no other. I even use the body wash as simple hand soap. So, no acne washes, etc. No product hits my skin other than the above Aveeno products.
2. I lather myself up with the above body wash PRIOR to getting into the shower. Then, I turn the shower on and quickly rinse myself off in just-warm water. I do not linger in the shower or use hot water.
3. Whenever I start to itch, I rub the Aveeno cream into the itchy area.
4. Hypo-allergenic laundry detergent.

After a week or so, the itch/scratch cycle broke. My problem is now all but alleviated. But I am careful to NEVER scratch, knowing that I could start the cycle all over again.

@claire39, thank you so much for your reply. I, too, have had some sort of dermatitis on my scalp for about 2 years. It itches, blisters, and flakes. I’ve lost count of the different hair products I’ve cycled through to try to figure out the culprit. I never thought to correlate it to blood. This is very helpful information. What is the lotion that you use on it?