Itchy legs?

[Lady Moonlight]

I'm a little interested in whether or not I have a form of this. I tend to have a scratching problem. I don't really know why. It's only on my legs and usually I can't stop scratching until I'm bleeding. Then, when the scabs start itching, I have to pick them off and so they bleed all over again. I don't do this all the time, I haven't even noticed a pattern yet, but I don't have particularly dry skin. But when they itch, I go crazy. Is this at all similar to what anyone here suffers? My friend has the same thing, only I'm pretty sure hers is anxiety related. Just wondering. I tried to do a little research, but everything was vague.:confused:

Any ideas? Thanks.

LM

[LIZARD]

My 12 yo son has this problem, too. He's autistic, so we can't always tell if we're getting accurate info from him, but I have asked him if his legs itch, and he said yes. I also noticed some time ago that he only did it in bed, after realizing that I was trying to get him to stop, so maybe it's behavioral, too?? We went to the ped about it, and he suggested several creams, which have helped, but only some. Siigghh....:( I wish I had some answers for you. I don't; just sympathy.


((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))),

LIZARD :)

[Lady Moonlight]

Thanks for responding. I've tried lotions before, but I have sensitive skin so I'm very wary about putting anything on. Like, I can't tolerate sunscreen if I've already had direct sun exposure, if my hands get chapped in the winter I can't do anything. I just keep breaking out in hives from stuff. I can't use certain soaps because of the green dye they contain (except for Irish Spring for some reason), so really I don't know. I suppose if I got a prescription cream, maybe I would be okay. And it's funny, I didn't use to have any skin problems until high school. Then all this stuff started popping up (except the soap allergy.) So, really, I don't know. I guess it's time to see a derm, eh? (I hate doctors!!)

LM

[LIZARD]

((((Hugs)))).

It sounds like we have similar probs, actually. I don't have all the allergies you do, but I am experiencing what I believe is hand eczema, and it's maddening!! :eek: :o I live in RI, where, of course, we have horribly cold and dry winters (unless it snows :eek: ), and I'm also losing a lot of weight (necessary :o ), which means lots of trips to the loo, which means lots of hand-washing. I use moisterizing soap, but my hands are still leathery and itchy, so lotion is a must, too. Right now, I'm using Gold Bond Medicated. It really helps, but it takes a long time to absorb, and it can feel lardy.

Yes, get to a derm, hon'! I need one, too. :o


Good luck!

LIZARD :)

[Julie@411]

My daughter gets those little bumps all over her legs and upper arms. Her doctor said it is clogged pored and to use a loofa to remove them. It works if you keep using the loofa, if she stops, then the bumps come back. After she showers and uses the lofa, then she puts on Aveno cream.

Julie

[Lady Moonlight]

Interesting. I don't have bumps but I do find that scrubbing hard in the shower does seem to help a bit. I have yet to try a cream and I've been to busy to see a derm.

LM

[waves]

don't ask me how i got here - actually looking for a friend in Chronic Pain... oh never mind long story... ok, so well here i am i read this thread now. might as well say something. who knows, it might be useful.

whatever the cause, once the itching is there, scratching is dern hard not to do! and as the sores scab over and start to detach, any child of outdoor-play-age will tell you they itch like mad - scream to be scratched.

throughout my reading here, there seems to be an initial causal event (itch), so i would tend not to think of the scratching as compulsive behavior, but rather a natural response. i think, were it compulsive, that it would occur without any stimuli - no itching - in that case, behavioral, yes. I suppose the first could eventually lead to the second.

Ok, so now to determine the pre-cause of the causal event: to try to discern and thus learn how to eliminate the "original" itching.

1 --- bad circulation? if you have a sedentary job, don't move around much, or have to stand still a lot, you might have bad circulation in the legs. The solution (no pun intended) would be to improve circulation by integrating an exercise routine that involves the legs... aerobics, swimming, jogging, gym... (says she, who has not been able to start running again but that's a separate story.)

2 --- Allergies... lots of things can cause them, besides what you apply to the skin (soap, detergent, powders, lotions, creams etc).

Consider laundry detergent? and worse, since it is not rinsed out... laundry softener? Any of you tried the plain unscented kind (of both)? Use any citronella products? (some detergents include it as a disinfectant but also a "good:rolleyes:" allergen for some of us, eg. yours truly.)

Fabric dyes also have chemicals... any frequently-worn clothes, bedsheets, that might be associated with onset/worsening?

Have any of you considered diet? Food allergies can present with dermatological symptoms - typically itching or redness (or bumps).

3 --- Stress... i know little of this, but my cousin's husband broke out in hives all over... they would not go away... he had a very stressful job at the time which he hated. he changed jobs and voila! hives disappeared!

Treatment........ works today, not tomorrow....

Creams often contain cortisone, the effectiveness of which gradually lessens to nil, especially when used on large areas. Symptoms of chronic conditions reappear when the cortisone poops out. the best is to use it for a few weeks, then off for a few weeks, etc... now with this a Derm is the best person who can answer the on/off frequency. but once again, i think the cause of itching here needs to be addressed, as opposed to placating it once it rears its nimmeny head with an anti-inflammatory.

Has anyone tried oral antihistamines... over the course of a few days, to see if the itching remits? That would argue for an allergic cause.

Liz - for your son are only the lower legs are affected, perchance? (check for tightness of socks/pants. esp. long sports socks. That can cause itching and would snowball from there.

ok i'll shut up and go away now. dang do i ever write long posts. :o

~ waves ~

p.s. my legs are itching right now but i know the reason - i was wearing stretch jeans (only slightly stretchy) but they cause my legs to itch. some areas of the legs worse than others. i wear them to go out, but remove them as soon as i get home!

[RathyKay]

don't ask me how i got here - actually looking for a friend in Chronic Pain... oh never mind long story... ok, so well here i am i read this thread now. might as well say something. who knows, it might be useful.
I can identify with this. I just happened to see the thread title while on the forum index page.
Have any of you considered diet? Food allergies can present with dermatological symptoms - typically itching or redness (or bumps).
My son is in the middle of an "itchy leg attack." His itchy legs always coincide with yeast overgrowth. Attack the yeast in the gut (reduce sugars, some GSE - grapefruit seed extract, some acidopholus), and his itching goes away. Don't know if that will help...