Jarheadd44
11-24-2001, 10:19 PM
I am a healthy 44 year old male, with no known alliergies to date. My left and right arms itch so bad that I want to tear the skin right off. The itch is a deep tingling itch that comes and goes at will. It can be either arm but mostly my left arm and elbow. It can last for hours at a time and then go away for months. The only relief that I know of is to put something cold on it. It has even woke me up at night.
PLEASE HELP !!!!
PLEASE HELP !!!!
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Natopheli
11-30-2001, 03:40 PM
Have you tried consistently drinking lots of water and using lotion? Sounds like dry skin! Well I hope it's not allergies! They stink!
Nat
Nat
BEACHBOUND8
12-27-2001, 11:33 AM
I would check with a chiropracttor you could have a pinched nerve in your neck.Just a thought.
lm9587
12-29-2001, 07:18 PM
I also have itchy arms that are really a problem. I have no idea what causes it, but it has been flaring up several times a day, and also keeps me up at night. There is no rash or other visible signs. I have heard of two other people with this problem but no one seems to know the cause, or the cure. Any suggestions>
Carreen
12-30-2001, 08:49 AM
A few things can cause you to itch with no visible rash:
Hepatitus C-Almost 2% of the population of the United States is infected with Hepatitis C. Not everyone who carries the virus is sick.
Anxiety- Sometimes itching and scrathing become an anxiety and stress release
Nerve problems- As someone else mentioned, you could have a slight pinch or pressure point on a nerve.
Lymphoma/Hodgkins disease-Lymphomas are tumors arising within or made up of cells from the lymphatic system. Both types of lymphoma are usually discovered by noticing enlargment of some lymph nodes. Symptoms are usually not present, although a minority of people with these conditions will have unexplained fever, weight loss, or severe unexplained itching.
Hepatitus C-Almost 2% of the population of the United States is infected with Hepatitis C. Not everyone who carries the virus is sick.
Anxiety- Sometimes itching and scrathing become an anxiety and stress release
Nerve problems- As someone else mentioned, you could have a slight pinch or pressure point on a nerve.
Lymphoma/Hodgkins disease-Lymphomas are tumors arising within or made up of cells from the lymphatic system. Both types of lymphoma are usually discovered by noticing enlargment of some lymph nodes. Symptoms are usually not present, although a minority of people with these conditions will have unexplained fever, weight loss, or severe unexplained itching.
plymouth
12-30-2001, 11:11 PM
Sometimes in the winter we start taking longer baths or showers. The hot water alone can dry the skin and make it really itchy.
reeny
01-04-2002, 05:29 PM
Lotions, perfume/colognes and laundry detergent can cause mild to severe allergic reactions.
pamelanovak
08-27-2006, 12:58 AM
Your post was so long ago, I don't know if your still out there. I have been having the itchy upper arms for years, and it is driving me crazy now. In my quest for answers, I found your posting. It can come on several times a day, and then begone for months, or years. I first had it with my first pregnacy, and my doctor said it happens and would go away after I had the baby. And it did, for many years. I can only attribute it to hormone changes. Only ice can relieve it. I never use soap on my arms. Lotions aggrevate it. If any one knows anymore, I welcome help.
debro
08-28-2006, 09:20 AM
I wish I had the answer to this riddle - I've been having the same problem and then occasionally it started affecting my hands, neck, ankles, side of my knees. No rash or bumps. I went to a GP who said stress related and gave me a prescription for Lexapro. That hasn't helped. Later I went to a dermatologist. He said allergies and prescribed Allegra and urged me to go to an allergist. I haven't gone to the allergist yet. My pharmacist said that any allergy medication would do, that Clarinex (which I already had on hand) would do just as well as Allegra. I haven't gotten relief from allergy medication either. Looks like if it were an allergy, the allergy meds would help and that would be a clue that I really did need to see an allergist. You know you hate to keep spending money on docs when all seem to be wrong. I haven't got any other symptoms of Hodgkins/Lymphoma, such as weight loss, night sweats, fever.
angel25
08-29-2006, 09:28 PM
I get itchy too - but no rash, no dry skin and I drink plenty of water.
The main itch is in my ear. I only feel it when my head is turned a certain way - usually when I lay on my stomach and sleep with my head to the left. But sometimes it's a constant itch
Sometimes I have an itch on the tip of nose or cheek. Usually both areas happen around the same time within a few days. It feels like a hair is tickeling my nose - but there is no hair. It usually lasts for a few hours.
The other itch is my lower leg/chins - usually when I first sit down or when lay down at night. It drives me crazy and it's difficult to lay down at night.
The ear bothers me most often. One doctor said it was a tiny hair in my ear. My chiropractor didn't say much, said my ears looked clean. Another doctor said I had swimmers ear - but I don't swim and just take quick showers in the morning.
My last visit to the doctor was when my ear and chins had been itching for several days. I changed shower gel, shampoo, razor, lotion - everything and nothing helped. Itch creams didn't help. She gave me prednizone and allegra - she wans't sure if it was allergies and mentioned it could be an auto immune problem. After taking the medications, the itch went away and my legs haven't itched since. But my ear has - not as much as before. I called my doctor and she said it's probably allergies and told me to keep taking Allergra.
But if it is allergies, shouldn't Allegra help my seasonal allergies? The last few days I've had to pry my swollen eyes open each morning and they are blood shot and irritated. Plus sneezing and runny nose....Clariton doesn't seem to help either.
My friend has an itch problem too, but she was just diganosed with MS.
I know when I'm not getting enough water - my lips feel dry. I usually drink 2 liters of water a day.
I changed to allergenic soaps, lotions, etc.
If it was an allergy, shouldn't there be a rash or some sort of irritation other than my finger nail tracks?
So who knows? Allergies, auto immune, not enough water, detergents, soaps??
The main itch is in my ear. I only feel it when my head is turned a certain way - usually when I lay on my stomach and sleep with my head to the left. But sometimes it's a constant itch
Sometimes I have an itch on the tip of nose or cheek. Usually both areas happen around the same time within a few days. It feels like a hair is tickeling my nose - but there is no hair. It usually lasts for a few hours.
The other itch is my lower leg/chins - usually when I first sit down or when lay down at night. It drives me crazy and it's difficult to lay down at night.
The ear bothers me most often. One doctor said it was a tiny hair in my ear. My chiropractor didn't say much, said my ears looked clean. Another doctor said I had swimmers ear - but I don't swim and just take quick showers in the morning.
My last visit to the doctor was when my ear and chins had been itching for several days. I changed shower gel, shampoo, razor, lotion - everything and nothing helped. Itch creams didn't help. She gave me prednizone and allegra - she wans't sure if it was allergies and mentioned it could be an auto immune problem. After taking the medications, the itch went away and my legs haven't itched since. But my ear has - not as much as before. I called my doctor and she said it's probably allergies and told me to keep taking Allergra.
But if it is allergies, shouldn't Allegra help my seasonal allergies? The last few days I've had to pry my swollen eyes open each morning and they are blood shot and irritated. Plus sneezing and runny nose....Clariton doesn't seem to help either.
My friend has an itch problem too, but she was just diganosed with MS.
I know when I'm not getting enough water - my lips feel dry. I usually drink 2 liters of water a day.
I changed to allergenic soaps, lotions, etc.
If it was an allergy, shouldn't there be a rash or some sort of irritation other than my finger nail tracks?
So who knows? Allergies, auto immune, not enough water, detergents, soaps??
llgrimes1
11-24-2007, 01:23 PM
It's good to know I'm not the only one going through all these same symptoms....I thought I was loosing my mind.I have the same skin irritation on both my arms (from shoulders, to elbows). There are no real visible signs such as bumps, or rashes. The annoying occurance is unpredictable and can affect my right arm for a period of time then go away for months and then the other arm may be affected the next time,or both. As I see with others, symptoms usually occur at night . At times I get no sleep. The most nerve wrecking sympton is when it feels like someone is just poking me continually in just one spot with a pin. The only relief comes from icing it down, to the point my arms are completely numb. I rely on having frozen water bottles next to both arms at night when I'm in bed. It's so annoying,irritating, and nerve wretching to the point it consumes all my energy and makes me feel like a freak! I don't want to seek a doctor until I find someone that knows something about this. What is the cause...nerve damage, stress??I'm sure all of you have answered the same questions when it comes to causes... lotions, detergents, hot baths. I am convinced it is something much deeper. Good luck to all of us that suffer this.
Washer
11-30-2007, 09:52 AM
Ditto as the others had mentioned. This is not a gender problem, although it seems mostly women are posting on this. I am a male and had this symptom since early summer. i went to a dermetologist who he himself said he doesn't know. At first he said it maybe a slight case of excema...later denied. He gave me Cordran lotion which has partially controlled the itching on my forearms...but not 100%. Its my back that I have to buy a back scratcher and use usually 2x a day..upon rising and going to bed. During the day mostly under control. He wants to start light treatments for 40 times. how can he treat something if he doesn't know the cause? so far I've refused the light treatment until at least find the cause. Now I read it could be a thyroid problem, among other things. True most here say that there is no rash, but if one looks close enough, you could see a small pimple like substance...and if u don't see it, just rub your hand over the itchy area and u would feel something. At first, I had the feeling like a insect was beneath my skin and trying to get out by biting through me...most of that is gone now, thanks to the lotion Cordran. Who knows
msonique
12-25-2007, 09:50 AM
Both myself, aged 50, and my mum, aged 77, both suffer with this nightmare of itchy arms, mainly from the elbow up to the shoulder and it drives me insane. Last night it wakened me at 04.00am and kept me up until 05.30am despite getting up twice to run my arm under the cold tap until it was numb but as soon as I started to get warm in bed, it started again despite putting a cold wet cloth on my arm. It starts with feeling like an insect under your skin and you try not to scratch cos u know it will make it worse but in the end u have to which only makes it worse. I have felt like getting a knife and cutting my arm off, it is so frustrating and then it makes you moany the following day cos u are tired. If anyone out there knows why this happens or of anything that makes it slightly better, please leave a note. One other thing, this tends to happen only in the autumn/winter, never in the spring or summer.
Washer
12-26-2007, 04:06 PM
Both myself, aged 50, and my mum, aged 77, both suffer with this nightmare of itchy arms, mainly from the elbow up to the shoulder and it drives me insane. Last night it wakened me at 04.00am and kept me up until 05.30am despite getting up twice to run my arm under the cold tap until it was numb but as soon as I started to get warm in bed, it started again despite putting a cold wet cloth on my arm. It starts with feeling like an insect under your skin and you try not to scratch cos u know it will make it worse but in the end u have to which only makes it worse. I have felt like getting a knife and cutting my arm off, it is so frustrating and then it makes you moany the following day cos u are tired. If anyone out there knows why this happens or of anything that makes it slightly better, please leave a note. One other thing, this tends to happen only in the autumn/winter, never in the spring or summer.
Well if it only seems to affect you autumn/winter than its probably dry skin.
Moisturize your sking with nozema, the generic kind...because the brand does not contain a certain ingredient that the generic has and is more beneficial to your problem. My problem started late spring into summer into fall and into now winter.
Well if it only seems to affect you autumn/winter than its probably dry skin.
Moisturize your sking with nozema, the generic kind...because the brand does not contain a certain ingredient that the generic has and is more beneficial to your problem. My problem started late spring into summer into fall and into now winter.
schuey1
01-23-2008, 09:52 PM
Well if it only seems to affect you autumn/winter than its probably dry skin.
Moisturize your sking with nozema, the generic kind...because the brand does not contain a certain ingredient that the generic has and is more beneficial to your problem. My problem started late spring into summer into fall and into now winter.
Moisturize your sking with nozema, the generic kind...because the brand does not contain a certain ingredient that the generic has and is more beneficial to your problem. My problem started late spring into summer into fall and into now winter.
schuey1
01-23-2008, 10:35 PM
I to suffer from terribly itchy forearms especially at night and seemingly autumn and winter.The only thing that seems to help give me ease is running cold water over my arms,not nice in the middle of winter and maybe 4.00am in the morning.I too have tried all sorts of lotions and potions to no avail.I am now so frastrated with this inch i want to seriously chop my arms off.It has now got to the point were my life is at an all time low,to discribe this as an itch is an under statement someone else discribed it perfectly, like an insect trying to get out from under the skin. Hopefully someday someone will have a remedy or cure for this.Its now gone 2.28am on the 24th january 2008 here in N.ireand and i,m about to put the cold shower hose on my arms before trying to get some sleep.Mental torture or what
Mary892356
06-26-2008, 10:16 AM
It's good to know I'm not the only one going through all these same symptoms....I thought I was loosing my mind.I have the same skin irritation on both my arms (from shoulders, to elbows). There are no real visible signs such as bumps, or rashes. The annoying occurance is unpredictable and can affect my right arm for a period of time then go away for months and then the other arm may be affected the next time,or both. As I see with others, symptoms usually occur at night . At times I get no sleep. The most nerve wrecking sympton is when it feels like someone is just poking me continually in just one spot with a pin. The only relief comes from icing it down, to the point my arms are completely numb. I rely on having frozen water bottles next to both arms at night when I'm in bed. It's so annoying,irritating, and nerve wretching to the point it consumes all my energy and makes me feel like a freak! I don't want to seek a doctor until I find someone that knows something about this. What is the cause...nerve damage, stress??I'm sure all of you have answered the same questions when it comes to causes... lotions, detergents, hot baths. I am convinced it is something much deeper. Good luck to all of us that suffer this.
Mary892356
06-26-2008, 10:24 AM
I have the same problem and like you the only thing that helps is ice. I have scratched till I have gotton sores on my arms. It makes me feel like I want to crawl out of my skin. I dont think this is a allergy I have tried allergy medications, itch cream that made it worse. I wander if its possible it could be a build up of some medication I am taking or lack of a mineral or vitamine. I have gone and had adjustments to my spine and neck and that doesnt help either. Here is is July and I am having the problem so mine does not seem to be related to a season. I know it is not dry skin it is deeper than that. It almost feels like something inside crawling. I feel like if I cut my arm open what ever it is would come out and the itch would stop. I know that sounds crazy but that is what it feels like.
davlau1
07-15-2008, 04:53 AM
I have the same problem and like you the only thing that helps is ice. I have scratched till I have gotton sores on my arms. It makes me feel like I want to crawl out of my skin. I dont think this is a allergy I have tried allergy medications, itch cream that made it worse. I wander if its possible it could be a build up of some medication I am taking or lack of a mineral or vitamine. I have gone and had adjustments to my spine and neck and that doesnt help either. Here is is July and I am having the problem so mine does not seem to be related to a season. I know it is not dry skin it is deeper than that. It almost feels like something inside crawling. I feel like if I cut my arm open what ever it is would come out and the itch would stop. I know that sounds crazy but that is what it feels like.
this itch is driving me mad, started a couple of years ago and lasted months and months, doc said it was prob stress but could poss try antihystamin. it just stopped but it came back in the other arm!! same thing at the doctors. cleared for a while and now it has come back in both arms. some relief with ice packs till it gets numb, if i´m in bed and i think `must get to sleep before it starts` just the thought of it sets it off.....wierd or what?? i feel like i am going mad with it and it is infact quite worrying as i don´t want to spend the rest of my life ripping into my arms. femail,57 in the sun at the moment but problem started in `sunny` england!
this itch is driving me mad, started a couple of years ago and lasted months and months, doc said it was prob stress but could poss try antihystamin. it just stopped but it came back in the other arm!! same thing at the doctors. cleared for a while and now it has come back in both arms. some relief with ice packs till it gets numb, if i´m in bed and i think `must get to sleep before it starts` just the thought of it sets it off.....wierd or what?? i feel like i am going mad with it and it is infact quite worrying as i don´t want to spend the rest of my life ripping into my arms. femail,57 in the sun at the moment but problem started in `sunny` england!
drs
07-15-2008, 08:53 AM
I'm wondering how many of the posters of this thread have had a full work up on your Thyroid gland function.
Go to that board on here and read the sticky post to see if things fit for you.
I know of a lady that had extremely itchy skin that looked almost like excema (spelling?) she then found out years later after being treated for the above condition that all those years it was her thyroid, skins cleared up and no problems now.
Go to that board on here and read the sticky post to see if things fit for you.
I know of a lady that had extremely itchy skin that looked almost like excema (spelling?) she then found out years later after being treated for the above condition that all those years it was her thyroid, skins cleared up and no problems now.
rejuvenart
07-29-2008, 04:52 AM
I too have had this problem for about ten years now. It only affects my arms, from my wrists all the way up to my shoulders. It drives me absolutely crazy sometimes. Once it starts to itch it builds up an it's hard to stop. I too have that sensation that something is crawling beneath my skin. I have noticed when I eat certain foods it will set it off. The one food that really sets it off is sugar or any foods with processed sugar added to it. I can eat fruit sugars, but not concentrated sugars, or even honey. Another culprit is any kind of alcohol, especially wine. I can drink beer, but not too much. Ice works to relieve the itching and pain and sometimes if I put Vitamin E oil on my arms they seem to calm down after an episode of itching. After itching for a while, a small bump will appear where the itch is and if I scratch too hard or too much it will break the skin and a small sore will develop. If this happens, I have to put neosporin on the spot or it will get worse. This also helps to relieve the itch and pain. Another thing I noticed is this only happens in the warm humid months, usually between late May to Sept. It then stops completely the rest of the year. I live in Florida and it is quite sunny and humid here and I also notice it bothers me more when I spend too much time in the sun.
Pippa63
09-03-2008, 11:05 PM
I have suffered from itchy arms for the last four years. I recognise all the symptoms described in these messages. I have been told it is Brachioradial pruritus and is nerve related. If you put brachioradial pruritus into a search engine you can read various medical abstracts referring to the research that is being done into this condition. I have been prescribed various drugs that have helped for a while - initially Doxepin cream worked and gave me relief. Then I was prescribed gabapentin (neurontin) and now a low dose of amytripyline. I would recommend that anybody with this goes to the doctor as I think it is really unbearable at night and being without sleep is so damaging to your health. My doctor had not heard of it but was interested enough to research the condition - fortunately I have a friend who is a dermatologist who instantly knew what it was. At the moment the amitryptiline is not working but it did give me great relief last year. I don't know what else they can try for me but I think different medication will work for different people.
I have great sympathy for anybody with this condition and think that doctors should be made aware of it - there are plenty of sufferers about! It seems like a silly thing to go to the doctor with but I was so desperate for sleep when I went to the doctor the first year I had it I just couldn't function in my job.
I have great sympathy for anybody with this condition and think that doctors should be made aware of it - there are plenty of sufferers about! It seems like a silly thing to go to the doctor with but I was so desperate for sleep when I went to the doctor the first year I had it I just couldn't function in my job.
hossana3
09-17-2008, 10:07 PM
I am so relieved to feel like I have found people with the exact thing that I am dealing with. It is so frustrating when no one understands what your going through... especially the doctors. I started having the itchy arms earlier this year. I can't tell you how many times I saw the dermatologist and tried a numerous amount of prescriptions. Most didn't work at all, and the only relief I have been able to get is when I use the anti itch cream which is very temporary. At night, I take an antihistamine, mostly because it knocks me out so I can sleep. Hasn't really seemed to have any affect on the itch itself. The best feeling I get is when I can put a cold cloth or ice pack on it. I am going to try to find a Dr. who knows about this condition. I will keep checking back to see other suggestions others may have. Thank you.
Susan
Susan
drs
09-18-2008, 07:48 AM
One other thing, have your B-12 levels checked. I saw a show recently and this was one of their side effects.