Prolonged severe itching - please help ! - Skin Problems Message Board

cool4cats · 10-10-2006, 10:13 AM

Please can someone help me with a skin problem which is making my life a misery

About 2 months ago I sat in my garden sunbathing with only a very low factor sun screen, being fair skinned I did burn slightly but did not peel at all.

The redness went after a few days and turned brown.

About 3 weeks later my shoulders and the top part of my arms started to itch severely, there was no visible rash or redness at all.

The itching is still here and I am really at my wits end with it, I am losing sleep and it is making me very irritable.

When I go to bed at night the itching gets worse and also when I get warm.

A local pharmacist told me that I must have damged the top layer of my skin, she told me that it holds moisture and keeps the skin from drying out. If indeed the layer has been damaged then it would cause the skin to dry out and itch.
She advised me to apply aqueous cream 3 times a day to replace the moisture and that it would help to 'seal' the moisture in.

I have done this for 4 weeks and I am still itching, my skin has never actually looked or felt dry.

I have tried Aloe Vera gel, calamine lotion, Benadryl lotion, HC cream, antihistamines (both types), homeopathic remedies and Vaseline Intensive Care lotion.

The HC cream made it worse, the Aloe Vera gel, calamine lotion etc gave me temporary relief - about 15 minutes

Antihistimines did nothing at all neither did the homeopathic remedy.

I am getting quite depressed about it now, it is ruining my life and I am in total despair

I visited my doctor who took a look and said just what the pharmacist said and gave me hc cream & antihistimes which as I have said did nothing.

Has anyone else suffered from this ? I would really appreciate answers/opinions with this problem.

Can anyone else suggest what I could try ?

By the way when I am really cold the itching subsides quite substantially - my husband suggests I camp out in the freezer !

I look forward to your replies.

Gillian

tracygirl · 10-10-2006, 01:15 PM

Hi Gillian

Sounds like it could be a fungal infection being that it's itchy when you are warm. I would try Micatin (over the counter, used for athletes foot) you can get this at your local drug store. Also using selsun blue shampoo helps too. I developed this myself after using tanning beds with no lotion, they also refer to it as sun spots. For me, the "spots" did not show up right away, just itchy and a little red. Let me know how you make out, I'm curious as to see if this will help you. Good luck!

cool4cats · 10-10-2006, 02:49 PM

Hi tracygirl,

Many thanks for your reply to my post. You have given me some hope, I never even thought it could be a fungal infection and my doctor didn't suggest it either.

I can't wait for the stores to open in the morning !! I'll be out bright and early to get some of the stuff you mentioned.

Thanks so much for your help which is greatly appreciated

I will let you know if it works.

Gillian

tracygirl · 10-16-2006, 07:20 AM

Hi Gillian

Did you have any luck with your conditon, did the fungal cream work? Just curious to see how you are doing, hope all is well!

cool4cats · 10-18-2006, 10:18 AM

Hi Tracygirl,

Just to keep you updated ... I tried the anti-fungal cream and unfortunately it gave me no relief at all

I went to my doctor who now seems to think it's an allergic reaction to goodness knows what ! I have no rash but when it starts to itch my skin inflames and goes red and blotchy.

He gave me Betnovate cream and stronger anti-histimines .... none of them have done any good at all.

So I took my own initiative and bought an anti-fungal pill over the counter, I took it last night and am waiting to see if that does anything.

I will let you know ... thanks for asking

Take care,
Gillian