Upper Arm Itching Worse at Night - Skin Problems Message Board

merrill777 · 09-15-2007, 01:42 AM

Did you ever get an answer for this problem? I have the same problem and it is driving me crazy! I have had it for over 4 weeks now. My upper right arm is painfully itchy but mostly just at night. My dr. prescribed Valtrex and some steroid ointment thinking maybe it is Shingles but it didn't work. I really don't think it is Shingles as it is not at all painful, just extremely itchy. There were about 6 small pinprick red dots that showed up about 2 weeks into the itching, but other than that there is no rash of any kind. I am trying Prednisone for a 4 day cycle but I am on my 3rd day and so far no relief. Anti-itch & chortisoid cremes don't help much. I have an ice pack on now which is definitely helping. For about 4 weeks now I wake up about 3 am from the itchiness, but then throughout the day it barely bothers me. I know it is not gluten as I haven't had any gluten for 5 days now. I highly doubt it is a food allergy. I have a dietetics degree and am an extremely healthy, athletic person that cooks & eats very healthy, fresh food. If anybody has any suggestions I would love to hear them!

daisy-duke77 · 09-17-2007, 08:58 AM

I am having the same issue.............it's my right shoulder and this has been going on for MONTHS! I finally went to my Dr, but there wasnt any rash or bumps so i put off going! She wasnt very helpful! I have been using tubes and tubes of benedryl and other anti-itch lotions and NOTHING is helping! Mine is worse at night too. Recently i noticed the area is bumpy..........but still really nothing there! I called to get into a dermatologist in my area and there is a 1-3 month wait!! I am finally going in on the 24th and cant wait! I have no clue to what is going on.............but an itch can absolutely drive you over the edge!!!!

merrill777 · 09-17-2007, 09:57 AM

Unfortunately I finished the prednisone Sunday morning, but woke up at 1:30 this morning itching! It's still just at night and really not much to show for it. I could go back to the dermatologist but I he's guessing at what it could be and I don't want to keep paying for that nor do I want to keep putting a bunch of chemicals into my body. I went to my vitamin store yesterday and the owners are extremely knowledgeable & helpful. They said that skin problems are one of the toughtest things to treat, but gave me some holistic suggestions to try. I am trying an itching homeopathic medicine as well as taking Omega 3-6-9 gels. I am going to see if I can wait it out a bit for this to kick in. I will keep you posted and please let me know if you figure anything out.

By the way, mine is on my right shoulder/upper arm as well!!

merrill777 · 09-17-2007, 03:36 PM

By the way, I do have a product that soothes the itch really well. It's called Wintercrest and it's an all natural balm that I order online. I use if for sore muscles & neck aches and am using it for my itch as well. It is an amazing product. I'm not advertising for them or anything, but I have used this product for a variety of problems and given sample sizes to friends that I get free with my order and it works wonders. Friends have told me it is like Tiger Balm if you are familiar with that, but I have not tried that product. Good Luck!

Jackie64 · 09-25-2007, 07:51 AM

I have been dealing with this problem for several years now. My symptoms start in late summer, early fall and can last through the winter.
I think, for me, it is autoimmune related (I was diagnosed in 1999 with Lupus, scleroderma, MCTD-depends on which doc is diagnosing).
I also suspect that this may be vascular in nature as my itching is preceeded by flushing, tingling and burning. I have tried topical creams (cortisone, antihistamine, lidocaine, simple moisturiser) as well as oral meds (antihistimine, prednisone) and nothing makes it go away but ice seems to help (thank goodness for my ambien at night!). My arms bleed from the scratching of those little red sores that many of you describe. I suspect that the sores are the result of the scratching, not the cause of the itching.
I have been sorely dissapointed with my doctors in general and their inability to view me as a whole. Rather, they tend to compartmentalize my symptoms, specialist anyone?
I'm just glad to find this board, I'm not crazy and I'm not alone!