[Airfairy]

I have been using E45 itch relief to no avail. I have no known skin conditions.

It comes in blocks. So for a few days every month or so, I will have constant itches all over my body, and when I itch it brings up red bumps. It's been happening for about 10 months now.

It is, understandably, driving me mad. I can't sleep, I can't drive, I can't do anything without itching.

Anyone have any ideas? I am going to book a docs appointment but I thought I may as well ask here too.

[Halogenation]

Some sort of minor alergic reaction where it occurs after you consume something on a monthly basis?

Or some sort of beauty product/shower gel/whatever that you rarely use?

[Penguinsaysquack]

Disclaimer: This post is not medical expertise and should not be used in the place of a doctor's consultation.


It does sound like you're having a minor allergic reaction to something, so going to see your GP is a wise thing to do. Your GP can advise you properly on the subject. What can be done to find out what's causing allergic reactions is a scratch test, whereby allergens are scratched beneath your skin (shouldn't hurt really) in a controlled setting and any reaction that occurs is noted.

Your GP should know what to do so try and put up with it until you see him/her

[Sean3000]

Buy some OTC antihistamines, as these will most likely be the first line treatment from your GP anyway. If it's cyclical, it may be hormonal in origin. Do see your GP though.

[Daniel_R]

cetirizine hydrochloride (hayfever tabs) should help with this temp.

[Airfairy]

I've never taken antihistamines before, but I've heard they make you really drowsy? Am I okay to take these in the morning, do they make non-drowsy ones?

[TooEasy123]

(Original post by Airfairy)
I have been using E45 itch relief to no avail. I have no known skin conditions.

It comes in blocks. So for a few days every month or so, I will have constant itches all over my body, and when I itch it brings up red bumps. It's been happening for about 10 months now.

It is, understandably, driving me mad. I can't sleep, I can't drive, I can't do anything without itching.

Anyone have any ideas? I am going to book a docs appointment but I thought I may as well ask here too.

I know how you feel. The itching period can sometimes be so bad, and they come up in the most inconvenient times. :/

I think you have a problem called Chronic Urticaria - Google it to confirm if you want. It's related to histamines as somebody said in this thread. I have this problem too.

There are different kinds of Urticaria. For some people, the itching can get induced through sweating, getting hot (even getting cold), feeling nervous, emotional rushes, exercise, and more. I get it mainly through getting nervous, but sometimes through getting hot or exercising.

I wouldn't recommend getting anti-histamines, unless you really can't stand the itching. The reason being: once you stop taking them, the itching will come back, and the feeling may be even more intense/worse. It's up to you though.

For some people the problem is auto-immune, meaning your body sees certain things that are normal as a threat, and attacks them; for others, it can be a food allergy that causes it, something diet related such as wheat, gluten etc. Has your diet changed in the past 10 months?

For me, I've noticed that eating a balanced diet reduces my itching tremendously. However, still unable to figure out which food is the real cause of it all. I still get itchy sometimes, but it's nowhere near as bad as when I wanted to scratch myself to death. Also, try to have a structured shower/bath pattern. I'm sure you don't do this, but once I went for a period of not showering for a few days, and the next day after the shower I was itching like mad.

This is only my experience.

[rosee92]

You could be allergic to E45, it has an ingredient called lanolin which I'm allergic to, can't use E45, sudocrem or carmex etc. Try Doublebase, it's awesome. Also change your shampoo, most brands give me a rash similar to sunburn can't even move my neck it makes it hurt so bad. And don't use scented lotions/perfumes etc on the sore skin until it's healed.

[Groat]

As mentioned above, sometimes E45 can be making it worse! Try having an Oilatum bath - a couple of those and your skin should settle down.

[Sean3000]

(Original post by BillyBongos)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...esthetics.html

The daily mail, the pinnacle of peer-reviewed scientfic literature.

[Sean3000]

(Original post by TooEasy123)
I know how you feel. The itching period can sometimes be so bad, and they come up in the most inconvenient times. :/

I think you have a problem called Chronic Urticaria - Google it to confirm if you want. It's related to histamines as somebody said in this thread. I have this problem too.

There are different kinds of Urticaria. For some people, the itching can get induced through sweating, getting hot (even getting cold), feeling nervous, emotional rushes, exercise, and more. I get it mainly through getting nervous, but sometimes through getting hot or exercising.

I wouldn't recommend getting anti-histamines, unless you really can't stand the itching. The reason being: once you stop taking them, the itching will come back, and the feeling may be even more intense/worse. It's up to you though.

For some people the problem is auto-immune, meaning your body sees certain things that are normal as a threat, and attacks them; for others, it can be a food allergy that causes it, something diet related such as wheat, gluten etc. Has your diet changed in the past 10 months?

For me, I've noticed that eating a balanced diet reduces my itching tremendously. However, still unable to figure out which food is the real cause of it all. I still get itchy sometimes, but it's nowhere near as bad as when I wanted to scratch myself to death. Also, try to have a structured shower/bath pattern. I'm sure you don't do this, but once I went for a period of not showering for a few days, and the next day after the shower I was itching like mad.

This is only my experience.

Sure you're not describing CHOLINERGIC urticaria? Antihistamines are recommended as first line management, even of chronic type urticaria's (chronic just meaning persistent as oppose to acute). Also Im not aware of any evidence of a rebound syndrome worse than the original presentation on withdrawal.

[Benniboi1]

(Original post by Airfairy)
I've never taken antihistamines before, but I've heard they make you really drowsy? Am I okay to take these in the morning, do they make non-drowsy ones?

They do make non drowsy ones - I'd highly recommend you try them! If they work but you can't sleep at night have a drowsy one, it will help you sleep and it will have warn off by the time you get up.

[Luxray]

Oilatum is very good but go to the GP they can help you out. Probably an allergic reaction to something.

[As_Dust_Dances_]

Sometimes itching can be caused with sweating :/ I'm currently using betnovate cream and it has helped a lot with reducing the swelling and making rashes less irritable. I was also advised to avoid using specific shower gels too as they can often contribute to itching too!

[TooEasy123]

(Original post by Sean3000)
Sure you're not describing CHOLINERGIC urticaria? Antihistamines are recommended as first line management, even of chronic type urticaria's (chronic just meaning persistent as oppose to acute). Also Im not aware of any evidence of a rebound syndrome worse than the original presentation on withdrawal.

Urticaria is the general name for it. Chronic meaning for more than a certain period of time, 6 weeks or more. OP didn't say when / what situations they get itchy in, so it COULD be the choligernic type, but may not be, so I left it general.

How would you test if someone feels more itchier after stopping taking it - they don't have studies for everything lol. However I know friends / friends of friends that have had that problem, so it can be the case. Reading forums online, it also seems to be the case.

[Sean3000]

(Original post by TooEasy123)
Urticaria is the general name for it. Chronic meaning for more than a certain period of time, 6 weeks or more. OP didn't say when / what situations they get itchy in, so it COULD be the choligernic type, but may not be, so I left it general.

How would you test if someone feels more itchier after stopping taking it - they don't have studies for everything lol. However I know friends / friends of friends that have had that problem, so it can be the case. Reading forums online, it also seems to be the case.

I know what chronic means. They type of urticaria you were describing was cholinergic, but you seemed to attribute it to the umbrella term 'chronic urticaria' without specifically mentioning that you were talking about a particular subtype. Chronic it may be, but this would include for example cold, solar pressure (etc...) urticaria. I thought it had the potential to be confusing.

How would you test patients? You would ask them.This would need to be in a controlled clinical setting, rather than relying on anecdotal accounts from 'internet forums'. You would have a control group recieving a placebo and then record the response between the groups.

[TooEasy123]

(Original post by Sean3000)
How would you test patients? You would ask them.This would need to be in a controlled clinical setting, rather than relying on anecdotal accounts from 'internet forums'. You would have a control group recieving a placebo and then record the response between the groups.

You could do that, but I don't think anyone is going to do that any time soon.

So, internet forums it is.

Either way, through imagination or not, experiences show that some get even itchier afterwards, so it's something to consider. So it can definitely happen, however the test would be required to see the probability of it actually happening.

[Penguinsaysquack]

(Original post by Sean3000)
How would you test patients? You would ask them.This would need to be in a controlled clinical setting, rather than relying on anecdotal accounts from 'internet forums'. You would have a control group recieving a placebo and then record the response between the groups.

That's not really how it would be done..

Yes, it would be in a controlled clinical setting, but you wouldn't bother with other people being there. You aren't testing a new product, you're testing one persons reaction to it. You'd do a scratch test if you don't know the cause, or if you do and want to confirm it then introduce the allergen under the skin on one patch, and a saline solution on another, if the reaction is (considerably) more on the allergen site than the saline site then you are allergic to that thing

No need for more people than the patient to be involved

[Airfairy]

Well I'm very happy to say I bought some non-drowsy antihistamines this morning, and I haven't itched all day since I took them. I know it sounds odd, but it is the best feeling ever not constantly itching, as my current itchy episode had been non stop for about 5 days! So it is nice to be able to sit still and I may even get some sleep! Thank you very much

To answer above things: I don't think it is to do witha change of diet or any products I've been using. I don't think I'm allergic to E45 like some have been saying, as I only started putting that on about a week ago. I can't think for the life of me what it could be. I read on the internet that it can be caused by nerves and anxiety which could make sense, but a bit annoying as that can't be treated as easily with a cream :P

[hslt]

(Original post by Airfairy)
I've never taken antihistamines before, but I've heard they make you really drowsy? Am I okay to take these in the morning, do they make non-drowsy ones?

loratadine is less drowsy for some people than cetirizine.