The Student Room Group

Why do I itch?

It may sound like nothing, but it's been going on for about a month and a half now and is getting silly.

I just itch. On my torso and legs especially. Scratching doesn't help, but I still do it and I have huge red scratch marks everywhere. The closest thing I've found to a cause is that I get little white lumps in the area of itching when it starts itching.

It can't be washing powder or shower gel because I've changed washing powder and I've been using the shower gel since before it started. I've since changed shower gel to some E45 stuff to see if it was a dry skin problem, but it hasn't seemed to work.

This is getting so annoying and painful with the scratching now :frown: Does anyone have any idea what's wrong with me?
Reply 1
try eumovate
thatwhichiam
It may sound like nothing, but it's been going on for about a month and a half now and is getting silly.

I just itch. On my torso and legs especially. Scratching doesn't help, but I still do it and I have huge red scratch marks everywhere. The closest thing I've found to a cause is that I get little white lumps in the area of itching when it starts itching.

It can't be washing powder or shower gel because I've changed washing powder and I've been using the shower gel since before it started. I've since changed shower gel to some E45 stuff to see if it was a dry skin problem, but it hasn't seemed to work.

This is getting so annoying and painful with the scratching now :frown: Does anyone have any idea what's wrong with me?

Do you have any Pets? a cat or a dog... as they may have flea's or something similar.

If not... ive known some air fresheners to become irritating, or even something as common as vacuum cleaner powder (the stuff you put in a vacuum to make it smell nice).

Also, have you used any body sprays etc recently that you wouldnt have used normally?

Basically just check any form of spray. :P
Oohh... bed bugs can cause alot of irritation.. make sure you dont have any of them...?
(you can associate them by looking over your bed sheets and pillows, duvets etc. If you do have them, youll be able to spot groups of small Dark Blue dots...)

Althout it could be a multitude of things... your best bet is to go an see a GP or Doctor, as youll be able to get treatment while finding out whats causing it faster.
Reply 3
Could be an allergic reaction to anything at all from perfumes to food. Could be psoriasis or eczema? Go to your doc and see what they say. They may be able to give you cream which will help it.
Reply 4
sounds like eczema, about the try euomate comment i woudl be very carefull with that as ti hsa storiods in it and can cause thinnignn of the skin so avoid prolonged use. dry a alternative to E45 called diprobase it a mosturiser but s different one, when my doc switched me to it everything completely dissapeaered for about 2 months then it came bak :frown:
How strange because im suffering the same problem. Been itching randomly in the same places as you for quite a while and I cant work out why either!!

Havent tried changing cosmetics though but will start there and see how I get on.
i've had same problem for a while, and just recentley found out via a doctor that it was urticaria. your bosy is realising too much histamine, causing rashes. are they often red and bubbly? if so they are called weals. go to the doc and get some anti-histamine tablets, avoid exertion and stress, and anything that could be causing an allergic reaction such as certain foods, alcohol etc.
Reply 7
If it's flea bites, you'll see little red 'lumps' all over your lower legs that will be INCREDIBLY itchy. Bed bugs are similar, but the bites tend to be all over your body. To me, this doesn't sound like bug bites but rather an allergic reaction or something similar. It's best to go to your doctor and get checked out, but also have a look round the house and see if you've been using anything different recently, like cleaning products. Sometimes that can cause a reaction.
Reply 8
maybe you need a proper bath/wash - are you one of those people that bathes only once a week?
Reply 9
Are you sure it isnt mental in part?

I once ended up at the doctors having had sunburn which was itchy! It itched and so I scratched it and in doing so stimulated nerves which then got over excited and made me itch so much i litereally couldnt move or sleep.
Ross_j
try eumovate


Thanks, I'll bear that in mind :smile:

anteguardian
Do you have any Pets? a cat or a dog... as they may have flea's or something similar.

If not... ive known some air fresheners to become irritating, or even something as common as vacuum cleaner powder (the stuff you put in a vacuum to make it smell nice).

Also, have you used any body sprays etc recently that you wouldnt have used normally?

Basically just check any form of spray. :P
Oohh... bed bugs can cause alot of irritation.. make sure you dont have any of them...?
(you can associate them by looking over your bed sheets and pillows, duvets etc. If you do have them, youll be able to spot groups of small Dark Blue dots...)

Althout it could be a multitude of things... your best bet is to go an see a GP or Doctor, as youll be able to get treatment while finding out whats causing it faster.


I have no pets, and it won't be an air freshener because I've moved from uni to home in the intervening time, and it continued while I was on holiday.
I haven't changed or added and sprays or anything, but I'll definitely bear the bed bugs idea in mind...thanks :smile:

need_money
Could be an allergic reaction to anything at all from perfumes to food. Could be psoriasis or eczema? Go to your doc and see what they say. They may be able to give you cream which will help it.


Oddly enough, I never considered an allergic reaction to food, or even eczema. I am so silly sometimes. I don't think it's eczema, it's all over rather than in one or two specific places. Judging from the fact that different people have such different opinions I think I will go to the doc. Thanks :smile:

uk_chip
sounds like eczema, about the try euomate comment i woudl be very carefull with that as ti hsa storiods in it and can cause thinnignn of the skin so avoid prolonged use. dry a alternative to E45 called diprobase it a mosturiser but s different one, when my doc switched me to it everything completely dissapeaered for about 2 months then it came bak


Thanks, I might try that moisturiser...

DancinBallerina
How strange because im suffering the same problem. Been itching randomly in the same places as you for quite a while and I cant work out why either!!

Havent tried changing cosmetics though but will start there and see how I get on.


Heh, well at least I know it's not just me.

Anon1
i've had same problem for a while, and just recentley found out via a doctor that it was urticaria. your bosy is realising too much histamine, causing rashes. are they often red and bubbly? if so they are called weals. go to the doc and get some anti-histamine tablets, avoid exertion and stress, and anything that could be causing an allergic reaction such as certain foods, alcohol etc.


I think I will go to the doctor then.

Paeony
If it's flea bites, you'll see little red 'lumps' all over your lower legs that will be INCREDIBLY itchy. Bed bugs are similar, but the bites tend to be all over your body. To me, this doesn't sound like bug bites but rather an allergic reaction or something similar. It's best to go to your doctor and get checked out, but also have a look round the house and see if you've been using anything different recently, like cleaning products. Sometimes that can cause a reaction.


Ah, thanks for the clarification on kinds of bites. I'll have a check, but as I said before, I've moved back from uni in the time, so it's likely EVERYTHING will have changed, so I'm not so sure about a reaction to a cleaning product. Thanks :smile:

Dulac84
maybe you need a proper bath/wash - are you one of those people that bathes only once a week?


No.

I have a shower every day or every other day. It's not going to be a lack of washing.

Emmalina
Are you sure it isnt mental in part?

I once ended up at the doctors having had sunburn which was itchy! It itched and so I scratched it and in doing so stimulated nerves which then got over excited and made me itch so much i litereally couldnt move or sleep.


You know, I am beginning to think that could be some of the problem. How did you get over that? Did you just use all your willpower to NOT scratch?

Thanks for all the replies.
Reply 11
If someone tells me that their nose is really itchy it will automatically make mine itch! It's so annoying.
Reply 12

You know, I am beginning to think that could be some of the problem. How did you get over that? Did you just use all your willpower to NOT scratch?

Thanks for all the replies.


Pretty much, after the doctor just said there was nothing wrong with me excpt that my nerves were going crazy becuase my mind is odd, my mom made me sit in no top (I was quite a bit younger, like 14 or something but it was well embarrassing) with all my hair in a shower cap, lying on myfront till I fell asleep and literally I lay there on top of my hands for hours. It was hell. But eventually I managed it.

Like the 2 nights before Id spent trying to put my back against the cold bath to stop it!

I cant explain how much this sucks. I feel for you!