Itchy skin, no visible signs

I have itchy skin. There is no rash or any visible sign. My itching started when several changes happened in my life - 1) I used some diatomaceous earth to get rid of bedbugs (ugh, but they're gone now), 2) I moved into another apartment that had just been sprayed for cockroaches (ugh again), 3) the seasons changed, and 4) my diet changed because of the non-availability of fresh fruit.

As I said, there are no visible signs. It is not terribly intense, but keeps me from sleeping - I often drag myself into class having got two hours of sleep. I cannot learn or perform nearly as well as normal like that and worry that I will not be able to do well at all in college unless this problem is fixed. Usually when it is bad I itch a little all over, with itchy "bursts" coming every two to fifteen minutes, depending. Having the wrong kinds of fabrics pressing up against my skin definitely make it worse, but it itches even when nothing is against my skin.

The allergist tested me for food allergies, and all were negative. The dermatologist had no idea at all. The GP had lots of blood work done - gluten intolerance, liver function, iron levels... the only thing unusual was my level of eosinophils, which were high (60 of some unit, then 30 about a month later when I had more blood work done. 30 is high but pretty close to normal, I believe. There was no improvement in my symptoms during this time).

I have tried using skin moisturizers, avoiding soaps/creams/moisturizers, changing detergents, avoiding highly processed foods, taking shorter and cooler showers, eating or avoiding several foods that I suspected might be related (no change)... the only thing that seemed to help was avoiding my apartment, but now that I've gone back home for Christmas (and have a new condo to return to after Christmas), my itching is back and almost as bad as ever. It sometimes gets better for a few days with no pattern I can see -it did that during my move to my new condo, started to return the morning before I left, and then got worse over the past two days while I've been at home across the country for Christmas.

If it matters, I also have intermittent diarrhea, starting several months before my skin began to itch.

I've been trying for the last two months to solve this problem, but it feels like I'm chasing ghosts. So many possible causes, but none of them I see that match my symptom profile. I guess my top suspicion is still an allergy of some kind, but does that seem possible to you guys? None of the five or so doctors/NPs/etc. I've seen have any idea what to do. What is wrong with me?!?

Yeah, I'm hoping that somebody has experienced some similar problem that will at least help point me in the right direction!

I have tried benadryl, and it does help quite a bit. Unfortunately, it also makes me very drowsy the next day. When I wake up in the morning with itchiness, I can't really take benadryl, because it puts me to sleep. But yes, Benadryl is one of the two things that really makes a difference. The other thing is... Atarax, I believe - basically like benadryl in terms of both effects and side effects. Oatmeal based lotions and colloidal oatmeal baths don't seem to help much, unfortunately. I do believe that the apartment I lived in until two days before going home for the holidays DID have at least some mold, though. The closet where I kept my clothes always had a mildewy smell, as it was a "wet" wall, being next to the bathroom. I'd say that mold is my top suspect, and if that is the case I should be feeling better soon. I got itchy again when I came home for Christmas, but I was also feeding some friends' horses, and I know that there is always mold in hay (especially this hay - I had to throw a lot of it out!). Thank you very much for your reply!

There is a dye free benedryl. My man has to use dye free benedryl or he is well non existant lol. I would find him the next day alive... heck I tried one time dumping water on him and that didnt even wake him up! He was so funny when he had surgery... I had to work, he came home, well the doctor gave him vicodin... never ever give a person that kind of pain killer when benedryl knocks them out. You get a high, loopy, sleeping man. He'd wake when I call him, but not remember the conversation. He'd kiss me one minute, next he is snoring... after two days I grabbed those vicoden and hid them and put some asprin next to him instead. He would sleep from that, but at least wake up and be coherent. Anyhow, try dye free benedryl, if you cant find it, ask the pharmacist for something with the same compounds and ingredients. Theres something else he takes, oh I cant remember, but theres something else he can take that doesnt make him drowsy.

Benadryl used to make a topical lotion that helped itching but didn't make you drowsy. You might try that.

Also, and this sounds awful, but if you're showering often you might try changing that. Clear back when I was in college a dermatologist told me I should never bathe or shower more than once a week. I thought that sounded gross, so didn't cut back. In the past few years my skin has gotten so itchy that I have scars from scratching myself in my sleep, and I've also recently developed psoriasis. I now shower once a week and apply moisturizing lotion liberally. In between, I wash the essential areas well with soap and rinse with warm water. Soap only touches my armpits and genital area. My hands inevitably touch soap and water too often. I puncture vitamin A gelcaps, squeeze the oil onto my hands, rub in and then apply lotion.

Er... I know this is sort of unrelated, but I originally tried to post this on wrongdiagnosis.com, since it was the first health-related forum I saw that looked respectable. However, the moderators never posted my messages! Any idea what that was about? It was rather disheartening - not even being able to talk to people about my skin problem. Again, I'm very thankful for all of your help and support!

Itchy -
A lot of people are allergic/sensitive to their soaps and skin products. The ones containing gluten, wheat or oats could be prime suspects. A lot of skin products have perfumes and preservatives. I use only hypoallergenic products and grease up while damp (on advice from my allergist) with very non-allergenic oil or moisturizer. If you have any food or chemical sensitivities, you can't take them externally either.

Simple dry skin causes most of my skin itching, although it is aggravated by scents and colors and preservatives. I even got a back creme applying pad with a handle to reach the middle of my back. Not drying all the water off before applying oil is part of the secret.

I use only All Free-and-Clear detergent and always use double rinse cycle. When in the hospital I have to ask for double-rinsed sheets and towels or I itch uncontrollably. I use only unscented fabric softener - when I use any at all! Towels dry better without being softened. I mostly use (unscented) dryer sheets on my husband's shirts and slacks to combat static and reduce ironing.

Benadryl tablets are much safer than the liquid, which has preservatives. Try Alavert instead, because it's non-drowsy. The Benadryl skin product has zinc oxide and camphor. "Inactive" ingredients Cetearyl Alcohol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Diethylene Glycol Monostearate, Methylparaben, Polyethylene Glycol, Monostearate 1000, Propylene Glycol, Propylparaben, Water.


Msfroggy -
Do you have tiny raised bumps? It could be keratosis pyriformis. Google pictures. Half the people have it, mostly without knowing, or thinking they have zits. It does no good to pick them. Only oiling up while damp from shower helps, and even that is no cure. It's hereditary. Maybe it's something else, because derm docs should know this one, although PCPs usually don't.

Good Morning, Alcie
There are no bumps or anything. And like ItchySkin says, it will itch like crazy, I'll scratch and then in a few seconds it's back to itching again...
Sometimes when I go to sleep at night, I will slide my hands under my face and if I lie on the top part of my arm the itching starts. I had said to the dr. that it seemed like a cirrculation thing.
I don't know, I am going to so many different dr. these days that it ain't even funny.
Last Nov. I was leaving work alot with painful ankles and knee and my PCP ordered an arthritis test done on me and told me that I have Lupus and sent me to a Rheumy, she puts me on Plaquneil and says she thinks it might be Fibro....I'm just sick of being tired and tired of being sick...

Msfroggi

Dye Free doesnt make him drowsy. And clariten was the other one... I knew I would recognize the name! Thx Red lol. Both those he can take. Also check into your medications. Some medications cause itchy skin.

For example: My chemotherapy makes me itchy as heckeroo. I use Vasiline Intesive Care Lotion (Non Fragent) to help relieve it

Msfroggi.....look into Rosacea. Spider veins on the nose and cheeks are a symptom of rosacea. I just got diagnosed with it even though my face doesn't turn red but on occasion. However, I have fine spider veins on my nose from repetitive reddening over the years.

Look at some of the ingredients in bath products that you use. Soaps,
toothpastes, etc. They may contain sulfates (sulfur-like substances) to which some people are sensitive. Sulfates are included in more foods and
cleaning products than we realize. It's worth the time to do a search on
them and to eliminate them from use for about one or two weeks to determine if your symptoms improve without sulfates in your system. If you do improve markedly, you'll know to try to avoid those products containing sulfates.

Some of us are even sensitive to the ingredients in fabric softeners used
in our laundry dryers or washing machines.

For food tests, I much prefer the blood tests than the prick tests for
analysis. If the allergy is there, it is going to show up more likely with
the drawn bloodwork in my view. And I say that because prick tests never
indicate an allergy to wheat in me, but drawn blood tests show a mild
allergy to it every time.

In regard to food allergies, the body has a level of tolerance in which it

does not show food sensitivities, but overload the system with a specific product, and the allergic reaction is going to exacerbate symptoms.

It helps, also, to know whether or not you have an inherited allergy gene.

You automatically become more alert to something that might be bothering you, because you become more aware of how the gene causes your system to react to substances inhaled or ingested or applied to the skin.

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 1/7/2011 11:49:18 AM (GMT-7)

Have you thought about bedbugs?

food intolerances can cause your symptoms (itchy skin, itchy underarms and diarrhea). a food intolerance will not show up in an allergy test because you are not actually allergic to the food but have an intolerance for something else in it. you can read on wiki etc about food intolerances to learn more about the differences between a food allergy and a food intolerance.

I've had allergy tests and am only allergic to eggs and yeast but chicken makes me sick as a dog with itchy body, underarms, hives and horrible diarrhea. but I'm not allergic to it, just intolerant. same diff, still have to avoid it !

good luck.

When is the last time you didnt itch? And what is different from then to now?