That'll teach me ......scratch, itch, ?

Oh lord, I do sympathise. I generally suffer itchiness, mostly from psoriasis - on my scalp, in my ears and in, er, other places . The urge to scratch is overwhelming, in fact I was scratching my left ear like crazy when I spotted this thread. Anti-histamine tablet every night means I can generally manage to get to sleep, but it doesn't always work. A touch of sudocrem in my ears (not right inside, just on the outer areas) is soothing and usually stops the itching for long enough to get to sleep.
I don't know about body lotions going off, but I imagine like most things they would over time. Before you ditch the lot, just try each product on a small area of skin. If you don't get a reaction, try it on a different area of your body and so on. Shame to just throw it all away without being sure.

loopylou Poor you! In answer to your question, yes they do go off!

Good advice from Indiana to try stuff out on a small area and also the sudocrem. I used to use that on DC bottoms to prevent nappy rash and it was very good.

As for me I would just bin the lot on the basis of 'once bitten twice shy'. I wouldn't even ask myself the question, "Would you like another dose of rash?" Why would you, how much would you pay for someone to take away your itchiness right this minute?!
The money you paid for the stuff is long gone anyway so just make a resolution to buy nice things and get on and enjoy them straight away.

Testing first of course!

Eurax cream is really good for stopping itching. I have awfully dry skin and have blotches everywhere - legs, arms but oddly enough, not on my trunk. I have psoriasis at my hairline at the back of my head (had it for years) and nothing seems to work on it - so it gets a good scratching every so often, too.

Have you tried Ceanel shampoo Marelli? I get it on prescription, but only use it when the psoriasis is particularly bothersome (hate the smell!). Then I use it exclusively for 2 or 3 weeks until it calms down.

I've been prescribed Alphosyl shampoo, Indinana, but it doesn't really help at all. I'll give Ceanel a try, though. I'll ask at Boot's and if it works will see if I can get it on prescription. Thanks!

I had a similar reaction - scarlet itchy legs - after using a body lotion that came with an expensive perfume. I used them straight after purchase so can't say that they were out of date. My legs were in am awful state for ages. I've only ever used E45 or similar since then. DH knows not to buy gift packs of perfume and body lotion for Christmas/birthdays, no matter how much of a bargain they seem to be.
Hope your legs are soothed by now.

I wouldn't use any lotions, shampoos or other stuff if it was over a year old. When I was nursing we were told to throw away anything that was over six months old, and we had to throw away lotions after a month, if they had been opened.

I, too, suffer from psoriasis on my scalp, in my ears and sometimes on the outside of my elbow.

I've had various things prescribed by the doc - betnovate scalp lotion and other creams for ears and elbow.

but I found that marks and spencer royal jelly with honey hand and body lotion is a whiz for my elbows.

I generally tend to stick to that for moisturising although I've had some opium moisturiser from my son for Christmas [my favourite perfume and he keeps me supplied every year!].

haven't tried anti-histimine tablets for the psoriasis itching but have noticed that this calms down a bit when i'm taking the ah tablets for hay fever - perhaps i'd better try again.

and I've found that asda's own anti histimine tablets [green box] are very good and non drowsy.