Itchyness/Psoriasis/ Eczema

Bleach baths. Lots of information on Google.

Bleach baths. Lots of information on Google.

I have in the last few years developed very itchy patches, mainly on my torso, and around bra area. I do not believe I have suddenly developed an allergic reaction to clothing, washing powder or food, but believe it is simply a sign of aging, thinning skin, lack of moisture (despite moisturising) and frequent, daily showers.

The itching is worse at night and when I get hot. The best treatment I have found is bio oil gel, because oil absorbs better than creams into the skin, but it alleviates not cures it. I am reluctant to give up daily showers, and never bath as it depletes what moisture remains!

Hello lemsip and all in this tread.
I’ve suffered with psoriasis for many years. I’m on an injection every eight weeks called Tremfya. It’s amazing as I was covered in psoriasis from head to foot, and it affects other family members too. But the last 4 years on this injection, I’ve not had any flare ups and my skin is completely clear. No side effects for me. I’m under dermatologist at Kingston hospital. Have a read on the Internet.

After years of putting up with it I finally solved my itching problem by cutting out anything with SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) included in the ingredients. It means that I have to read labels very carefully but my skin is transformed.

As I have rheumatoid arthritis I have been taking Methotrexate weekly which keeps psoriasis at bay. I had a friend who had severe psoriasis over his whole body. I say had, because it became so bad he killed himself.

I stopped using steroid creams a long time ago as I was concerned about how much I needed them. I read an article which suggested I try Daktarin Gold as the flare ups could be fungal related. That has been the best thing I have ever done.

I've found that the best jumpers for not making me itch are ones made from recycled plastic bottles. They are very soft and warm too.

Fancythat lanolin is a natural moisturiser/oil found in sheep’s wool, back in the day it was used to smooth and repair damage done to nipples caused by breastfeeding

I love Aveeno cream - used for grandchildren’s eczema and everyone else now - I think it’s the best . Sometimes reduced in Boots - then I get it .

#Esmay I use aloe vera gel as well.

I have stress eczema and psoriasis and have tried to stay away from steroid cream as I have had this for the last 30 years or so. As a moisturiser I use Palmers cocoa butter and have never had any problems with it. I find the aloe vera gel is very cooling and soothing and I use it a lot. However, it can be bought from Etsy quite cheaply. I usually buy the 1kg tub for £10 (just before Christmas) with free postage. There are also smaller sizes but postage is payable on them. The only word of caution would be if your skin is broken to use the steroid cream until it heals and then try and maintain with aloe vera gel as it can nip the skin if it's broken.

fancythat

This is me

www.gransnet.com/forums/health/1338029-I-have-spots

Literally about 5 GP visits more after I wrote the thread, [including more photos sent to a dermatologist], and a GP whom I like, and hadnt seen during this year, well last now, declares I definitely have psoriasis.
And joy of joys, I am getting an urgent referral to see a dermatologist[hospital waiting list in our area, 1 year].

Not sure if that helps you at all.

But main reason I am writing this is because I was told not to use E45 as it has lanolin[no idea what that is] in it.
The GP had said to use a moisturiser and what did I have had home. Only one I had was the E45, so she prescribed me something fragrance free, sls free, lanolin free and something else free.

I think the things she prescribed for me are just a holding pattern thing until an appointment comes through.

Feel free to DM me if you want to.
But since next to nothing has worked well for months, I may be of limited use.

I find wearing clothes that are synthetic are more comfortable than wearing cotton, linen etc.

Someone has probably already advised above, but lanolin comes from sheep’s wool and if wool makes you itchy then lanolin will probably do the same.
I can’t wear anything made from wool and and products containing lanolin have the same itchy effect.

My lovely husband had severe psorias, which varied over time. He was the telephony engineer for british gas, so not dealing with one or two telephones but 8000 lines etc, But there was a lot of stress because if they moved the office, he had to organise the removal over the weekend, and had both gpo and other people who were not part of his firm dealing with the job and he was overall charge. But what people forget is that there is a phone number to ring if you smell gas,So the number would change and he would have to take out adverts in the local papers and make sure deadlines were met., so if you ssaid at 6pm ring 1234, but after 6pm you must ring 5678. Without the correct information there could be a gas explosion. fortunately he was very well organised and thee was never a major incident, but always I would know how stressed he was as his psorioas would be so much worse and he would be scratching and itchy all weekend and often for the following week. So firstly , you might become aware of stressful times coming up, and try to do simple things like making favourite meals and not having something streesful in your private lives at that time. So dont go choosing a new carpet or whatever. Ie also used various ointments but he actually was helped by coal tar soap. for clothes I offer you a genuine reason to treat yourself. i have sensitive skin but not psorias so my answer is to have silk shirts and scarves. If you have to wear some rough material like a uniform then silk next to the skin is very soothing I find. You can help by things like playing music that he likes , so that it may not register but you are making his area calmer without actually speaking of it.

nanna8

I find if I eat a lot of tomatoes or a lot of tomato paste on pizzas etc. I itch half the night. It took me a while to make the connection!

Tomatoes make me itch badly too. Eczema erupts within no time. I had tests at the hospital (patches all over my back) and they came back to say my reactions were caused by chemicals and not food. But that is not true. Tomatoes affect me badly - as do copper coins and cleaning products.

A few years ago I had psoriasis for the first and only time in my life. I had been prescribed Cardioplen for high blood pressure, I asked 6 times at my gp pracice if this could be the cause to be told no. I then paid a private skin specialist who stopped the cardioplen right away I had to have sun treatment at hospital for 6 weeks to clear my skin.

I have psoriasis which makes me scratch like mad at night when I get warm in bed. I have been prescribed a mousse like medication to apply to my skin which does calm it down but does contain a steroid. The best treatment is the sun but that has been in extremely short supply this past year. Off to New Zealand very soon so hoping for some improvement

BBC 1960’s schools’ TV told me lanolin was sheep oil.

I had eczema until I was in my 20s, it went away only to return in my mid-50s. I'm now 70. I think I've tried every ointment, shot, and cream on the market. Ointments work better than creams. However, I haven't tried Tremfya or Rinvoq. What I've found is Omega 3 fatty acids help. I buy this: Horbäach Wild Alaskan Salmon Fish Oil | 180 Softgel Capsules on Amazon and take 2-3 a day. There is a shot, Dupixent, that helps some, but not me and it's expensive. The best thing that works in a severe flareup for me is Prednisone, but it causes a rebound flare that can be worse than before. If I do resort to that, I taper off very gradually, 2-3 times longer than the doctor prescribes by cutting pills in half and skipping a day between. That does seem to stop the rebound and I take the Salmon capsules spread out through the day. My daughter has it as well and finds the Mediterranean Diet helpful.

Oh, those boobs are mine (though a LOT smaller than mine!). Must be the new bras from M&S that I got last year after losing 3 stones. Thanks for all the tips on washing, and off to look at the fabric content.

Miss A, an ulcer is any sore that hasn't healed in a short time - and can then take one heck of a time to resolve. Even when you think it is on its way out it can come back. Take care.

I've had itchy arms and back fir a few tears now. My arms woukd be covered in cuts with scratching. I attend a hospital clinic for another long term health problem and they checked vitamins levels and if any medication was naking me itch...nothing. I tried antihistamine that didn't work then with Google I found fexofenadine 120 mg whi h you can buy online ir from pharmacy. It worked quite well but just not enough. I spoke to pharmacist at the hospital clinic and she said GPcoukd prescribe 180mg so she wrote to ask them to provide it. Well it worked ! After years of scratching I only feel it a bit on my back now but use almond oil for that which sorts it out. Seems a lot of people have the same problem.

I’ve had severe itching on my neck hands and various parts of my skin since having the shingles vaccine eighteen months ago. Keeping the skin moisturised eases it a little. My doctor also decided it was psoriasis

PamelaJ1

yogitree

MissAdventure, I am was a psoriasis sufferer. I found, inadvertently, when trying to lose weight, that as I followed a Keto way of eating, my psoriasis disappeared! Along with 4 + stone in weight. I came off after 2 years (it's really difficult (for me) to plan/weigh/shop/cook every day). My psoriasis has stayed away for a further 2 years, touch wood! After a lifetime of suffering. I'd def recommend it - the release from pain, discomfort and lotions and potions is immense!

Diet worked for me too. I went on one that was devised for arthritis sufferers. There is a link between arthritis and psoriasis.
Unfortunately our medical profession is trained to go down the medication route and it is certainly much easier to give out a cream than to convince a sufferer to go on a strict diet. It was hard but worth it.

Another vote here for dietary changes making psoriasis improve or go away.
For itchiness, I found that moisturising the skin is key. You could try something like Epaderm or ZeroAQS which can both be used to wash with as well as for moisturising.

Hope you find something to give you relief.

This has already been said but wool is a well-known itch producer. I've found even M & S jumpers with 5% wool make me itch. I avoid all clothes with wool in them.

thanks to the person that told me E45 creams contain lanolin, I didn't know that.

I have discovered that some Aveeno creams also contain lanolin.
I will check all ingredients before buying now.

Not actually eczema but I get flaky skin/spots around my shoulders which itch; I then scratch them and they never seem to heal. This has been happening for several years now. Sometimes I’ll have some respite but then it flares up again. I, too, can’t wear wool and even merino makes me itch. When she was a teenager my daughter used to get acne on her shoulders and was told it was because of hair conditioner going onto her shoulders when she showered.