HI ALL This question is for my (79 year old) mother. ( who,says she's too old to have one of these 'computers' and asked if I would ask.) For the past few months, she has been experiencing "itching" all over. Of course, the doctors have prescribed a number of things from antihistimine to creams,and nothing has relieved her. She had a heart attack (July), so of course some of her pills have side-effects of itching, and her doctors have either stopped them, or changed the prescription. We have eliminated all the outside factors ( she hasn't changed her laundry soap, fabric softners, etc.) has any one else experienced this? Does anyone have a "remedy" they have tried? She says that "rubbing alcohol" seems to work, but I'm scared that it will dry out her skin.
she sends her thanks :-)
Posts: 10 | Location: Edmonton, AB Canada | Registered: 01-31-04
The only suggestion I can provide is to have her see a Dermatologist. This sort of specialist may be able to narrow down what is causing her discomfort.
Posts: 9159 | Location: PA, USA | Registered: 06-05-02
Hi Amber-Marie! Although your Mom hasn't changed soaps or softeners, she could have developed a sensitivity to them that she didn't have before. Just a thought... Let us know how she does.
Posts: 6323 | Location: LA (Lower Alabama) USA | Registered: 06-03-02
As people age, they tend to retain less water, therefore their skin becomes dryer than ever before. She should see a doctor, because it may be caused by one or more of the suggestions that were mentioned by our members, but she can also try a couple of things in the meantime. Increase her water intake, and use a humidifier...keep it running all day & night. Oh, ya, also, keep the water temp. warm, rather than hot, when showering or bathing. I know how irritating itchy skin can be, so I hope she gets a solution soon.
Thanks Everyone! I was overwhelmed with the responses. My mom went to the doctor today,and they're going to try an oral prescription. It takes a couple of months to get into an allergist/dermatologist, and her condition (hopefully) will be over by then. ( stay tuned) She's even drinking water (which is something she doesn't do much of) She couldn't wait for me to bring her the paper copy print with your advice. I may be posting more, now that "she's" discovered this site :-) I find myself scratching just thinking of her!
Posts: 10 | Location: Edmonton, AB Canada | Registered: 01-31-04
HI ALL Its' been a long time. Just to keep you up to date, here it is May 25th. and my mom is ... still "itchey" :-) It's gotten to the point that we just laugh about it. Instead of saying "hello... how are you?" we say "hows the itch?" In fact, I find myself scratching when we talk. :-) She has gone to a few doctors since we last chatted,and each one gives her the same type of pills/cream/ointment. (none of them work) She has been tested for allergies, and dermatyst(?) These doctors - all professionals, but just seem to shake their heads, and say " don't know". One other thing... As I showed her this web site, and our correspondence,she pointed out to me that she is only 78 and NOT 79! haha Will let you know how things go. Again, thanks for your caring responses.
Posts: 10 | Location: Edmonton, AB Canada | Registered: 01-31-04
I still say that it is medicine related...even tho you have changed her medication. Write down the names of all her meds (liquid or pill form) and then look up the "rare" and "infrequent" side effects for each one. You can find them in a PDR (Physician Desk Reference) or you can google them but try to only stick with info from direct drug manufacter sites such as Pfizer.
You'll be amazed what you will find in the "infrequent" side effects. Usually those side effects do not affect most people. But there are some of us who have a strange body chemistry and drugs react differently than they should for us. Usually I have the reverse affects of what I should have when I take medication. Also, the older one becomes, the more susceptible they become to some of these infrequent side effects.
Posts: 9192 | Location: Atlanta, GA, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
Well Drugs and oink-ments didn't work. How about diet? Have we changed our diet since we had a heart attack?
Hm.
Was oil/fats lowered after the heart attack?
Try putting some back and see if that addresses the situation. We are what we eat. If you do a non-fat diet your skin will suffer. Some fats are good for you BTW. Even good for the heart.
Other things to try:
Oatmeal baths, Garlic (comes in a capsuled form, take as prescribed)
Vitamin A: AKA Beta Carotene help skin in general.
Vitamin C(Ascororbic Acid): will aid in the production of of collagen
Vitamin E: All around good Vitamin, it helps in healing. Riboflavin (B2):
I would suggest getting a bottle of each, and dose as per instructions on the bottle. Mind DO NOT take E and C at the same time. Wait about 4 hours after dosing with C to take E, E will detract from the C.
There is a Topical Vitamin E (cream) available out there. I would suggest using that along with taking vitamin E internally. Use in the most itchy areas. Most likely it will do nothing for the itch, however constant scratching at an itch will irritate the skin further and also could lead to a host of other issues. Scratching is wounding to the skin, Vitamin E will aid in healing. Vitamin E is good for scaring as well, even if you have a scar for decades, daily application will reduce the scar, soften it and make it blend in better with the natural skin.
Mind other than the Topical vitamin E and the Oatmeal baths all of this is going through the stomach. The best way to feed any organ (skin is an organ) is through what we eat. Moisturizers and ointments do not work for a lot of skin conditions simply because the skin is designed to keep things out of the body. What we eat will do more for the skin that what we put on it.
I think it is interesting that Alcohol helps the itch. You may want to try Witch Hazel Astringent. There are two liquid forms one with and one without alcohol. Try the one with Alcohol for immediate relief. Witch Hazel will aid in skin care and itching, it is also useful for hemorrhoids BTW. Witch Hazel is far better than noxzima for removing makeup and cleansing the face too. It also can be used for pimples, since it will de-grease the skin surface too. Witch Hazel is one of the few body care products I have in my medicine cabinet, that's how good it is.
Mind the vitamins will take time to work, give it a month. The Witch Hazel may be immediate, Oatmeal baths will give temporary immediate relief (Also good for bug bites/stings, scratches, dried out skin and a plethora of other skin conditions).
I think that covers it.
Cheers
David
Posts: 4081 | Location: Neither here nor there | Registered: 06-03-02
Amber-Marie... Was doing some research on the drug Cholestyramine and came across something rather interesting.
What is it used for?
This medication is used to treat the itching that occurs with certain types of liver disease. Itching occurs because of retention of bile salts which are made by the liver. Cholestyramine binds these bile salts in the intestinal tract, thereby reducing them in the blood and relieving the itching that elevated bile salts can cause. Diarrhea occurs in some people after they have had their gallbladder removed or after an operation where the lower small bowel (ileum) is removed, as in Crohn's disease. In these circumstances, bile reaches the colon unimpeded and acts like a laxative, causing diarrhea. Cholestyramine absorbs and binds these bile salts, helping to improve the diarrhea problem. Cholestyramine is also used to lower the cholesterol level and to bind up various toxins or poisons that may have been ingested.
So that got me wondering, does your mother have any liver problems...or has she ever had her gallbladder removed?
Posts: 9192 | Location: Atlanta, GA, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
