A reader’s 78-year-old mother is suffering from persistent itching all over her skin.  It’s so bad that she scratches it until it bleeds.  She’s seen a number of doctors and dermatologists but everything they have prescribed – cooling lotions, antibiotics, antihistamines – has failed to work.  She’s also seen an iridologist and a naturopath and has been advised to swap cow’s milk for goat’s milk. But, again, this has had no effect.  She is not allergic to wheat.  Do readers have any suggestions?

A couple of readers point out that a number of drugs can cause excessive itching.  If your mother is taking any medication, read the datasheets carefully and consult with a doctor to establish whether this is a known side effect, they advise.  One reader notes that her own mother’s skin problems cleared up as soon as she stopped taking her blood pressure tablets.  She now takes coenzyme Q10 and fish oil instead, and her blood pressure is lower than it has been in years.

Alternatively, perhaps the persistent itching is a symptom of another condition.  As one reader explains, “Things that can cause excessive itching include liver disease, kidney failure, iron deficiency anaemia, thyroid problems and cancers, including leukaemia and lymphoma.  In these cases, the itching usually affects the whole body, rather than one specific area.  The skin may look otherwise normal except for the scratched areas.  Make sure she's been tested for all the above, especially if the itching is accompanied by other symptoms, such as extreme tiredness, weight loss, change in bowel habits or urinary frequency, fever, or redness of the skin.”

If these conditions have been ruled out, however, maybe something around the house is causing the problem.  One reader suggests that washing powder could be to blame, while another reckons it’s toxic toiletries.  Try using fragrance-free, non-biological washing powder or Eco Balls (washing powder replacement), and look for shampoos and shower gels free of sodium lauryl sulfate and other nasties.  Also, check the entire house for any other products that could cause skin problems. 

As for natural remedies to relieve the itching, suggestions include juniper or calendula ointment, zinc cream, aloe vera gel, baking soda baths and homeopathy.  Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids may also help. 

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If your mother is taking conventional medications, check the datasheets.  My mother-in-law was recently hospitalised due to itchy skin and rashes caused by a blood pressure tablet.  This is not uncommon, across a wide range of drugs.  (She is now off the blood pressure tablets and taking garlic, Co-Q10 and fish oil, and her blood pressure is lower than it has been in years on unsafe medications.)

 

Hi, last year I stayed at my old aunts house, and although she has no signs, I caught mites. The itching is absolutely horrible, appearing all of a sudden in any part of the body, looking like an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite, although one cannot see a bite. I suffered for 4 months before I went to a dermatologist that had a look at my skin with a special magnifying glass. It takes 3 days with a special lotion to get rid of them, but already on the first night one can sleep.

I have been learning on a chinese medicine based naturopathic nutrition course that problems begin in the bowels and then when your body has reached its toxic load it will come through via skin. Although the exclusion of dairy has not produced results i would stick with it because the bodies toxicity is obviously high thus eliminating through the skin. So I would exclude as suggested dairy and wheat and look at putting a good natural probiotic in and aloe vera to settle the stomach. Avoid using chemical toiletries when showering etc and avoid putting any creams on the skin whether cosmetic, or emollients from dr's etc as covering the skin makes the problem go further as it has no where to eliminate to. I would consider looking at www.asknutrition.co.uk and speak with Fiona Gibson who is the tutor for the above course I am completing and she will be able to help further because you need a full case history both physically and emotionally to really sort the problem out. Hope this helps.

Things that can cause excessive itching such as you describe include liver disease, , kidney failure, iron deficiency anemia, thyroid problems and cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma. In these cases, the itching usually affects the whole body, rather than one specific area. The skin may look otherwise normal except for the scratched areas. Make sure she's been tested for all the above, especially if the itching Is accompanied by other symptoms, such as extreme tiredness, weight loss, change in bowel habits or urinary frequency, fever, or redness of the skin All medications affect the liver, so checking her perscriptions is critical. Wool, chemicals, soaps and other substances can irritate the skin and cause itching. Food allergies also may cause itchy skin reactions.

She might get some relief by covering the affected area with a cool, wet compress of bandages and dressings to help protect the skin and prevent scratching. Taking a cool bath, sprinkling the bath water with baking soda, uncooked oatmeal or colloidal oatmeal — a finely ground oatmeal that is made for the bathtub, such as Aveeno, can be soothing.  But ultimately, she should keep searching for the cause.

I wonder if this lady is using the wrong washing powder? I'd suggest Ecover or Persil automatic non-bio..

I'd aslo suggest taking 2 spoons daily of linseed or flax seed for your skin.

Sandy

Maybe this lady could have her liver examined. Itches can be a result of liver problems. I wish her lots of luck and the loss of the itch. Love, Wilma Waaijer.

I've had the same sort of condition for nearly 3 years now (female, aged 43) again with very little success using prescribed treatments.  I'm a lifelong eczema sufferer and haven't used dairy products for many years.  A detox diet suggested recently by an accupuncturist did help however so food intolerance/allergy testing would be worth trying; it's seems it's quite possible to develop an intolerance to things you've eaten all your life.  This same practitioner suggested there may be a liver/kidney problem involved, so might also be worth testing.

I have read that exposure to electro-magnetic radiations can cause itchy skin .  I think the origin of this finding was in Scandinavia.

This means that one should not spend too much time close to a TV or computer screen.

Please consult a homoeopath - psora or sulphur may help, but a full consultation is recommended to ascertain a totality of symptoms!

This reader should get an allergy test to find out what is causing this problem and, to get instant relief she should use 'magicool', this is a spray, which can be bought from Boots Chemists. This is similar to the sprays used on footballers to enable them to go on playing after a knock. Also a remedy I found useful is Juniper Ointment, I purchsed mine in Amsterdam, but you should be able to order it from a herbalists shop.

I hope that I have been of help.

 

Ken Jackson. Centella Probe (UK)

I have suffered from itchy skin, however, using toiletries without toxins eg sodium laurel sulphate and propylene glycol have helped.  Also clothes washed in toxic washing powders/liquids etc may also cause this itching.  Neways have toxin-free products, which have helped me or if you prefer, go for organic products. 

 If the skin is dry and itchy, omega 3 supplements will also help, as will eating oily fish, nuts, seeds and drinking plenty of water to hydrate the skin.  All these things will help to prevent itching.

 

 

My 88 year old mother has the same problem.  Could be soap powder residue in her clothes and/or the soap she is using.  Also, I have found that Weleda Aloe Vera Body Lotion works like magic.  I have been told by a pharmacist that the aloe vera detoxis the liver.  You might like to try Ecover soap powder and use a smaller amount than recommended and use a good quality olive oil soap for washing.

Alumina, the homeopathic remedy may be the one to bring relief. It is often indicated in the eldery, and one of the symptoms it cures is extremely itchy and dry skin, without apparent eruption. The scratching will cause problems, and meanwhile the itching and sores can be relieved with SOS cream from Barefoot Botanicals. But try homeopathy, it will most likey bring relief.

Last year my husband was troubled by itchy skin and he visited a homeopath. One of her possible causes was formaldehyde used as a preservative, particularly in new carpets, so if the sufferer has recently had any new carpets or rugs this could be a cause. However the remedy she gave didn't help and I suggested he cut out his green tea of which he drank about 3 litres a day. His itch is virtually gone. A liver detox with Milk Thistle tincture could do no harm.