Extreme Itching all over body w/NO rash, welts or hives.

[cantstopitching]

I've recently been diagnosed with Urticaria. My doctor says I fall into the 99.9% of the people who have it without any signs. My itchiness has been getting progessively worse for the past few years. I'd say almost 3 yrs now. It's to the point where I can't even engage in intercourse with my partner, go shopping or even go out in the sun. I keep hearing and reading how Urticaria, usually has signs on the skin surface but I don't, except for the really bad itchy feeling. Sometimes I question whether or not I have something else because it's really bad and it feels like I have a sudden burning rush of nails/needles stabbing my skin and I can't even move but only twitch. It's like this on a daily basis with my skin, whenever my body temperatue goes up. I feel like my body's thermostat is broken and I'm constantly overheating. I've been taking Claritin and Benadryl but that doesn't seem to help at all. My doctor also gave me a prescription medicine called Atarax, which only makes me drowsy and doesn't help the itchy feeling. Any suggestions? Btw, I've taken blood tests to see if there is anything wrong but everything came out fine. =/

[sherabby]

My 6 year old son has been getting hives now everyday for about 2 months. He sounds a lot like your condition. When he plays really rough he gets hives.  When he gets hot in school he gets hives.  I am so worried that he has some sort of a medical condition that we don't know of that is causing these hives.

Lately his eyes look sickly to me.  I know I worry about him alot but after all he is my baby. I wish I had some answers.  We see a pediatric allergist for his other multiple allergies and we do totally avoid what he is allergic to everyday.

[mukie]

my 11 year old son had a virus on Thanksgiving 5 days later he started itching from head to toe no rash no hives nothing.
we started him on benadryl and calamine lotiong, not relief so the Doctor gave him allegra and cortisone, no relief. Then the dermatologist gave him a shot of kenalog, and prescription cortisone. still no relief after two emergency room visits they gave him hydroxine and blood workups for kidney, liver, and thyroid came back normal.  then the allergist said his bloodwork for allergies is normal too. she put him on zyrtec and two hydroxine at night so the kid can maybe get some sleep.. Now were going on 5 weeks he has missed 3 weeks of school and there's still no relief for this poor kid in site.  we've tried oatmeal baths, lotion, bactine which has lidocane and still nothing. Can someone give us some suggestions.  It's 2007 I can't believe all this modern technology and no one can help itching.

[tg316]

Hi I was currently had the same problem. Out of no where my body started itching. The doctor diagnosised it as demertitis. I had the same symptoms as your son, no visible signs of anythings. My doctor suggest benadryl, and told me to take two hydroxine at night. She doesn't have an idea what it is. She told me if its still bothering me in three days, to come back to see her.

[Icicles22]

I may have the same problem as you; however, I experience burning sensations.  I show no visible symptoms and I myself am experiencing the bothersome guess and check experience of trying to figure out whats wrong.  I usually feel the burning sensation in my legs but it seems to be focused on the sides of my stomach/ribs right now.  I show no visible symptoms but only the burning I feel.  Its been like this for a little more than a month.  A few years back, it was like this for nearly 2 years but went away for about 5 months the later part of 2007.  Both reactions were right after I had sexual relations with a partner.  The coincidence led me to believe std related but negative tests say otherwise.  I myself feel lost and not sure what to do because from what ive been reading, it seems like the creams/moisturizers and medications do not really help so much.  

[jmerz]

Hi. I have this very same problem.  I itch ALL OVER MY BODY. My arms, shoulders, back, neck, chest, stomach, legs. I started itching bout 5-6 months ago. For some reason it went away for a few weeks and came back again, but worse. This second time around, I've been itching for 2-3 months. Last week I noticed a lump on my right side where my thigh begins. Right at the joint. I also noticed a few red spots. Which is strange because I'd itch but there wouldn't be any marks on my skin. I look normal. I went to see my doctor and he told me I had shingles. Which explains the red spots and the lump. He put me on Valtrex (sp?) and I've been taking it for the past 4 days. I noticed the overall itch has gotten much much worse and still have no clue why it's so bad!!

[alone and scared]

Why are there so many people getting sick with unexplained reasons. Is this a phenomenon!  This is scary!  

[greenie93]

I am itching too... and I'm not joking!!! It's just everywhere here and there and it really does drive you nuts... I don't have any idea why... I came here to see what was wrong with everyone else. Ok so you have absolutely no answers. Guess I'll go to the doctor... LOL

I will say, it started out with my hands and feet. When I wake up it is a horrible warm "desperate" itch that has to be dealt with NOW! feeling... Understand what I mean by that? Even my lips.. mine has been going on for 2 weeks. No visable signs, no other symptoms. Well.. wait there is double vision and loss of muscle strength but I personally write that off as being so tired from lack of sleep and overdosing of benedryl. Good luck everyone and I hope God blesses you with a good night sleep.

[greenie93]

I am itching too... and I'm not joking!!! It's just everywhere here and there and it really does drive you nuts... I don't have any idea why... I came here to see what was wrong with everyone else. Ok so you have absolutely no answers. Guess I'll go to the doctor... LOL

I will say, it started out with my hands and feet. When I wake up it is a horrible warm "desperate" itch that has to be dealt with NOW! feeling... Understand what I mean by that? Even my lips.. mine has been going on for 2 weeks. No visable signs, no other symptoms. Well.. wait there is double vision and loss of muscle strength but I personally write that off as being so tired from lack of sleep and overdosing of benedryl. Good luck everyone and I hope God blesses you with a good night sleep.

[Urticariansagittarian]

Has anybody tried Reflexology for this? You'd be amazed at the results it can have as it can be used to stimulate the adrenal gland which releases cortisole.
Also try eating lots of salad, fruit and raw veg as these are all cooling foods.
Im training to be a reflexologist at the mo and my tutor (who is an amazing woman) has a theory that things which irritate/stress you emotionally can irritate/stress you physically.
Maybe look at what irritates irritates you in your life and try to relax about it.
Plenty of deep breathing etc.
Hope you all find some relief soon.

[ItchyintheEAST]

I left a comment on here one day.. I too was searching for an answer to my itching issues... Doctors were not helpful at all... they only made me feel like I was insane...

I googled like mad. One day I ran into this thing called SELENIUM. It is found in everything. Trust me it took hours and hours to find it. But just so happened when my symptoms started I had a gluttony for BRAZILIAN NUTS! Everytime I felt bad, I sat down with a nut bowl. well? nuts are supposed to be GOOD FOR YOU. but with the nuts, cigarettes and TEA which I always drink... i was overdosing on selenium. Of course the doctor laughed it off... thought I was nuts.. Come to find out, I slow down on my selenium intake, the itch... not so bad and I KNOW that is what it is...

The doc was testing me for the flu, in which I knew I didn't have! And then, he calls to tell me he's prescribing an antibiotic because he thinks I have a virus...

I refused the antibiotic, searched for a new doctor for future reference and laughed at them.. they thought my selenium poisoning was insane, and they were prescribing a freakin zpac for a VIRUS??? DOCTORS need to back off the computer and start thinking with what they know!

[ItchyintheEAST]

I left a comment on here one day.. I too was searching for an answer to my itching issues... Doctors were not helpful at all... they only made me feel like I was insane...

I googled like mad. One day I ran into this thing called SELENIUM. It is found in everything. Trust me it took hours and hours to find it. But just so happened when my symptoms started I had a gluttony for BRAZILIAN NUTS! Everytime I felt bad, I sat down with a nut bowl. well? nuts are supposed to be GOOD FOR YOU. but with the nuts, cigarettes and TEA which I always drink... i was overdosing on selenium. Of course the doctor laughed it off... thought I was nuts.. Come to find out, I slow down on my selenium intake, the itch... not so bad and I KNOW that is what it is...

The doc was testing me for the flu, in which I knew I didn't have! And then, he calls to tell me he's prescribing an antibiotic because he thinks I have a virus...

I refused the antibiotic, searched for a new doctor for future reference and laughed at them.. they thought my selenium poisoning was insane, and they were prescribing a freakin zpac for a VIRUS??? DOCTORS need to back off the computer and start thinking with what they know!

[itchybali]

i have the ITCH my sister had it first and then i developed it after visiting her and sleeping in the same bed. her boyfriend now has it too. its hell. i itch all over. sometimes not for an hour or so but most of the time at least some part of me has uncontrollable itching. mostly its my thighs, abdomen, buttocks, chest and arms. nothing helps and there is absolutely no symptoms. no bumps, rash, or anything.

my sister has tried a million different medications and i have tried many different oils and herbal remedies. nothing helps at all. i usually wake up in the morning and have to itch for at least an hour before i start my day. it is the worst in the morning.

my sister has been to 6+ doctors and no one can help.

[samsweid]

i have the same problem my life is at stand still . iam scared to do any thing even sex . before i do anything i have to think a thousand times before i do any thing . i get out of my bed in the morning and i start to etch . i keep tempreature around me to a minmum any change in tempreature make me overheat and etch . if i get mad or  nervious i strat to etch . my problem started about twenty some years ago but it went a way for a long time but it came back and went away and a few years later ut came back but the past few month it came and never went away. please help us with this problem and money is no problem

[samsweid]

this is sam again when i get hot and itchy i use a fan and water to cool me down and it does work but this is not the life i want

[wjg]

I have a variation that i'm not seeing from anyone else.  I have the normal looking skin and severe itching.  However, when I scratch my skin gets red and the scratch marks welt.  Sometimes small bumps form.  After time the skin again returns to mormal.  Had this about 3 years ago for a month and the DR was no help.  It's back and I'm at a loss as to what to do!

[AlexWern]

I've been having a similar itching problem for almost three months now.  It seemed to start after I started taking minocyline for acne.  I had been on doxycyline for a good year almost with no problems and then my doctor gave me a bottle of minocycline.  After a week or two, I started to intensely itch, especially on my groin and scalp.  I stopped taking the minocycline immediately...my hands and feet began to swell the next day.  I told the doctor and took a round of Prednisone for one week.  I ended up with itchy hives for a few days, but they eventually disappeared.  The swelling went away, but the itching has more or less stuck around since then.  I get it on my hands and the sides of my thighs, but ESPECIALLY on my upper back, neck, scalp and chest.  I have no rash or any other visible sign of any skin irritation.
I've noticed I get hot+sweaty pretty easily lately and that usually leads to some irritation.  Also, I noticed my hair tends to be a lot more greasy than usual, but my scalp is very dry and sensitive.  
I had some bloodwork done by the doctor, which he said came back normal, but I don't know exactly what he tested for.
I am really, truly baffled as to what is going on with my body.  It scares me, but also really frustrates me because I feel like I have no idea what the problem is or how to fix it.  
What can I do?  What should I ask a doctor to test for?  Please help if you can.

[Nat211]

I hope you get a chance to read this. I too had the itching, it started when I was about 19. I suffered for a couple years. It was awful. Same symptoms you all expressed: itch without rash. Went to lots of Drs, not much help. Was told I had Atopic dermatiti, which is basically a catch-all phrase for itching all over. Anyway I started taking Hydroxyzine 25mg. 1 each night. It does have the side effect of making you tired at first and it takes a month or so to really have an effect. But I am now 36, still take 1 Hydroxyzine 25mg a night and I have not had much of an itch for about 15 years. I can tell that I still have the condition and I do itch a bit when the weather seasonally changes (cold to hot, hot to cold) but I often forget that I have the itch at all, for months on end.

[senor_vivo]

Mine is definately heat related. Funnily enough when i excersise most intensely (football, running etc) i'm fine but gradual and seemingly innocuous activity (golf practice, painting, cleaning) i get hot very qucikly and get an all over prickly ich sensation without any visiual symptoms. The most distressing times are at night in bed. I have to stand near an open window and if it persists still, I go and sleep in the spare room.

[thetruestfaith]

I have the same problem. Mine started about 5-6 months ago. I started getting itchy on my hands and they would swell up, then it moved down to my wrists. I would get tiny red bumps and large red welts. Then, my whole arm started to itch. Now my stomach, scalp, face, back, and legs itch as well. It can itch for hours and I'm getting really frustrated because I am 16 and when I am in school, I can start to itch and the itch is making it hard for me to pay attention in school. Also, the bumps and welts appear sometimes without the itching, and before the bumps, welts, and itching begin, the area gets hot.

[pob]

my itch started a week ago and is so bad ive scratched myself raw loads of little sores etc . tried usual stuff eg. antihystamines , cream soapless washes but to no avail been on l-arganine and l-carnitine for 2 months so wonder if maybe its one of them dont know any feedback would be GREATLY appreciated before i tear myself apart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OIF_V]

I have a condition where my scalp is very sensitive and itchy.  I soothe my scalp by patting my scalp constantly resulting in the breakage of my hair.  There are no signs except for a very dry scalp and when I apply any type of grease, the itchiness gets worse.  I've tried all types of shampoo's, conditoners, grease, and hair treatments, but nothing seems to work.  If you have any ideas on how to treat this please feel free to let me know.

[donkeyodie]

About 10 days ago I started feeling itchy all over my skin. No outward symptoms, etc. I asked my wife if she had noticed any itchness, wondering if it was mites or some tiny bedcritters or something. She hasn't, but I've been itchy every day now for 10 days. It's maddening.

I've never been allergic or the ill type. One thing that's changed is I've alot of stress in my life dealing with a difficult teen son. It's also started to get warm, but it does that every year and I've never had this itch in 47 years. But the stress part is new, I'm usually super calm all through life.

If anyone finds a diagnosis that makes sense, or treatment, please post back here. Please.

[AppleJonnySeed]

I got the same thing going on for me.. I itch all over and don't really have any outward symptoms. Just a couple little red swollen areas that I think are from scratching. Its all over my body but mostly my legs and abdomen/chest and ribs. Doesn't seem like anyone's found much of a solution to this problem. my doctor gave me atarax which helps a little bit when I'm going to sleep and some fluocinonide cream that helps a bit as well but I'm tired of taking pills that knock me out and constantly trying to rub cream all over myself, especially since neither work at all sometimes. I've found that my itching gets a lot worse when I am dehydrated and drinking plenty of water seems to help keep my itching from acting up too much. Nights are the worst though. I dont seem to be able to get more than 4 hours of sleep before the itching sets in and wakes me up. Ive been up since 4 with only 4 hours of sleep and an exam at 9. ARGG..

Anyway, I also read something about the raw food diet helping people with eczema. I know eczema is different than what most of us have but it does have to do with the skin so it may help with what we got too. I dunno though, anyone know anything about that?

[sueker]

I, too, itch all over with no other symptoms.  I'm watching what I eat and thnk I've narrowed it down to msg.  There are numerous websites with information on it.  If it isn't msg I'll keep looking for answers...