Severe Itching on arms

[Itchy Arms]

I have almost unbearable itching on my arms.  There are raised bumps, but they are not terribly noticeable until I have scratched them into bleeding and scabbing.  I've used Banadryl cream to no avail.  I have had some sun exposure (sunny Texas)but the rash preceded that.  I have had it for several months.

I have few allergies - Texas Mountain Cedar, cat dander, molds, but they typically present as respiratory or sinus complications, not dermatological.  I have an intolerance (not allergy) for ibuprophen, which caused me to have accute renal insufficiency several years ago (high levels of creatinine and BUN).

I am a 60 year-old, non-smoking female in very good health.  I do have managed hypertension.  I take three medications:  Premarin .625, Lisinopril-HCTZ 10/12.5, and Paxil 30 mg.  

Help!!

[1313]

I have had itching arms for five years.I was asking the pharmacist about the itching.He told me that it was probably my nerves,so he told me that I should try Neurontin. I went to my doctor and told him about it.I have been taking it for about 2 weeks.I started out at 300mg,it seemed not to be workig that well so I am taking 600mg. I am sleeping at night without waking up with my arms itching.I hope this info might be some help.                                                                                    Heidi

[1313]

I have had itching arms for five years.I was asking the pharmacist about the itching.He told me that it was probably my nerves,so he told me that I should try Neurontin. I went to my doctor and told him about it.I have been taking it for about 2 weeks.I started out at 300mg,it seemed not to be workig that well so I am taking 600mg. I am sleeping at night without waking up with my arms itching.I hope this info might be some help.                                                                                    Heidi

[mark0001]

I am also suffering from a recurring severe itching on my forearms. I always scratch it until it becomes painful and bleeds. This slight pain is more bearable than the itching.

This happened again yesterday, so I am researching it today. It started in the middle of the afternoon as a mild tingling sensation in the middle of the top of my left forearm. This soon turned into almost unbearable itching.

The area was about 2" long, 1" wide, reddened, and raised about 1/4" above the surrounding area. It felt as though there was a hard lump below the skin. Squeezing the area produced some clear watery liquid through the surface of the skin.

Today I have perhaps 25 very small scabs in exactly the area where I was scratching yesterday. These are about 1/16" to 1/8" across and barely raised.

The swelling and itching are completely gone. There is a slight pain to the touch, probably from scratching so much. No fliud comes out anywhere when squeezed.

I have no idea what causes this. I looked up shingles and it seems similar, but there are no blisters beforehand, and it always occurs on my forearms. Shingles is usually on the face or torso.

Have any of you ever had a similar rash anywhere other than your forearms - cold sores, shingles, herpes, zoster, etc?

[mark0001]

I forgot to mention, this seems to occur about once every three months or so.

[Asti]

My itching started several years ago when I lived in the Chicagoland area.  Most of my itching had been confined to my arms.  Thankfully, I have never itched to the point of bleeding, but like so many other stories I have read about itching, little bumps would start to appear after I started to scratch.  To find out why the itching occurred, I began to watch what I ate.  (It never occurred to me to go to a doctor.)  After my own little scientific experiment, I isolated the itching to my caffeine/decaf intake.  Once I quit drinking caffeine or decaf, and substituted lots of water the itching stopped.  I moved to Arizona four years ago and found myself missing coffee and started drinking it again.  Unfortunately, my system had not changed, it still was not happy being exposed to large amounts of caffeine/decaf, and I would begin to itch on not only my arms but my legs as well.  If the need for coffee/coke/tea/caffeine/decaf arises, I may still have some, but I drink lots of water to flush out my system, which thankfully still eliminates the itching.

[Asti]

My itching started several years ago when I lived in the Chicagoland area.  Most of my itching had been confined to my arms.  Thankfully, I have never itched to the point of bleeding, but like so many other stories I have read about itching, little bumps would start to appear after I started to scratch.  To find out why the itching occurred, I began to watch what I ate.  (It never occurred to me to go to a doctor.)  After my own little scientific experiment, I isolated the itching to my caffeine/decaf intake.  Once I quit drinking caffeine or decaf, and substituted lots of water the itching stopped.  I moved to Arizona four years ago and found myself missing coffee and started drinking it again.  Unfortunately, my system had not changed, it still was not happy being exposed to large amounts of caffeine/decaf, and I would begin to itch on not only my arms but my legs as well.  If the need for coffee/coke/tea/caffeine/decaf arises, I may still have some, but I drink lots of water to flush out my system, which thankfully still eliminates the itching.