Teen dd with very itchy legs. She's scratching them until they bleed

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

What can I buy to help with it ??

I think it is half problem and half habit tbh

[FossilMum]

Suggest try some sort of easy-to-apply moisturising cream. If she has any skin sensitivities, try something non-perfumed like E45. She risks getting it infected (plus it must hurt!) if she scratches it till it bleeds.

[Trazzletoes]

Does she still get free prescriptions? If so, take her to the Dr.

I get extremely itchy shins when the weather changes and often scratch til they bleed. Turns out its eczema so she would be able to get the dr to give her cream on prescription.

But yes, something like E45, definitely non-perfumed as scents will only irritate it more.

[thehairybabysmum]

Aveeno cream is really soothing and you can get it on prescription.

[CMOTDibbler]

My legs get super itchy when dry - best thing is a bath wit Oilatum, slather in Aveeno or other thick moisturiser, then put cotton leggings on and really let it soak in overnight.
I'm also sensitive to our leather sofa, and if I'm wearing pjs or something else that doesn't cover my lower legs and have my feet up, that makes them itch terribly, so worth thinking about

[JollyRedGiant]

I get this if I use any shower gel or soap. I now use Dermol in the shower which is an emollient and soap substitute. It is expensive but can be got on prescription.

[JollyRedGiant]

Oilatum makes my skin worse. I think it is the perfume.

[bonzo77]

I get this. Agree with very generous moisturising, and frequently. I find eucerin and diprobase are good. Both available on prescription. Also, is she removing hair? This can aggravate the situation, both the method and the regrowth.

[chipmonkey]

I had this as a teen and it turned out to be scabies!
Everyone said that I was imagining it and making it worse by scratching. Then my Mum eventually remembered that I had shared a bed on holiday with my friend who had been scratching like mad, asked her Mum and was told scabies.
It was the itchiest thing I have ever had in my life, horrible. Tiny mites that live under the skin.

[CatelynStark]

The only thing that stops my itchy shins is Protect and Perfect Intensive Serum, which I buy from Boots when it's on special offer as it's quite pricey.

[MikeLitoris]

I was like this as a teen. From about 13-19yo.

E45 and oilatum where both rubbish.

I had sores from scratching so much. I tried a million and one creams and none worked.

I ended up having to wear these incredibly smelly bandages every few weeks. Some sort of tar stuff. I did that for about a year and the it started to happen less and less.

The agony of not being able to get into the bandages to scratch still haunts me!

[GettingObsessive]

I am the same and you are right about it being partly habit.

I find that it's particularly bad when the central heating goes on in the late summer early autumn.

Garnier hydrolock has really worked for me - seems to stay for ages.

[Uppermid]

I get this too, often after swimming. To the point that I can't go anymore. Lots of moisturising cream, but an unperfumed one.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

She is 15 and a fan of fake tan, so it could be that.

I'll take her to the docs i think, as they can probably give her something better than I can get over the counter.

Thank you

[Wolfiefan]

Hmmm. Stop fake tan?
Dermol is eczema cream. It has an anti itch ingredient.
Avoid perfumed products. Emollient on a lot.
Dress to avoid being able to itch. PJs?

[trixymalixy]

I had this. Eucerin anti itch spray was great to help break the cycle. She needs to try and not scratch as it makes it worse. I have heard that slapping rather than scratching can help.

[Charliefox]

Oh god, being itchy is a cruel torture. Yes slapping can help, as can pressing hard rather than scratching. Anti histamine to take down the irritation, quit the fake tan for now and diversion tactics - anything to prevent the scratching, so the itch-scratch cycle is broken.

[harryhausen]

Everyone will recommend a certain cream to you - they may work, they may not. You need to find the one that works for your dd.

I've experienced severe guttate psorasis with my dd who's only 8. She was completely covered head to toe in angry, unsightly, extremely itchy spots. She couldn't sleep at night as things were so itchy. We suffered 12 months under the GP (which is where my extensive experience of various creams comes from) until we ended with UV light treatment at the hospital for months. She's now clear (ish).

However, I'm going off track - what I mean to say is that in my experience soooo many people will tell you "it's this" "it's that" "stop using this washing powder" "start eating pumpkins seeds" etc. You need to see the GP who will tell you what is actually is.

It's probably (see hear I go!) a touch of eczema. I won't recommend a cream but all I can say is when you get one, moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. Most people with skin issues don't moisturise nearly enough, and you need to do it ALL the time - not just when your skin is dry.

Sorry, I hope I don't come across as being on a soapbox there

[norac]

I have had the same problem as long as I can remember and recently reduced/cut out gluten and my legs not itching is one of the main things I have noticed.