Intensely itchy back

[Ifeel1000yearsold]

I’ve had an itchy upper back on and off since dec 2018. Worse when the central heating is on but still often itchy when it’s not. Worse early evening and when I go to bed.

Went to the doctors about a year ago but they couldn’t find anything. They said not to use anything on it and try not to itch but it’s insanely itchy at times

I sometimes get itchy bumps that disappear quickly. I’m 47 so may be pre menopausal.

Any ideas? I

Do you have pain anywhere? Aches and pains?

I get numbness in the area just below my neck, and itching in the area below that. It started about the same age as you now, so perhaps perimenopause.

I also have fibromyalgia and whiplash though.

No pain just the itchiness.

Hi I suffer from a recurrent itch below my shoulder blade. Google brought up Notalgia Paresthetica, which seemed to fit my symptoms. I haven't been to the GP though as it's pretty mild.

I thought this was just me! I assumed Eczema I couldn't feel. Off to google the above...

Hmm it could be that although there isn’t any good symptoms at all. I might ask doctor to take a biopsy as suggested.

Other not good!

Have you ever been badly sunburned on your back?
I've suffered from a very itchy back since I was badly sunburned fifteen years ago.
It's worse in the winter which I've traced to having showers at a hotter temperature.
I use E45 cream on it which does help a lot.

@OP this may sound like an odd question but is the itching on the outside / skin? Or is it itchy inside your back?

Omg I get this!! Not all the time, but when I do it’s always at night and stops me sleeping.

I have this just now, not only on my back but hip, leg, chest. They start off as spots, are very red and itch like mad. The one on my back is about 4 inches wide and another patch quite near it. The one on my leg is going away slowly after about 4 months.

Do you think it could just be dry skin making it itchy? I get this too on my lower back, I've had stretch marks there for years but find that area itches in the evenings. If I put E45 cream on, in fact any moisturiser it eases the itch.

Skin gets drier as we get older apparantly.

Have your tried an antihistamine?

I had this at pretty much exactly your age and still have it to a degree. Nothing found. I'm 100% sure it was a perimenopause symptom. I think standing under a too hot shower made it worse. Aveno moisturiser helped. Hope it eases soon.

I have arthritis in my spine and a few bulging discs and they make my entire back itchy and numb. Has been like it for a few years now.

The back is a very common place to get shingles so could also be that.

I have a long handled bristly body brush next to my bed for this reason. It scratches the itch easily and effectively in the night rather than me contorting and waking up too much,.

Thanks for the replies. It’s the skin that’s itchy. No sign of dry skin. No recent sunburn. Think it’s gone on too long to be shingles.

I have similar and put it down to my habit of standing with my back to the water when I'm in the shower, meaning the water consistently hits me between the shoulder blades causing my skin to dry our more in that area.

Might be worth wearing natural fibres next to the skin (ie cotton, linen), trying not to get too hot and looking at washing liquid for sensitive skin.

Have a look at dermnetnz.org/topics/malassezia-infections/ and malassezia overgrowth.

My DH gets one version of this from time to time. Ketoconazole shampoo gets rid of it in a few days. You wash the skin with it. Buy in a chemist. Not expensive.

I’ve had and still to a certain extent still got.and the numbness. On my upper back, for arms and thighs, but mostly on the back.
My doctor said it’s hormonal changes. Got it just before 50 a couple of years before last period. 63 now and still a bit itchy.