......Help......Itching......

[Somethingshort]

I've never had anything like this before and I confess that during lockdown I not only changed my washing powder to these delightful-easy-to-use and heavily scented pods/washing conditioners/beads.....anything I could lay my hands on that made the washing smell "nice".I was having a lovely time. Why on earth after 65 years and several children later did I suddenly think that the air up here (1,200 feet above sea level) wasn't beautiful enough to dry my clothes. I think I went overboard and got addicted to these scented wash powders.
Then.....the itching started.........just a bit. The groin first. I must have sat and had such a satisfying scratch for a good ten minutes. It felt like a satisfying orgasm when I had finished. Phew. Then the next night......and the next......and now THREE MONTHS down the line I have finally decided - after several visits to the pharmacist to go to the doctors. He said I ought to. I feel worn out with it. I've been on Eurax cream. Eumovate cream....and the antihistamine pills (which knock me for six at night so I only take them before bed), salt baths and everything from duvet covers/towels/clothes is being washed in Persil non bio or Ecover and soda washing crystals.....yet still I am itching. I wrote to the Doctor with pictures......and was really expecting a miracle.....or even the Doctor to phone me back with a diagnosis. Nope.....the receptionist rang and said to come and collect your prescription. Well.........I am still non the wiser. Still scratching and wondered if anyone else could recommend ANYTHING to stop this itching.
I did find something out yesterday which I didn't know. When you scratch an itch, you release histamine. This makes you itch even more. So that little bit of information may have made such a difference in the beginning......

Baking soda bath?

Porridge baths. Porridge oats in a knotted tights foot, in the bath, squeeze until the water is milly. Or aloe vera.

Not to frighten you at all, but skin lymphoma can cause intense body itching and a rash similar to eczema that won’t go away and can be confused with other things. As can other conditions obviously, but you’d think if it was related to the washing powder etc it would have gone away with treatment and not using the detergents?

*milky

I got into something in the garden this summer that caused an intensely itchy rash. Nothing worked until I read an article that suggested ibuprofen. I didn’t think it would help but it did. Such relief! I guess it relieves the inflammation and thus relieves the itch. It’s worth a try to get some relief while you figure out the cause.

I have regular itchy bouts that started by wearing a scented sanitary towel for all of an hour. When it starts only sudocrem works.

Look up lichen sclerosis

I can only use one own brand of washing powder that isn't scented otherwise my eyes water and I tend to become so itchy.
Try changing your powder or fabric conditioner to one that's free from perfumes and other smells.
You could also try an anti histamine to stop the itching.
I can't even wear perfume or scented under arm deodorants.

I find that loratadine does not work at all for my itching, but cetirizine does, do if you have not switched antihistamine, might be worth trying that?

That's an interesting one. Yes, I will try that. Someone suggested that whatever I bathe in - salt, baking soda, to always shower it off after. I wasn't doing that.Thanks for that.

ItsAllAFugazi....Oat milk. That might be quite soothing. Yes, this puzzles me too, but there is no rash that has stayed with me from the beginning. They are all subsiding or shifting. Initially I washed underwear and made sure that the smell of pods/conditioner was totally out of my bras, pants and vests and sticking to only one or two lots of outer clothing (as that was easier to wash), and then the rash started to travel. It seems better around my groin and up my sides, which is where it originally started but it's travelling now, my bottom, the bottom of my back, my arms and the tops of my legs. How odd is this? I am dreading it going up my back, because I can't scratch there! Oh! And if I hear my other half tell me to stop itching once more......well.........I am trying....it's 3a.m. now and I am up having a shower, which does help to soothe the itching. I slather myself in a mix of Betamethasone valerate ointment and Cetraben. These are my lifeline at the moment and prescribed. I am surprised it is taking this long to go, but everything.....everything needs washing in my wardrobe a few times to rid of these detergents. Also duvet covers, towels. It's on everything! Anyway, thanks for the tip. Much appreciated.

Hushpuppy1. Yes. Oh yes......I did touch a huge plant in the garden and someone was saying.......don't touch that. I did and felt normal. I think it was giant hogweed. No.......I don't think it was that. Nothing came out of it. I had gloves on.....but maybe.......
Thanks for reminding me of that.

Also ibuprofen. Yes, it relieves the inflammation and the itch. That's a good one.

That was interesting to read about lichen sclerosis.. Gosh, awful.....but no.... not that. At least not at this stage. It hasn't affected my genitals. No white patches, no bleeding of skin or crusted bits. Although I did think as I was scratching my tummy.....oh no, what happens if it goes down there......or inside.....it must be terrible to be afflicted with something like that. It would drive anyone crazy. Thanks for that information. Very helpful.

CigarsofthePharoahs - Scented? sanitary towels. Why do they need to put something like this in a product that lies next to our skin. I would maybe have considered something like this - pre-three months ago.....but not now. Not ever again. Thanks for that. It's interesting what products we all use.

The80sweregreat. I have now gone over to Ecoleaf, similar to Ecover and nothing else. I have recently stopped using the washing soda crystals too as someone pointed out that they may be causing a rash. My soap is oliva soap, pure olive oil. Fairy at the sink. I only ever use green Fairy and vinegar for washing almost everything with a bit of baking soda for difficult bits. No make up.......no perfume.......no deodorant. I am having to wash a lot of clothes though, but only using a tablespoon of washing Ecoleaf. My goodness, in years past I have been lobbing in the aerial wash powder etc. Think of the money I have wasted over the years! Thanks for your help.

Professionallytorn. Thanks for that. I think they both work equally on me. The ones I had in the beginning must have been like sleeping tablets. I've never slept so heavily. I'll bear those two names in mind. Thank you.

I'd like to thank everyone who replied to me. All your comments were extremely helpful and valuable. So thank you for taking the time. It's interesting to hear what other people use too. I am 80 per cent convinced this is from washing powders. The great washing powders are a no-no from now on with me and I am convinced that there is more in those boxes of powders than cleanliness. We should all be more caring of what we use on our skin. I realise how fragile the balance is and intend when my skin is back to it's normal lovely glow, that I will take greater care of what I put on it, in my clothes and use in my daily life. Thank you everyone for listening too.

If you can find it, get Eco Leaf toilet rolls. Avoid anything scented or bleached and also avoid bamboo.

Rinse all over after bathing or washing your hair if the water runs down you.

Unperfumed soap (Simple), nothing scented at all.

Unperfumed laundry products, those stinky ones do not wash out out for many washes, if you put a wash in with no detergent you can see the soap coming out rom the build up.

Sorry I'm a bit confused. Is it all over body itching or just a certain area?

I've got very sensitive skin and cannot get on with any named brand of laundry detergent or fabric softener. I'd bet its the detergent or softener and the bugger is it gets into the textile. Maybe try one of the own brands (the whiter or clearer looking the better). Nothing perfumed or coloured and wash everything. I feel for you having itchy skin is miserable. I also only use baby shower cream and moisturise alot

Plaster the area in fullers earth cream to keep it dry then your body can heal itself properly. I find all the medicated stuff creates a damp environment that prolongs things which is good for pharma profits, but not good for us.

Wear a skirt and no knickers wherever possible or just at home etc if its intimate itching. Could be persistent thrush, thrush doesnt always have a discharge.

Do you think maybe the washing powder was a red herring, since you stopped using it and the itching hasn’t stopped? It could be an internal issue rather than an external one

Sorry, attachment didn’t attach!

Biological washing powder/liquid etc makes me itch no matter the brand. I have to stick with non-bio. I can't use any shampoo or conditioner except head and shoulders. I can't use any shower gels, only soap. Washing up liquid of any type makes my hands basically disintegrate. Same for any liquid hand wash, especially anti-bacterial ones.