Unbearably itchy for two days - help before I lose my mind

[stopscratching]

Since yesterday I’ve been unbearably itchy allll over my body, like not even just the usual parts but my palms, armpits, bottoms of my feet and it’s driving me crazy!

I was up until 3am 2 hours after my partner fell asleep just scratching because it was so bad, and it’s been like it through today too. I’ve got scratch marks and have cut into my skin from scratching too much

I’m dreading another night of this, I’m not allergic to anything and can’t think of anything I’ve eaten out of the ordinary, and I don’t have dry skin or eczema

anything anyone can suggest before my skin comes off?!??

Sympathies. Itching is horrible! I became horrifically itchy about a year ago - it was perimenopause. HRT has helped quite a lot.

High blood sugar could be a possibility? In any case I'd see a doctor.

I would take some antihistamines and call your GP surgery in the morning to get some blood tests.

Laundry detergent not washing out fully did this to my DC! Might need to run a few cycles if detergent built up in the machine - chuck a few towels through on a hot wash no detergent or softener. Then was bedding and pjs on an extra rinse cycle. Minimal detergent. No fabric softener. I use an extra rinse cycle every time now and seems to be sorted.

Hmm, have you been on holiday recently? I'm thinking mosquito bites ... or midge if you've come up here to Scotland!
I'm also wondering about bedbugs 😱 Are there ANY bites that you can see?
Or have you changed washing powder/fabric softener recently?

You need to book in with a GP for bloods. Could be liver, gallbladder or diabetes.

Hormones? I was like that when I was pregnant!

What age are you? Could it be peri menopausal?

Once you have excluded any concerning causes, I find Benylin chesty cough (the drowsy one) helps, it has an antihistamine in which helps with itching and also makes you slightly drowsy (but doesn't knock you out). I was bitten to pieces last week and it helped me to get a good night's sleep .

This is very common during peri-menopause.

Do you have rashes in your armpits, between your fingers and in other areas? Is it worse at night? One possibility is scabies.

Take some antihistamine.

I’m 30 so not sure it would be perimenopause but I guess you never know! I do have diabetes type 2

I'd first ring 111, that's not normal itching. Then take an antihistamine to see if that helps. Have a good look at your eyes for any yellowing.

111 will likely tell you to see the GP for bloods tomorrow

Is it worse at night? It could be scabies perhaps? If so then a chat with a pharmacist is a good next step.

No signs of scabies - and note to self: never look up images of scabies mites again

How well controlled is your type 2? Have you eaten something sugary or carb-heavy? Or perhaps had a lot of stress or a mild illness? Those are things that trigger high blood sugar in my sister who has type 2.

Around age 30 I suddenly got "chronic hives". Every few days I would get tiny little white bumps on various parts of my body. They usually started on my feet, my hands, sometimes elbows. I was told that it was just an auto immune issue and to take a daily antihistamine. As long as I do that, they stay away.

Thats interesting I think I've had something similar since 30 too, I've just put up with it.