Like many others who suffer from liver disease I suffer from itching and needless to say I am aware of and have tried many of the anti itch topical creams and gels with some being more effective than others . However being a fairly active individual I also suffer from frequent scratches,bruises and abrasions on my skin but they also often appear suddenly and without any apparent preceding factor. Unfortunately cirrhosis and long term steroid and immunosuppressant medication has made my skin cigarette paper thin.
When abrasions appear or the skin is broken because of scratching to try and relieve itching, it usually take a long time to fully heal. I currently have one broken skin abrasion on a leg and it has been hanging around for circa three months during which time it became septic. When I attended my local surgery a few days ago to have the dressing changed the Nurse observed the many other smaller bruises/abrasions on my legs and arms and recommended I try wearing DermaSilk or similar, theraputic socks and arm tubes which she said should be very beneficial and also prevent the breaking of the skin if scratching because of itching etc.
I understand these theraputic silk products are most frequently used by people that suffer from one or other of the various types of eczema and other itch generating health problems . However they are extremely expensive so I do not want to purchase before further inquiry regarding the effectiveness if any, in liver related skin disorders.
Has anyone else with similar symptoms to mine used these silk products ? If there is I shall be very pleased to know if they provided any relief ?
Thank you.
Regards
Written by
findasolution
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As it was recommended by a nurse presume you can get it on the NHS?
An alternative might be what the National Eczema Society used to (and may still do but I did this about 18 years ago!) recommend for soothing eczema skin. Wet wrapping.
I used a product called Viscopaste which was a cotton bandage impregnated with a zinc based paste - its a bit like bandaging yourself in a plaster of paris wrap, its messy to apply but it stays soft and cool not like a fracture plaster. Over that you put a Tubifast bandage (just to keep the wetness of the wrap from soiling clothes) which is a hollow stretch lightweight bandage commonly used to hold non adhesive dressings or wraps in place on limbs. You can get Tubifast on the NHS, not sure about the Viscopaste now.
However what this does is keep the skin moist and cool, which suits dry/itchy skin conditions. If yours is a wound that needs to be dry to heal, then this isn't the right treatment. Also you will look like am Egyptian mummy unless you put clothes over the top!
If you just want to have a lightweight barrier over the damaged skin to stop the scratching, then Tubifast alone will be ok. You can cut it to size (it comes in a long roll, different dimensions for different limbs) and it is washable.
Although I wasn't aware of it until I had read your reply it does indeed seem to be the case that some DermaSilk products can be obtained on prescription via NHS but the number of garments per year is severely restricted no doubt because of the very high cost of the products.
I have in fact decided to fund my own purchase of some of the products for arms and legs and give them a try because the reviews I have read are in the main all very good and positive..However if they do not work then I will try the wet wrap procedure you mention. I have in the past used tubular bandages (Boots the Chemist type)for sports injuries etc but have always found that they restricted to blood flow although it sounds as if the Tubifast that you referred to may be non constrictive
If you would like any more information about getting our product on prescription or any information at all, take a look at our website and give us a call. We are more than happy to help!
Hi findasolution. Tubifast isn't the same as the elasticated tubular bandages used for support such as for sprains and strains that you have used in the past. Tubifast is thin and lightweight and doesn't give any support at all, its for keeping non-adhesive dressings in place. You can use it on its own without the wet wrapping underneath. Dermasilk seems to promote its benefits as being to absorb sweat and keep the body cool under normal clothing or in bed at night. So if overheating is what makes you itch, then it sounds worth a try. If what you want is a barrier between your damaged skin and your nails, to stop you scratching, or a barrier between your damaged skin and your clothing, then Tubifast might be a cheaper alternative.
This is a little late but thank you for clarifying that for me.
I couldn't find a local pharmacy that stocked that type of Tubifast but eventually ordered some on line from the manufacturer. I wasn't sure about the stretchability but odered an initial 5m roll of Blue Line and a 3m one of Yellow Line and as it turns out the former is perfectly adequate. So far it is doing the trick so am very pleased with it and certainly a lot cheaper than the silk products I initially mentioned.
Thanks again for your recommendation of this product.
You're welcome. I'm a community support worker and use a similar product regularly, though the NHS now buy a cheaper version! There is another brand available online called Comfifast which may be a different price.
I'm not diagnosed yet, but because of my symptoms I'm convinced I have PBS. Because my LFT is normal, I think my GP has decided my liver isn't causing my constant itching. Because of this, my legs are covered in lesions, so I would be interested in anything that would help with this situation. I'm going to ask my GP for an AMA blood test to see if that will make her refer me to a liver specialist. I'm a none drinker (apart from one sherry on Christmas Day) but I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren's Syndrome.
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