Hi everyone,
Does anyone suffer with itchy skin??? It started a couple weeks ago, after a shower my arms itch all over then eases. There's no rash. Last night I got in bed and couldn't get to sleep from one itchy arm which seemed to start from shoulder and work its way down my arm like a wave very strange. Im on hydroxychlorine for lupus and RA wondering if its a side effect and is there anything i can do to ease it?
Hello Zeberdee1
I can understand this. I have had skin issues all my life and now have lupus/photosensitivity as well. My skin gets extremely dry! I have in the past scratched and made myself bleed. Not good on my lower legs where I have varicose veins. I have been told I have eczema and venous eczema etc etc etc. I find that E45 actually makes me itchier! I hate the stuff.
Ultimately I have tried loads of different stuff. I use Aveeno, which apparently you can get on prescription? I haven't asked. I tend to buy it when it is on special offer. I use Sanex in the shower. I also love the Body Shop butters but they are more expensive, so ideal for Christmas presents. I also don't shower every day. That dries my skin out far too much. Every other day and then plenty of moisturiser on afterwards. Baths are not good for dry skin.
I am going through the perimenopause too and itching is a symptoms of that as well.
Sometimes you cannot find out what is causing all of this.
Have you had itchy skin before? Or do you think it's linked to the hydroxy? Another thing to consider is that different brands use different "fillers" in their tablets. I have zentiva brand hydroxychloroquine and this agrees with me. As we have lupus/allergies/sensitivities we often find drugs can give us unwanted side effects. Maybe try a different brand of hydroxy?
Just a few thoughts. We are all different.
Good luck!
Wendy
My skin goes through phases of being itchy, my GP prescribed Dermol shower cream and moisturiser which helps a bit. I’ve been on Hydroxy for years now, I can tolerate any brand of it although the Zentivia is the best, doesn’t taste as horrible as the quinoric. I have skin lupus so there is always bumps and lumps going on with me. Atm I have one arm that is dry, itchy, bumpy and a lot hairier than the other, the other one is smooth and fine. It’s a very strange illness this lupus, I’m controlling the rest of me with cream from my dermatologist. Best wishes
Hi Zeberdee,
have you by any chance change any soaps or shampoo recently?
The only time my skin itch is when I had hot shower. I stop having hot shower . my showers is now cool showers so that it does not dry the skin. Skin has been ok since the change of shower temp. I dont come out of the shower scratching myself to pieces.
also I dont use liquid soap any more some liquid soaps drys the skin badly . I have only use bar soaps (Lush) they have been ok on my skin .
I use Neutrogena Deep moisturiser for my skin after shower . have not had any problems of itchness since .
Hope you can find some solution with yours.
sorry to hear about the itchy. I too get unexplained prickly and/or itchy skin with no rash (I get rash itchy ones too!), if I were to scratch it comes up in huge weals and blood spot rash. I've had skin problems all my life but this is one I associate with Lupus. I'm on hydroxychloroquine and the extreme skin problems I'd had got less after a couple of months.
I've just had a a run of it - can feel it a bit today. Sometimes I can pin point a reason, and I do take fexofenadine all spring and summer then when required the rest of the year (most of September & now this year) and that helps a range of skin problems. Otherwise I have a cool shower, wear my smoothest cotton clothing (a long dress and shirt) and basically keep still, calm and cool - not easy if you have things to do. And at night time accept it will take ages to go to sleep. Sorry, not very helpful if there are things that you need to be doing.
The emollient I use is Weleda's white mallow body lotion - I use the face cream as my daily moisturiser - it's made for babies and all ages and very mild, calming and soothing, sometimes it helps the no visible anything itchiness.
I do have Epaderm which I use when there are extreme visible skin problems or dryness, but I don't find it soothing for the unexplained itchy or prickly - it feels too hot if that makes sense - oh and yes I keep Weleda cream in the fridge during the summer.
Hope you find ways of dealing with the itchiness, whatever the cause.
yes have bouts of itchy skin. Arms, head, neck and chest. No rash just an itch. Joy of Lupus
I too am suffering from prickly skin starting at the shoulders and worse at night and have been on hydroxychloroquine for 7 years. It has worsened since my rheumatologist decided we needed to reduce the steroid intake. Nothing seems to ease it apart from Zapain. 🤷♀️ - the joy of Lupus. Xx
Hello, I thought I was the only person who has wild itchy skin after a shower!
For me, it comes for a few weeks and then goes. I dose myself up on antihistamine (tablets) before a shower when I know I'm going through an itchy patch. The itchiness is only there for around 30 minutes. It makes no difference what products I use, or even if I use nothing except water.
My rheumatologist told me it was nothing to do with Lupus (I have been diagnosed with probable SLE). I have been to a skin specialist and they couldn't explain it.
Good luck, I know it's not fun.
Hiya. I have SLE & everything that goes with it. I too suffer with itchy skin so there must be some connection with Lupus, don’t you think?
I use Oilatum prescribe by Gp & it does help.
Keep pushing for help!
Best of luck to all
Moyra 😊
Ah, thank you.
Oilatum, I haven't heard of that so will ask.
I keep asking questions and not always getting a reply but will keep trying! 😀
The Rhaematolohist I see has said ( especially after a shower) people with lupus ( not everyone) can get a very itchy skin.. if you ask your dr for Oilatum ask for the bathing one as then as it’s a liquid you can pour it down your back.
Hope all this makes sense
💕💕💕
Hi, I had the same problem, I was taken off hydroxy med and the itchyness stopped. So it could be the med.
Yes - USUALLY a “sign Lupus Flare coming” & I LEARNED to stay out of “SUN “ 🌞(always a LUPUS TRIGGER & could cause Itching)
Once I got my initial SYMPTOMS under control, I don’t have much itching - ITCHING was a major symptom for me. ARMS, SCALP (even exposure in Winter in Sun), thighs.
Baths w/Epson Salts help to help calm skin helps.
This ARTICLE below will help you:
I’m so sorry you are experiencing this uncomfortable itching. I’ve had lupus for over 30 years and itched on and off all the time.
I find organic aloe Vera gel a big help. I keep the tube in the fridge. E45 made my itching worse.
I hope this helps you in some small way.
All the best.
Thank you, I've seen my GP today who's sending a referral to to the dermatologist not expecting anything from the itching as there's no rash but hopefully they can solve the black marks that have appeared on my lips. Not heard any good reviews on E45, I'm using LaRoche at the minute which does seem to help but will try the Aloe Vero too thank you
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