I have chronic skin itching. Especially in the night. The more I scratch, the more is itching. I used many home remedies and anything I have heard it is helping. Nut none is helping. I will see a dermatologist next week, thanks God it's not 2 months from now. I started to use today hydrocortisone cream which was highly recommended by someone. Does anyone is familiar with this cream and how much it helped, if any. I appreciate any reply. Thank you for taking time.
Respect and love,
Felicia
Hi Feliciaus - Often the cause of itchy skin associated with kidney failure is high phosphorus levels in your blood. I was advised to cut as much phosphorus from my diet as possible. I also found baking soda baths soothing. I feel for you…the itching was absolutely horrible. Although my nephrologist never mentioned to me, people on the site have discussed being prescribed phosphate binders. That might be an option. I’m not a doctor…just a patient. This is my own experience. Please check with your nephrologist.
Have a wonderful day!
D
That happens to me at night sometimes too. I have taken benedryl tabs, 2 or 3, and I get groggy as it wears off, and definitely makes me sleepy. Good luck
Thank you Phillip for your reply. I have started with Cetirizine 1 tablet/daily. After 2 days I stopped taking it cause it did not help. Then I took Claritine and I stopped after 5 pills. It did not help either with itching. Lately I use hydrocortizone cream which is not stopping itching in the night. Next week I will see a dermatologist, (I hope a doc, not a medical student who has no clue about itching conditions). I have printed out a list with recommended creams, etc prescription meds for the appointment. It might be scabies which takes a long time to eliminate the infestation including the eggs. They are not visible with naked eye. The mites feed themself with blood. Some of these strong meds contain pesticides. So, the more I read, the more I learn and scare myself. On top of all, my anxiety escalates with every night approaching. That's my horrifying experience.
Wishing you all a pleasant weekend!
Felicia
Well good luck to you and I can relate about anxiety and sleep loss too. Let us know how things work out with the dermatologist. And on top of this, am stage four and watch my diet too. Sometimes I wonder about the end game, and the thought of dialysis scares the hell out of me. And my doc said I am borderline about a transplant being almost 76. My eldest son stepped right up to offer his kidney, but with my age, I don’t want to put him through it, and he’s got a heart of gold. Well just try to think positive!
Tolnaftate sometimes helps me, or hydrocortisone, sometimes witch hazel sometimes peppermint or tea tree essential oils I think there are others.
And there are times when I take colostrum capsules. This is something actually all of them you need to talk to your doctor about.
Also, check your diet like someone said high phosphorus levels can cause itching.
Also Ice can help.
On occasion calamine lotion but that I would have to bath in.
All of these are merely suggestions. Please check with your doctor before using or taking anything.
Good luck
Please make sure you check your labs. Whenever I have problems with one of the electrolytes, the itching starts. It could be phosphorus or sodium or potassium, etc. And once it's corrected, the itching stops. Look for a cure with your diet first to get lasting relief.
For temporary topical relief, I keep a tube of benadryl gel in the fridge and use that in spots. But, careful excessive use of benadryl is not kidney friendly.
Hi,
When I have experienced itching all over my body in my case it mean I severely anemic. Also my electrolytes, sodium, and potassium were all off, I would ask your Dr to run some labs just in case.
Stay blessed 🌹
Hi I am stage 4 and I use hay fever tablet's don't know the precise name of them but they work for me.
I had chronic itching a few years ago which lasted for two and a half years. I was prescribed fexofenadine. It stopped the itching but made me very drowsy and I had to stop taking it as I didn't feel safe driving. However not everyone reacts that way. Because the anti-histamines weren't great for me, I did a lot of research about histamine and realised that I was best avoiding certain foods which are either high histamine content or cause histamine production in the body: for example I cut back on tomatoes and mushrooms. This worked a treat and helped me wave goodbye to 2 years of real discomfort. I discussed my approach with my dermatologist and she approved. The big caveat to this though is I hadn't been diagnosed with kidney disease at that point and I also don't know what stage you are currently at. I'm now stage 3a and do get the itches back from time to time and always slightly adapt my diet for a few days and it seems to work.
I use my Red Light Therapy and Aveno Oatmeal Lotion...Avoid too hot of showers... Ice is very helpful....
And don't scratch. ( so hard) but it makes it worse
I do notice I itch when I have eaten too much Phosphorus...Phisphorus is in almost everything...My Nehologist told me to eat a Tums after my meals and it worked, but then my Calcium Levels started to increase (because Tums is high in Calcium) so he gave me an Rx binder that doesn't have Calcium....it works well also.. Diet changes make a positive diffference.
My naturopath said my itching was from toxins exiting my body. I think the diet angle is on target. Everyone should keep a diet journal to record what you are eating and if it affects you. I also highly recommend the books "Stopping Kidney Disease" and "Stopping Kidney Disease Food Guide" by Lee Hull. These books are inexpensive and are game changers. I got more help from these books than from the Kidney Foundation, my kidney specialist, etc. Good luck!
Hydrocortisone can help some but not enough. Ask your doctor about taking gabapentin. I had agonizing itch (more like feeling on fire). My nephrologist immediately got me on gabapentin. Solved the problem. You need not suffer. Talk to your doctor immediately. Go only with expert advice.
I take a prescription medication for my itching. Hydroxyzine hydrochloride
itching
Itching all over
Severe itching
Looking for relief from itching that is keeping me up at night.
