This may seem trivial but I’m being driven up the wall by severely dry, itchy, tingly skin which has developed over the last week.
I think it may be an allergic reaction to hair dye or body wash but who knows? I’m trying to keep it under control by moisturising and and taking antihistamines but they aren’t helping much.
Could it be related to PMR, Prednisone or Omeprazole in any way? If possible I’d like to rule them out on my quest for a solution.
Any help would be much appreciated.
I had an itchy rash a few months ago similar to eczema. I controlled it with a strong antihistamine [Benedryl; diphenhydramine HCl 25mg] at bedtime to relieve nocturnal itching, and Vaseline Eczema Calming therapy cream [colloidal oatmeal the active ingredient]. The cause may have been too much aged sharp cheddar cheese [loaded with histamines] or prednisone taper, or something else.
One thing you could do is change all your shampoos, body washes, soaps etc to brands which are neither coloured nor fragranced. In UK there is a brand called ‘Simple’. Not sure if you have that in South Africa.
Also if you are using a biological washing product, change to non-bio, though even that is too strong for some people with itch In UK we have a brand called Surcare, which I find is fine for people with eczema and itch. Stop using a fabric softener/ conditioner.
This information is gleaned from my experience as a nurse testing people for food intolerances and reactions to products they use.
Good luck. Constant itch is harrowing!
Yes been periods when I must have looked weird. I have done all those things. But as someone said when I posted about itching...the makers sometimes change recipes.
Urticaria can be Acute, that is It lasts less than 6 weeks, or Chronic if it lasts longer. Mine is chronic, and I know what triggered it, although many people who suffer from it will not find a trigger
Mine was Bisoprolol, a beta blocker.
Thomas, did you switch to a different drug and if so which?
I'm on a similar beta blocker, metoprolol tartrate, and it may have been implicated in an itchy rash I had a few months ago.
Thank you for the helpful replies, I can always rely on this group of kind people. I am in the process of changing all my shampoos etc. and it could be the cheese - I love mature cheddar cheese, I hope I don’t have to give that up.
I was wondering whether it was related to PMR because PMR is a form of Vasculitis and that affects blood vessels.
I was also thinking about upping my prednisone dose for a bit but I have very few spare tablets left.
I suffered this for a long time especially on my legs and an area of my back. In my opinion it was a side effect of pred. As I've reduced my dosage the itching has also reduced a lot. I found Aveeno products the most beneficial. I still use their baby wash in the shower or bath and their adult moisturiser and they are very soothing.
Since 6mg I have 3 to 4 weeks everyone often. Drives me mad.
Not really like me to reply to issues of this nature, but I was told by a lady in our village who seems to know about skin problems, that you should check the ingredients of all your shower gel, hair wash soaps etc etc to see if they contain methyl chloro isothiazolinone. If they do then you should change them to products that do not include it.
Good luck
Paddy
Thanks.
This can be one of the rarer side effects of Pred so check it out with your medics.
I do not know if your medics can prescribe it in Africa. If they can, ask them for Double Base Gel. Great Ormond Street hospital uses it, that is where we heard about it.
Do not shower every day, too much showering strips all the natural oils from your body.
In the meantime drop all soap, shampoo, body lotion etc that you are currently using.
You can buy Double Base Gel and follow the instructions to the letter. The ubiquitous on line store begins with Amazon has it.
Wash hair once a week with a Baby Shampoo no more than twice a week. I use Johnson's but them I am in the UK.
One last thing, is your pred enteric coated................if so wash the dye off before taking the pred.
You have my sympathy - a week or so after my pacemaker was put in I started to itch - so out came the loratidine which works for about 18 hours at a time! A week or so later I noticed my skin was just shedding like snowflakes - not a good look and something I am very unused to! It came to a head a few days ago and I gently did all affected areas with a VERY soaked loofah pad and now I have lovely smooth new skin on view! Relief all round.
I do not use any soaps or foaming cleansers on a regular basis - hair shampoo once every 2 to 3 weeks only. It reduces the risk of allergies! I have used the same washing detergent for nearly 40 years since the girls were small - I only have problems very occassionally when they bring out a "new improved" recipe. Rarely improved I find ... So don't forget that while you might not have changed anything - the manufacturers may have.
So I have assumed that it was probably something the hospital laundry uses or the fact I was ill, the time scale is about right for that too, and not an allergy to the pacemaker!!!
Omeprazole CAN cause a range of skin reactions. Maybe it would be worth trying ranitidine instead to see if that makes a difference. Speak to your doctor and ask if they would let you try.
I developed skin rashes when first on steroids dermatologist recommended moisturisers which helped now using Clinique dry skin cream on calves
Good luck
I think the side effects often worse than actual pains.... it will improve
I have been on Pred for over 3 years and even longer on Omeprazole but had the first incidence of itching, mainly around hips and upper thighs, in February this year. My GP prescribed a combination of Dermol 500 and Betnovate Cream which has worked successfully after two day applications. Good luck.
Hi. Fairly newly diagnosed. I have had these symptoms for years - try to control with antihistamine and dermal. But it probably
Is connected. It’s generally lower legs, tops of feet, ankles or outside of thighs. Insect bites bring it on and so does overheating. Nothin helps apart from antihistamines- so I carry them with me. Hope
It eases. Wish you well
I'm not sure if the meds are doing that but stress can be a factor for me. Switch to a hand made, natural soap with tea tree and use only that for a couple of months. I had some really bad rashes for a while and didn't want to go the steroid ointment route and found that a good, natural tea tree soap cleared it up really fast. I used it for a couple of months and the rash never came back. I still make my own tea tree soap and use it on a regular basis. You might not like the smell of tea tree, but it really works. The other thing that works, for bug bite or rash, before you scratch it, put straight tea tree oil on it an watch it disappear within 24 hours. Good luck, I hope you feel better.
I had what I called an invisible rash on my back and sometimes patches elsewhere. It kept me awake at night . i couldn't bear clothes on it.This site recommended double base gell from pharmacies. It worked a treat. I have not even had to change my beloved Lush products. I used it daily for about 6 month and now once a week is enough.
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