Itching

[remission]

Wondering if anyone else is having this issue, itchy armpits and under

the breastline, no rash, so an insane itch!.....tks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Is this with or without PMR/pred?

[remission in reply to PMRpro]

sorry, I have PMR and on 6 mg of prednisone and for some reason this itch started

and then cleared up out of the blue and now it's back again.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to remission]

Not related to having eaten anything specific?

[remission in reply to PMRpro]

no, my diet has not changed at all, I'm kind of a picky eater, so stick with the norm...just thought someone else out there might have this issue, like I mentioned, it just materalized and drove me crazy for about a month, then cleared up for say 3 months and now it has returned.

[Yellowbluebell in reply to remission]

If you have put on any weight your itciness could be down to sweaty areas. I find under my slightly bigger breasts (due to to the pred induced munchies) i am.sweatier and also have occasional itchy periods!! Antihistamines are quite effective.

[remission in reply to Yellowbluebell]

tks....going to try the talc first and that doesn't work, then the antihistamines. I' have managed to lose weight by staying with a meat/veggie diet and cutting out the carbs, so that hasn't been a huge issue.

[Hindags in reply to remission]

I’ve been frequenting dermatology the last 7 months with itches then rashes and itches. It started when I was down to about 4 mgs of Purdey. I hadn’t been as faithful to the low carb diet, but hadn’t put on any weight.

My skin has become sensitive enough that I’m still wearing my tops inside out and I still can’t wear a bra, despite wearing the Most comfy seamless styles. I seem to break out in little hives if a seam rubs against my skin. I also develop milia which itch and prickle. I’m on two loratidine and one Zyrtec daily. I wash hair and body with CErave facial cleanser. Then I apply CErave daily moisturizer and wait until it dries before applying Benadryl cream on itchy eruptions. When that dries, I use cornstarch baby powder. I hope this isn’t my new normal. It is better, but not my normal by a long shot.

As for the PMR, I’m at zero pred right now. Tapered to zero three years to the date I came down with PMR.

All tests negative, four biopsies and special blood tests and tests for contact dermatitis, and gluten. I’m assuming this condition is a long term side effect of Pred on an aging body, 78. Never had skin issues before.

[Suffererc in reply to PMRpro]

Ps. I have PMR and take Pred. Tapered to between 5 and 4 1:2 .

[Hidden]

Are you taking tablets for high blood pressure? such as Amlodipine because when it was developed by pfizer it had a brand name of istin and was Amlodipine as a besylate.

When it was released as a generic drug, some manufacturers made it as maleate. When they gave me the maleate type I became very itchy.

At the time I had no idea that there was a difference. It took me quite a lot of research to discover the problem. Doctors didn't have a clue until I found out that the maleate type caused me to itch.

[remission in reply to Hidden]

thanks everyone. I am on amlodipine for blood pressure , in the past never had an issue with the itch, not sure I want to change that med with everyhting else going on in my body witht the PMR, but instead will try fragrance free anti itch talc and see if that helps; once again, thanks everyone, this forum has been so helpful

[Hidden in reply to remission]

I think you may have missed my point. I have taken 5mg Amlodipine for years. Most manufactures make Amlodipine as a 'besilate' when I am given Amlodipine as a 'maleate' made by Dr Reddy's for instance, it makes me itch.

Both are still Amlodipine, it's just the manufacturing process which is different . Check out the Package Leaflet and it will say if it is Amlodipine as 'besylate or Amlodipine as 'maleate'. Both are Amlodipine and both lower blood pressure.

If it is Amlodipine as 'maleate', it might be the cause of your itching. It certainly makes me itch.

[remission in reply to Hidden]

okay, shall check it out...tks

[Robinsnest72 in reply to remission]

Cornstarch really works. Keep the area dry

[Blearyeyed]

Sometimes extra layers in winter cause more dampness and water loss , rather than sweating, in these areas which increase skin sensitivity to clothing and causes light rubbing on the skin. The salts and chemicals in the skin moisture or chemicals and detergents on the clothes can cause a sensitivity response , making you itchy .

This is common for everybody , but more often occurs with people whose skin is made more fragile and sensitive from Chronic Health issues or Drugs like Steroids .

Try natural materials and layers , fragrance free deodorants and doing an extra rinse cycle to remove detergents from the clothes. A fragrance free talc on areas of skin rubbed by clothes or in contact with other skin helps ease it , as long as skin isn't broken.

[Marijo1951]

I haven't itched in those particular areas, but have had periods of crazy itching in my legs, especially at the back of the knees. It was worst and most persistent when I was on a high pred dose and then by and large it faded away . However, every now and then I have a couple of itchy days, or more accurately itchy nights, and I start to think it's coming back for good, but it fades away again.

[remission in reply to Marijo1951]

hopefully it fades away again for me.....

[Marijo1951 in reply to remission]

I had a slight relapse a few days before Christmas. I was bothered 3 nights in a row, but have been fine since. Of course, it isn't as bad as the pain and stiffness that the pred treats, but it's still quite hard to deal with...

[Gaycreasey in reply to remission]

I too have developed itchy armpits which drives me mad at night. I’m on 4.5mgs and I suppose it started when I was down to 5mgs. I’ve had sensitivity under the bra line ever since this whole thing started 3 years ago. I now use dry deodorant under there which has helped. I use the same under my arms but it hasn’t helped the itching. There is never a spot or a rash to see. It’s very frustrating .

[SheffieldJane]

Sometimes, in bed at night, everywhere though, even my face. Not sure what the culprit is. I also get a completely blocked nose. It just seems random.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

That sounds like an allergic reaction to something - do you get warning? You could try taking an antihistamine tablet - loratidine or something,

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you I will. I thought it was my linen sheets, they give off a lot of fluff in the dryer. It seems to happen irrespective of the things I eliminate though. Maybe we become hypersensitised to all sorts of things.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

Even more likely your washing stuff.

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRpro]

I gave up anything so called Biological years ago, everything is so strongly fragranced now.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

I use bio - for certain things but only ever Persil! I hate it when they bring out "new improved" - new it might be, it is rarely improved!!!

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

I am even allergic to Persil for sensitive people...have had no problem for years with Surcare...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

It's just what I have used since the girls were small - even with the changes the manufacturers make it has been OK once I got used to them. Never use conditioner now - haven't for years. Not sure what they use - fairly sure there is no "bio" involved although Daughter No1 swears by Vanish for difficult stuff - and the mind boggles what is in THAT!

When I was in hospital I didn't have any problem that I noticed at the time but a few weeks later skin just shed like mad!!

[HeronNS in reply to SheffieldJane]

I use laundry detergent which has no added fragrance or "parfum". I do not use any other laundry product, instead I put a little white vinegar and a few drops of tea tree oil into the rinse compartment. Definitely no fabric softeners. I also do not use my dryer, especially not since I heard a new name for them: global warming machine, and even if I did wouldn't dream of using dryer sheets. When I smell them I feel like I'm being poisoned. I don't know how people can stand them.

[Longtimer in reply to HeronNS]

Like you never have used softners...and have never possessed a dryer, with two of us...no problem....

[HeronNS in reply to Longtimer]

Every time we added a child to the family one of the grandmothers would give us a new appliance. The first was a clothes dryer, which I used, but also made full use of a clothesline. I can't remember when I heard Helen Caldicott describe the dryer as a global warming machine, but since then, probably more than ten years, I probably used our dryer half a dozen times. We did buy one when we moved, in February, but have never used it.

[Longtimer in reply to HeronNS]

Most of the time except a few weeks in the year, linen is dried outside, we do have a walk in airing cupboard so finish them off in there, line full went out yesterday....sunny and breezy, so ironed fast in the afternoon.....I put "Bat out of He'll on"....always gets me ironing faster!!..😉

[HeronNS in reply to Longtimer]

The airing cupboard is unknown here. Would be a great addition to our homes. I used the clothesline at our old house most of the summer. Would just ask my son if it was okay, and as I only asked on weekdays it always was. Even bought a little rolling cart so I didn't have to use the car to get there (fossil fuels) and it worked out really well. But the days are so short and cold, and the yard is shaded most of the day at this time of year, will now wait until spring to do that again. It's so nice of him to let me do this. We aren't allowed to hang clothes on our balconies, presumably because it lowers the tone of the community, but I would not be at all surprised if as the years roll by and climate change becomes even more of a crisis this kind of aesthetic requirement is discarded. I can see they wouldn't want us hanging our underwear out there, but I think sheets and towels would actually look quite colourful and pleasing! Nor am I alone in this thinking, but so far we are outnumbered.

[KinnearD]

Itchy skin in these areas drove me crazy recently. Definitely seemed worse where the skin was in contact with my underwired bra. Tried various things and finally it resolved when I changed to a mild soap. I had been using a gift soap from my daughter.

[remission in reply to KinnearD]

thanks, will try the mild soap

[Longtimer in reply to remission]

Also try medicated talc under braline, problem disappeared when my weight did.....

[ClarkB]

I had almost the same problem recently -itchy armpits and itchy under the breast line. I had never had these problems before and have been on prednisone for two years. I am thin and on a very low dose of steroids.

At first I thought I had become allergic to deodorants and although I buy organic natural ones I changed to a different one. I tried going without one. I don’t use soaps with scent either. The itch under my breast was irritating and I stopped wearing a bra, thinking it was the fabric. The itchyness wasn’t just superficial. It seemed to come from deep inside with occasional throbbing or sharp short pain. It developed into a rash and spread to my other breast, but only in the lower area.

I went to the GP who fast tracked me to the breast clinic. Had some tests and breast cancer was ruled out, but was told that it was important to get it checked out. I was prescribed Fucibet cream (fusidic acid/betamethasone) I found that the itch disappeared within a day and the rash faded. I see that you don’t have a rash, but it might be worth speaking to a GP, as mine was initially this ‘insane’ itch too.

[remission in reply to ClarkB]

thanks, the itch is now only in one armpit and has vanished frm bellow the breast area....crazy, but glad most of it has cleared up. May I ask what low dosage are you

currently on and have you lost hair due to the steriod, I know mine has thinned so much it scares me.

[ClarkB in reply to remission]

My hair thinned initially, but seems to be reasonably ok again now. I never had thick hair.

I am currently on 1 mg. I followed Dorset Lady’s 5 week plan. Feel achy today, but when you have other conditions it’s difficult to know what is causing what!

Pleased to hear that the itch is disappearing!

[Suffererc]

Yes. But can’t explain and there looks like no reason.

[Melodyvine]

Yes, very itchy, no rash, under and sometimes between breasts and backside....I put it down to extra weight and sweat but, after months of suffering it cleared up. I realised that this coincided with taking a course of antibiotics for a chest infection. Could be a coincidence but, having been clear of itching for a year I wonder whether perhaps it was a skin infection?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Melodyvine]

If you had a fungal rash that then got infected then abx would be likely to help. I found I needed a triple approach with cream: steroid cream with antifungal and antiobiotic components. That sorted it in a few hours - nothing else did.

[1jamaica2]

I have itching. But mine is on my hands. Sometimes it is really bad and then it will disappear for days. I have only had it since being diagnosed with PMR and taking Prednisolone.

[remission]

tks....I reemmber before being diagnosed with PMR, my scalp became insanely dry and flaky and had to use medicated shampoos to control it, it was itchy .....then the soreness started and stiffness thereafter, suspect it's all connected to PMR and the bodies immune system

[artfingers]

I get very itchy rashes, usually where I sit, a pressure point. Have one currently and very difficult to get rid of. Have had it for years and years, comes and goes. Used to get a rash every time I rode my horse. I attribute it to Lichensclerosis (LS) which I also have but who knows. I throw different things at it and eventually it fades away, only to come back later down the road. The clobestal (steroid cream and ointment I am prescribed for my LS) they give me rarely works, sometimes my antifungal ointment works, sometimes not. I've learned to shower daily especially after a work out. The antihistamines definitely help the itching part. I'm at 4 1/2 prednisone a day. It does get worse in Florida when I'm there so possibly there is a link to heat and sweating. I see my doc in a week so I intend to ask her again to give me answers. Good luck!

[remission in reply to artfingers]

tks.....hope heat is not the issue as I am heading out for the Carribean in about one week....I have been using Dr Scholls powder for itch and it's been working....