Itching legs: This itching on my lower legs and... - Thyroid UK

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Itching legs

Eljay profile image
11 Replies

This itching on my lower legs and ankles is really getting to me.

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Eljay profile image
Eljay
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11 Replies
Clutter profile image
Clutter

Eljay, you haven't said what is causing the itching. If it's dry skin an unperfumed moisturing cream might help. If its an allergic reaction to something an antihistamine tablet may help relieve itching.

jaxnbreeze profile image
jaxnbreeze

I get allergies this time of year and again in the autumn and find anti-histamine helps.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

If you get itching every day, take an antihistamine 1 hour before you take levothyroxine. If you then don't get itching it could be due to fillers/binders in levothyroxine, so ask GP for another prescritpin and ask chemist for a levo by a different pharmaceutical company.

I also get this, always on my legs, ankles too, back and one are of my stomach and I also have scalp dermatitis. For this I get cetrebane large tub which is use in the shower, when I come out I use oilatum - also a big tub. I also have oilatum oil which can be used in bath and shower, and eumovate for my hands as my palms crack and bleed, and become sore. I also have dry skin on top of hands. I also get red boils (I think they are boils on shoulders and top of back area, sometimes dotted about on my back - I need to check this out with gp). I also get a bit of acne as well, am 38years!!! need to check this out as well. I take daily anithistamines 10mg of loratadine, and also have cocois (coconut compound for scalp - which I now use once a week) and also nizoral or pine shampoo to use twice weekly. I do have steroid scalp solution as well to use and and when I need it. I think this is all linked to being hypo and it started gradually years before becoming hypo.x

Muffy profile image
Muffy

Before starting on thyroid medication about 20 years ago, I used to tear my lower legs/ankles to pieces in my sleep. The itching was dreadful, but that was one of the first symptoms to go once on thyroid medication.

I get a bit of this, and find Bio oil soothing.

Isabelle99 profile image
Isabelle99

This has been happening to me for years now and I though it was the rubber/latex in my socks...I know it is partially due to that. Didn't know thyroid issues could add to the problem. Thanks everyone.

mado profile image
mado

I get this, not so much since I discovered that it's related to my food sensitivities. I don't get any itching when I don't eat gluten and dairy and it comes back when I do. Same for scalp itching.

Chancery profile image
Chancery

Oh, a fellow-itcher - praise the Lord! Seriously, I know how you feel. I have all over body itching. It drives me bonkers. I have itching even AFTER I've put lotion on. Nothing helps my itching. I used to only get it on my ankles and lower legs (I also have chronic urticaria on my ankles) and I used to sometimes scratch my legs till they bled at nights, but now I get it right down from my hips to my ankles and also from my shoulders to my waist at the back. It is particularly bad when I come in out the cold. Sometimes I sit like Balloo at night and rub my back against the sofa!

I have also developed dry itchy eyes more recently and had chronically itchy inner ears for about five years or so. No doctor thinks any of it has any significance whatsoever. I have only recently been discovered to have subclinical hypothyroidism.

Barb1949 profile image
Barb1949

All this itching sounds so familiar to me. I have had itching all over my body for years but not all the time. It tends to come and go but I have never watched to see a pattern. I also had a very itchy scalp with a rash an the doctor just gave me the name of a shampoo and sent me away. I have had itching in my ear canals, put down to eczema, for years and so does my sister and mother both are hypo. And my eyes get very dry and itchy especially during the winter when I have the fire lit every day (No central heating here!). For my extremely dry skin I use Bio oil and really need to put on more after about 3 - 4 hours but only actually use it 3 times daily as it is so expensive. Dr. won't prescribe it and I appear to be allergic to almost all the available creams.

Glad I know it is probably due to my hypo, wonder if the addition of T3 will help?

Barb

Pastille profile image
Pastille

Used to get this a lot on legs arms and hands. Very embarrassing when in company or in a public place. Look lousy !! lol Since meds increase I now only get it on my left arm !! how weird !! lol but its really bad and my arm goes red hot and I have no choice but to itch and then I get little sores and it bleeds. I use calamine lotion which really cools it down and eases the itch

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