Itchy skin: Hi I haven't been on here for a long... - Thyroid UK

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Itchy skin

annie1954 profile image
27 Replies

Hi I haven't been on here for a long time, mainly because I have had a skin problem for the last year which has driven me over the edge! I have thyroid, Rheumatoid arthritis,

and was diagnosed with NP which is Nodular Prurigo. Most of my body was itching so bad that when I scratched, it starts the cycle and they bleed. My scalp was also bad, and I have had every cream and potion from my G.P. I have ultra light therapy twice a week, and have my last one tomorrow. It has helped a lot, but I still feel itchy now and again, and try not to scratch as it will come back. Has anyone on here had this problem ?

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annie1954
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Clutter profile image
Clutter

Annie1954,

There are posts on NP and an HU NP community in this link healthunlocked.com/search/n...

annie1954 profile image
annie1954 in reply to Clutter

Hi yes I'm on that site thank you its very helpful. But thought I would ask on here also, to see if anyone had this problem .

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to annie1954

Annie1954,

Several members complain of itchy skin but yours was the one and only post about NP.

galathea profile image
galathea

I have lichen sclerosus, which is auto immune.... I've been given all sorts of steroid creams, none of which stop the itching. But.. I got on to one of the forums where someone suggested washing in a solution of bicarbonate of soda..... And it stops the itching really fast. .. Might be worth a try? Couple of big spoons full in a mug of warm water....

Xx

galathea profile image
galathea in reply to galathea

Actually i just looked up your problem and the recommendations for treating it are pretty much the same as for my LS, so the bicarb might do it for you....

annie1954 profile image
annie1954 in reply to galathea

What do you do with bicarb? I have bathed in it .....

galathea profile image
galathea in reply to annie1954

Make up a solution and dab it on the itchy bits.

Em-j13 profile image
Em-j13

Iron deficiency can cause itchy skin too. I have had low iron for 4 years and my skin is always itchy. Have you had your iron checked recently?

annie1954 profile image
annie1954 in reply to Em-j13

My last blood tests that I had they said everything is normal. So I don't think its that.

wong2 profile image
wong2

Have you had your B12 checked? "Normal" wasn't enough for me my 9 year itching stopped as soon as my levels were adequate!!

annie1954 profile image
annie1954

Hi my last blood test was ok, but I don't know what the levels should be?

wong2 profile image
wong2

Get your results from your GP and post them on here (with the ranges) and I'm sure someone will advise you.

My other half scratched for years I mean so much so would bleed and cry with the pain and frustration, saw every specialist going was told it was Eczema, Rosacea and a few other things given lotions and potions and pills, however most of the lotions and potions contained something called SLS which is something called, “Sodium Laurel Sulphate,” which manufactures put in everything and I do mean everything, soap, toothpaste, washing up liquid, shampoo, conditioner, foam bath, everything, they use it because, it stops oils and water separating and extends shelf life, the only downside is it’s a known skin irritant and if you have a problem with it you’re stuffed. As soon as this was removed within 2 days the itching stopped and only comes back if in contact with SLS. The thing is it’s a bit like T4 most people seem to get on with it fine but if you don’t you really don’t. I would say switch to SLS free stuff for a week and see if that makes any difference. I mean even the stuff they give you treat dry skin and itching has SLS in it. Madness.

annie1954 profile image
annie1954 in reply to

Hi I use a shampoo from the Dr's , and I check to see if anything I buy contains SLS

It's a nightmare as every thing we see on the shelves has all this rubbish in them. Thanks for replying.

johnnyxs profile image
johnnyxs

just something to maybe consider.

I had suffered inexplicable itching for a number of years (mostly on my shins) in bed during the night . The itching has occurred seemingly at random . After many years I finally found that it was due to high blood glucose levels and I had probably had pre diabetes for nearly a decade !

Before type 2 diagnosis I would never have believed I had a blood glucose problem but in hindsight we used to eat our main meal late in the evening then spend the whole evening snacking carbs and sugary foods before going to bed sending my blood sugar levels rocketing just as I lay down to go to sleep .

Since bringing my glucose levels down I've not had a single reoccurance so it might be worth buying a cheap blood sugar level meter and testing your BS level just before you go to bed and when waking before eating breakfast (fasting BS level).

Interestingly I've also not had any carpal tunnel syndrome since either...nor have I had any more head and neck sweating after eating !,.....

johnnyxs profile image
johnnyxs

sorry I forgot to mention something in my previous post.

I know its going to sound really obvious but .....you're not using any kind of Bio washing powder are you ?. That used to make me itch like crazy until I realized what was causing it

annie1954 profile image
annie1954

Hi I stopped Bio washing powder a few years back, but brought an expensive powder with nothing added, and I don't use fabric conditioner either. There is to much fillers in soap powder so it's worth trying others or non Bio.

mrmoo profile image
mrmoo

Hi Annie1954 - Are you on ERFA? The only reason I ask is because I have read many posts about people having a severe itchy reaction to the new formula that ERFA denies exists...

annie1954 profile image
annie1954 in reply to mrmoo

Hi mrmoo no I'm not on ERFA, but not sure what it is?

Maje profile image
Maje

Please pass this on to Annie 1954 in particular and others who may find it useful - Maje

Vitamin B6 is vital to the thyroid. If short of it the thyroid slows down, if seriously short the thyroid stops altogether. A lack of Vitamin B6 is also associated with constipation allowing food to build up in the stomach instead of being digested properly. This leads to histamine building up in the stomach from the fermentation of food causing allergies. Vitamin B-6 and magnesium work synergistically, that is together, which means that if you are short of one you are automatically short of the other. Therefore the two must be taken together to work properly. Generally, 50 mg of vitamin B-6 to 500 mg of magnesium (500 mg magnesium equals half a teaspoon of Epsom salts). Vitamin B6 also needs 15 mg of zinc to be effective. Taken together these should effectively help to prevent your allergies. Your situation at the moment is of increasing sensitivity in regards to many common chemicals in perfumes, scents, cleaning fluids, airborne etc. This should all be improved with the above. In addition I would suggest you also take Lecigran available at Holland and Barrett’s, the web etc. This helps to improve the skin’s natural protection as well as normalising cholesterol levels. A severe lack of vitamin B6 can cause the thyroid to stop altogether. Eggs would be a good food for you to eat regularly and salads.

A severe lack of vitamin E causes the thyroid to work with only 5% efficiency. It cannot be taken if a rheumatoid heart condition is present, but it is brilliant for all other kinds of heart trouble. You and your doctor will certainly know if you have such a condition. It should also not be taken with blood thinners such as warfarin, aspirin, coumadin etc. as it works against such drugs. It should be started with only very low doses if the blood pressure is seriously high; such as 50 mg daily for a week then slowly building up to 400 mg to 600 mg over several weeks. Check BP regularly. It never takes the BP below normal.

Fast and slow thyroids are not opposite. It is first a normal thyroid, then a slow thyroid followed by a fast thyroid. A slow thyroid always precedes a fast thyroid. As the slow thyroid reaches the cusp of beginning to become a fast thyroid symptoms of both fast and slow thyroid can develop and be experienced at the same time, which is why it all seems so very confusing. Iodine given for a slow thyroid can cause it to become fast. Vitamin A stops a fast thyroid dead; I always take it when taking thyroid nutrients. Vitamin E is also very important in Graves' disease, particularly when the eyes bulge. A lack of it is associated with myopia, (shortsightedness) in which the front of the eye also bulges. We three sisters all developed shortsightedness at puberty, which suggests that it may be useful at that time. The need for it also skyrockets at the menopause and is associated with weight gained then, and some tests strongly suggest it to be the reason why more downs syndrome children are born to older mothers. But in such pregnancies it needs to be taken in at least the minimal dose of 200 mg. to offer protection, and of course BP must always be monitored. Iodine is given when the thyroid has already gone into fast mode. A,E, and iodine are particularly needed for a fast thyroid and B6 magnesium and zinc for a slow one. Obviously all thyroid nutrients are needed in both cases but some a little more than others.

Please pass this information on to others, I'm new to this site and don't know how to send it out generally for the benefit of all. I have had no help whatsoever from the medical profession re-thyroid problems so use all of the above and manage to cope reasonably well without complicated tests which most doctors don't seem to understand anyway. Hope this all really helps, all the best from Maje

annie1954 profile image
annie1954 in reply to Maje

Hi Maje

Thank you for a great reply with so much information. I am trying to save this but not sure how? I may try and copy and paste?

But I am grateful for your reply.

Maje profile image
Maje in reply to annie1954

Copy and paste is what I do generally as I use more than one computer with different operating systems and writing programs. It seems to work okay. I do hope the info sent helps, a lot of Drs don't seem to know even the basic working of the thyroid. One comment on TV was '...a lot of women complained they were overweight because of a slow thyroid, but in fact they had fast thyroids, the exact opposites....' Chuckle chuckle at stupid women! But quite wrong of course, their thyroids were fast because they had gone completely through the slow phase to the point of crossing the cusp into the dangerous zone of fast thyroid, which can be lethal causing a fatal heart attack, or leading to thyroid cancer if left unchecked indefinitely. In past years some Drs actually caused fatal heart attacks by giving too high a dose of the appropriate medication, it happened to a neighbour of mine. Needless to say her husband was never told that the truth about his wife's sudden unexpected death. Anyway, thanks for the post, if you can't save it and don't mind sending your email address I can always email it to you direct if we're allowed to do this on this site. Cheers! Maje

annie1954 profile image
annie1954 in reply to Maje

Hi Maje I would appreciate if you could email it to me. <redacted personal email address>. I'm not sure if I am allowed to put it on here, so I will try.

[ Admin note: Personal email address removed. We strongly recommend members do not post personal email addresses on the forum. This is for your own safety and security.

There is no need to post them - you can send them to other members by Private Message. ]

lucylocks profile image
lucylocks in reply to Maje

Hi Maje,

many thanks for posting this information. I have had what the Doctor has said is Pompholyx on my hands and dermatitis/eczema in patches on the rest of my body for the last five months. I am also hypothyroid. I do take a vitamin B Complex, do you think taking magnesium and zinc would help me

Also I have been reading about something called Pyroluria. It is a condition where the body cannot use B6 and zinc properly, is this the same as what you are explaining.

Maje profile image
Maje

Hi there, there may be a link, I honestly don't know. However B6 magnesium and zinc all work more effectively together and their lack seems to be involved in many health problems, especially syndrome X. Syndrome X is a group of four diseases linked together, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease. If you have one of these there is a high likelihood that you may develop all the others. B6 Magnesium and zinc are all involved in these diseases. Babies for instance have a very high need for B6 in the womb, and some women who become temporarily deficient in this vitamin develop diabetes which disappears when the pregnancy is over. Likewise some women who have a heart valve condition associated with B6 deficiency can become heart cripples for life as a result of their pregnancy. A deficiency of this trio is also associated with the confusion and memory loss that develops after a stroke, and if given immediately or as soon as possible after a stroke the damage done can be virtually wiped out, with incredible healing results. Another nutrient deficiency associated with syndrome X is sulfur. There is a worldwide deficiency of sulfur-containing foods as a result of chemicals used in farming. It can be obtained from Holland and Barrett's in a powder form called MSM, just mix in milk or juice as directed and drink. It improves hair, nails and complexion visibly in a very short time. I shall have to look up Polynuria it's something I haven't come across. Cheers for now, Maje don't

Maje profile image
Maje in reply to Maje

Sorry your email address has been blocked out, I don't know how to send it by private message as they suggest - Maje

annie1954 profile image
annie1954

Hi Maje thank you for your reply.

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