Help with the itch

Factual Questions
1

Because of the ultra heated house I live in, my legs (at least below the knee) get itchy. Nothing seems to help.
ANy suggestions?

2

Vanilla, first of all: how does “ultra heated house” causes itch?
I will help (what was tried - “nothing”) if you say that the itch begins on Sept15, or whenever the heating season starts.
If you are sure that the house causes your itch, there are things which can be done, but they may mask itch and leave more serious problems.

Peace

3

peace: ultra heated house = dry air, which causes dry legs, therefore; itchiness.

4

I know exactly what you mean. The only things I found that worked were:

  1. Don’t take really hot baths or showers, or, if you do, use a moisturizer frequently.

  2. Try a heavy-duty moisturizer like Eucerin or Bag Balm.

  3. When you are at home, don’t wear pants or sweats or anything that rubs on your legs–try a long house dress or robe instead.

  4. Make sure you are drinking lots of water–you get just as dehydrated as you do in summer, if not more.

5

Lotion, that will stop the itch.

6

Eucerin is great stuff! I use it twice a day on my legs to treat dry skin.:slight_smile:

7

Vanilla, I suspected this explanation. Perhaps, it is very obvious to you, but not to me. Why the effect is limited to the legs? The air in the desert or elsewhere is even drier, nothing happens. Are you alone in this building? Normally, before your legs will react to dry air, all your mucous membtanes probably will. You did not answer my heating season question.
I am not trying to outsmart you, do not be so condescending. You asked for help and I am trying to help. In general, moisturuzers can keep your shoes moist, but if your skin is dry, something is wrong. Buy a humidifier and a hygrometer, if you do not believe me.

Peace

8

Yes, peace, obviously other areas of skin get dry too, but the legs, especially the shins, are worse for a number of reasons, including irritation from shaving and heavy winter clothing rubbing the skin. And, in fact, it does happen in the desert and other dry areas when it is cold enough to wear long pants and socks. Humidifiers can help, too, but not every home, store or office has one.

9

My legs are my worst problem, too, when air gets dry.

Here is the Cranky Method for Skin Survival in Winter Months:

First of all, go out and buy yourself Jergens Shower Active Moisturizer, plus a big new bottle of shower cleaner. Shower Active seals in moisture like no other product I’ve tried. You put it on wet skin while you’re still in the shower. The water helps slide it around and coat you well. You then have to pat yourself dry (don’t rub). BTW, Aveeno makes a similar product with colloidal oatmeal, but it’s pricier and looks funkier. I like Jergens.

The shower cleaner is for the coating of oily slime that the Shower Active will leave on your shower/tub. Clean the shower floor or you’ll kill yourself next time you get into it.

A few consistent weeks of using this stuff, and you’ll be much better. In the interim, you might want to also try some expensive OTC lotion called Sarnia to apply at night. It has menthol and camphor in it, and helps take the itch away. I get so itchy even applying lotion doesn’t help (even the great stuff like Eucerin or Hoofmaker or Bag Balm). The menthol/camphor does help. I also sometimes will slather on a HUGE amount of regular lotion before bed–more than can be rubbed in right away–and then put long underwear over it to sort of lock in the lotion. It feels disgusting at first but you get used to it. Let that lotion stay on your legs all night and you’ll see noticeable improvement in the morning.

When I was pregnant and was having even worse itching, crisco was the only thing that helped. Sounds disgusting, I know, but that’s what the nurse suggested and this puppy was desperate. I tried vaseline, too, but that didn’t help. Crisco was the thing that saved my life. You could try that instead of lotion under the long underwear.

Good luck.