I'm new to this site and I was curious to know if anyone else might be experiencing random itching. Lately over the last couple weeks usually in the evening after I've get home from work I start to feel itchy, usually on my arms and legs and occasionally my face joins in on the party. It's almost how I feel when I'm having an allergic reaction and I break out in hives there isn't any hives. There isn't a rash of any kind. My skin gets a little red probably due to all the scratching and sometimes I even end up brusing my skin. I was just wondering if this might be a symptom of Lupus or if I'm just experience some random weirdness. Usually I just take some Benedryl and that stops the itching but unfortunately that makes me pretty drowsy.
I hope people respond to your posting because I also have it. My legs and arms feel like there is something crawling on it. I have to get into the shower sometimes just to get some relief. I am glad I am not alone with this issue.
I am going to try the children's Benadryl. It is worth the try. Someone said theirs was due to the sun. I haven't been out of the house for days, but I still have the crawly feelings. Maybe not the sun, but the high temperatures and high humidity. I think I am going to log everytime I get it and see if I can come up with anything.
I experience this too, and I have to moisturize my skin more often, I have dry skin that causes me to itch. I notice when I get dehydrated, I get worse. We are more sensitive to fragrances and ingredients in our lotions, so trying another brand may help. There are certain hair products that I can't use. It could be the soap you're using as well. Skin is the largest organ, and this most definitely is from lupus.
I have the itching all the time and it seems more frequent these days… I had the itching way before I was on plaquenil but got worse after. No rashes either… I know lots of other lupus groups I’m in the people there have asked this ? Also…seems like its very common…buts no docs ever have answers…of course!!!
Also nothing helps (creams,powders) showers make it worse and benadryl seems like the only solution.but unfortunately makes me pass out for hours… maybe thats why it works I’m knocked out and feel nothing lol
I have had it as long as I can remember. As a little girl I always itched and I always said my bones hurt. No answers from any doctors all this time (I am 65). I use only Aveeno products for my shower and hair. That has helped a lot. Lotion doesn't make it better but it doesn't make it worse either. I had one doctor that said there are so many symptoms of lupus and that he thought it was all part of the lupus and Sjorgrens and that we could try to find something to treat the symptoms but I elected not to have any more drugs. He also cautioned me to be careful that I don't write off everything as lupus. He told me to always check with him to make sure it isn't something more serious. Of course we have moved and I no longer have him.
I am doing this right now! I have two or three spots that feels like a small bug biting me, but there is nothing there. I have done this off and on for quite a while.
I was having the same problem. Ask your Dr. for the prescription non drowsy equivalent to bynadryl. The generic is Levocertirizine and is less expensive.
Thanks for all the responses! I was also wondering if it could be the weather making my itching so common. I must admit that I’m not as diligent as I should be with protecting myself from the sun. I don’t spend a lot of time outdoors, but I’m sure the time I do is enough to do it’s damage. It’s also been really hot and humid here in Pittsburgh.
I’ve been on Plaquenil for a really long time and never really experienced this but I know with Lupus that doesn’t always mean anything because of how it can effect any organ of the body new symptoms can pop up all the time.
There is some really great suggestions here so I’m definitely going to give them a try and see if I can get some relief especially the children’s benedryl cream.
I’ve had such severe and unrelenting itching in my forearms that it’s painful to the point of tears, and nothing relieved it. I finally have better control now, but I suffered with it for over a year at one point on and off. I am really diligent now about moisture. I live primarily in a dry environment, and when I’m on the East coast in the South, it doesn’t happen. So here… when I shower, I use a moisturizing and gentle cleanser or natural soap with Shea butter or olive oil, and avoid sodium laureth sulfates. Then I use pure aloe gel without alcohol or colorings when I get out, and/or a gentle moisturizing lotion that has herbal extracts for soothing like alantoin, chamomile, etc.
Lupus primarily effects the integumentary system - skin, hair, nails. Skin is where we see the most issues. You have to find what product(s) are the best for you personally though. Try to avoid alcohol, sulfates, perfumes, and mass amounts of unpronounceable synthetic ingredients. The thing I found was it felt like it was something deeper than skin, but it turned out to be just affecting really deep skin… and treating the surface with really good products that penetrate before it got bad stopped it from getting really bad. In other words, always assume your skin is dry and treat it like it is. There is a good lotion with Cortisone 10 now, and Carmex now makes healing cream lotions, not just lip balm. I’ve had good luck with both.
I just started having this in an really bad way on my legs and stomach but there is no rash. It is hot inflamed and I could scratch it for hours. I have psoriasis but I see no plaques and psoriasis has never itched like this. I started having it really bad as I started Rutixan infusions but it was also after the weather got really hot. So I was worried it was the heat then I was worried it was reaction to the meds then I thought it was bed bugs my doc thinks it is just lupus acting up due to my stress. She is probably right. When it itches bad I put ice pack on it so it cools it off, I put some Benadryl lotion. Or take a Benadryl at night. I use Cetaphil soap it helps me. I have some cloderm for really bad spots or cortisone works too. It is just inflammation like everything else.
I also get this itching. It started after I got my rituxan infusions but they also changed manufacturers of my norco prescription. It now has a yellow dye in it. I’ve been hospitalized for an allergic reaction to dyes before but I always got a hive like rash with it. I scratch so hard that I’ve actually torn my skin and bruised my arms. Heat makes it worse. I usually end up taking benadryl but it doesn’t stop the itch so much as it makes me sleepy. I haven’t seen my doc yet but I’m not sure which one to see. Rheumy or primary? I have so many docs that I can never figure out which one takes care of what…lol Glad I’m not the only itchy person.
I also have this itching at night. It really moves around on my body and it just won't stop. What helps me the most is Benadryl itch stopping GEL, extra strength. If I put this on, it almost immediately stops the itching. This suggests to me that it is something allergy related, but like you I have never been able to figure out what it causing it.
I’ve also had about 3 Rituxan infusions but my Rheumy decided to have me stop them because I kept breaking out in hives during the infusions. The itching did seem to start occurring more often after that.
I too am from the pgh area and the itching has been bad lately, I have had this problem for about the same time as I started taking the plaquenil but cant really say that it is causing it. I have seen a dermatologist and he says I have Dematographic Uticaria and prescribed Atarax (antihistamine) for it and it works but also make me tired so I only take it when it is really bad.
I have several of the risks and symptoms of kidney issues. I have wondered why my rheumy has only tested my urine one time and that was my initial diagnosis over 1 1/2 years ago. That kind of worries me now.