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Itching

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iqbal_45667
iqbal_45667

People of advanced ages suffer from itching problem due to loss of fat in the body. I read some where that when itching starts from lower part of legs, it is mostly due to lack of blood circulation. Regular walks are of course useful to increase blood circulation. Besides this has any one experienced such a problem and then successfully got over the itching problem?  Various moisturizers are available but very few can rectify itching problem. I have been consulting skin Specialists but they are usually not in a position to help the elderly people much saying that it does occur in advanced ages due to loss of fat which at times can not get controlled.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest iqbal_45667

    Posted

    Hi iqbal

           My husband suffers itching and he uses e45 lotion and finds it very good, they also do one for itches. Another good item is coca butter lotion or sudocreme.

     Hope this helps.

                                 Sue61881

  • torpeau
    torpeau iqbal_45667

    Posted

    in my 70s, I have experienced itchiness in my upper and lower legs and plan to go to an allergist.  A dermatologist prescribed Hydroxyzine, an older antihistamine, and it may be helping a bit.  My regular doctor suggested ZyrTec, but there was no obvious help, Eucerin (or generic) seems to help better than other salves/creams/lotions.  Aloe, the purer the better, may have helped a bit.  If I am scratching one area too much, a 14% menthol lotion really helps more than anything.

    When I was a kid in the Panama Canal Zone, my lower legs really itched and I scratched them so much, they looked terrible.  A Swedish shopkeeper in Panama City suggested that I needed more salt in my diet because I was sweating it all out of my system playing out in the hot tropical sun.  Problem solved.. 

    • MtViewCatherine
      MtViewCatherine torpeau

      Posted

      Hi Torpeau,

      Great point. Salt is super important. I had no idea low salt can cause itchiness.

      I was told by an ER nurse that a very high percentage of strokes are caused by low salt.

  • MtViewCatherine
    MtViewCatherine iqbal_45667

    Posted

    Hello Iqbal, I’ve found improved liver health to be helpful in proper fat metabolism.

    Since many medications  affect liver function, a consequence is poor fat metabolusm leading to dry skin. So medications can also contribute to dry skin.

    Natural treatmemt of the liver - either cleansing or supplements- can be very helpful in improving fat metabolism.

    I’ve found natural shea butter to be very helpful in treating dry skin. The problem is the natural stuff is extremely difficult to find.

    There’s a company called Alpha hydrox that makes s lotion specifically for diabetes skin problems, but I haven’t tried them.

    • iqbal_45667
      iqbal_45667 MtViewCatherine

      Posted

      Many thanks to you and all others who have been kind to give their views which will be a good guide to me.

      I may say that I have no liver problem. All my LFTs done after every 6 months show all fine.I don't have diabetes also. My BP remains Ok without medication in summers though in winters it does go up and I do control it with medication. I do use normal salt (slightly lesser side) as I have not BP problem in these summer days. I got UK manufactured E45 Cream which does work to an extent. I had also used it 10 years back and then it worked very well.

      I tried various anti allergic medicines but ultimately I have settled down to Rigix 10mg (Cetirizine Hydrochloride). I take half tablet daily and it sees me through next at least 24 hrs. I wonder if taking this anti allergic tablet regularly every day may harm kidneys etc. Anyway even if it does, one has to take it when there is no other option.

      I also intend trying Aloe vera as some one also suggested in this Forum.

      I take very few medicines. For my early Glaucoma coming with me for the last 3 years, I use Travatan once a day and Azopt twice a day. My eye sight remains almost the same for last 5 years thus I ask eye specialist if at all I have Glaucoma. I have been leaving all medicines except eye drops to ascertain the cause of itching but nothing came out.,

      I have been a regular walker all my life and even now at my age of 86, I do regular walk for 28 to 30 mins every day. Hence do enjoy reasonably good health; only troublesome issue is heavy itching for last two years which I do manage with Rigix.

      Good luck to you all.

  • noelfitz
    noelfitz iqbal_45667

    Posted

    Thanks for this post.

     I suffer from itching in my insteps and was told it was due to peripheral (diabetic) neuropathy. Some say due to diabetes, but, as my sugar levels are OK, it was also suggested that there was another cause.

    Walking helps this itching, but as I have osteoarthritis I find walking difficult, also massage helps, independently of what cream I use. I have also been told there is no cure but symptoms can be minimized.

    I would welcome advice.

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