My Mom has problems with itching skin, we tried different soaps, even the one her Dermatologist recommended didn't really help. We tried various skin lotions, and Mom finally settled on Vaseline intensive care. Now I wonder if it is the laundry detergent that Mom uses on her towels, or the fabric softener. Or if the water is just too hot when she baths/showers.
Is the laundry detergent different than she's always used? What about the fabric softener, is that different? Sounds like a process of elimination that you need. Could it be a yeast infection? How about a medication that's different?
Avoid soap entirely on the very old, because their skin is just too fragile. There are moisturizing body washes from Olay, Eucerin , Alpha Keri and Moisture Therapy (avon). Or try the No-Rinse body wipes.
Maybe its the weather or season? Benadryl. The pink pills may help. Scratching over and over doesn't help either so Benadryl may make her relax enough to stop the scratching and itching. Certain spots? Like hot spots? Benadryl lotion/gel too. MOm had something on her skin like dermatitis. This is something that her dr says happens in older people, nothing to play around with.... look it up and ask to see the doctor sooner. It has been awhile, a couple years now, so I forgot about it. DERMATITIS in older people? Get in sooner
I don't know about the cause but for the itching skin, check out this website: fromthemeadow Their creams (specifically Burrific Heal All and Lydia ... cream) are amazing. I had extremely itchy eczema-type rash on my legs for years and couldn't get rid of it. Using these creams, it is totally gone. I can hardly believe it. I highly recommend these products which are all-natural and produced from herbs grown right on the property. (And, no, I have no financial interest in promoting the company :-) ).
Cetaphil makes a non soap liquid that is very gentle. How often are you bathing her? Once a week in plenty, any more is too drying. My housekeeper used to swear that Murphy's Oil soap was the best thing for bathing her dad, no idea if it would be gentle enough. Have you tried cortisone cream on any of the itchy spots. There is also Call o - hist lotion, which is callomine and some kind of antihistamine lotion in one. Gold Bond powder?
Murphy's Oil Soap? It has a pH of 11, which is rather alkaline, but it is made with vegetable oil. Castile soap (olive oil) is slightly better with a pH of 9. Your own skin is slightly acidic, between pH 4 and pH 7. If you go too far past 7, you will definitely dry the skin out.
Faithwalk, what type of material clothing does your mother wear? I noticed the other day that my Mom wears a lot of cardigans that she has owned for the past 50 some years, and I bet they probably feel like cardboard after all these years.
I have bought Mom much softer material clothing to wear but she seems to prefer her older clothing.... maybe my Mom trying to wear it out to a point where she can eventually toss it out [she's a child of the Great Depression].
It could be her soap. Lots of suggestions about soap and lotions in this thread.
It could be too frequent bathing, drying out the skin.
It could be something in the laundry, even if you haven't changed products. (My dermatologist pointed out that we are not born with allergies -- we develop them, and that can happen at any time, even with a product we've used a lot.)
It could be dementia, which can make people experience many "mysterious" sensations that don't seem to have a physical cause.
September 1 is coming up soon. I hope that the doctor and/or your own experimentation resolves this problem for the dear lady soon!
Their creams (specifically Burrific Heal All and Lydia ... cream) are amazing. I had extremely itchy eczema-type rash on my legs for years and couldn't get rid of it. Using these creams, it is totally gone. I can hardly believe it. I highly recommend these products which are all-natural and produced from herbs grown right on the property. (And, no, I have no financial interest in promoting the company :-) ).
I have bought Mom much softer material clothing to wear but she seems to prefer her older clothing.... maybe my Mom trying to wear it out to a point where she can eventually toss it out [she's a child of the Great Depression].
It could be too frequent bathing, drying out the skin.
It could be something in the laundry, even if you haven't changed products. (My dermatologist pointed out that we are not born with allergies -- we develop them, and that can happen at any time, even with a product we've used a lot.)
It could be dementia, which can make people experience many "mysterious" sensations that don't seem to have a physical cause.
September 1 is coming up soon. I hope that the doctor and/or your own experimentation resolves this problem for the dear lady soon!