Vaseline: use daily until itching stops and always overnight. Use cotton clothes over vaseline...not polyester. Older people have less water to lubricate skin, which often causes dry itching skin, esp in winter with heaters running (Google "winter itch"). Vaseline, with no perfumes, locks in the skin moisture . Lots of scientific studies on this, but because vaseline is messy most people will not use it. At least try until the itching stops. The thicker the barrier such as Vaseline, which stops moisture leaving the skin, the better. That is why vaseline is much better than just thin lotions. (Do not use aything with perfume/ fragrance ) Cornstarch: If moisure/sweating on skin causes itching cornstarch is great.
I'd like to add that my now-deceased husband had severe itching for a time and tried the Vaseline, which did help some. Since there was no rash, the dermatologist suggested a "light box" at her office. It eventually worked wonders, and he was able to feel human again.
As we age our skin gets thinner, which tends to dryness. Mine has been thin and dry from birth, and now it's terrible. If your mom's itchiness is due to dryness, you might take these measures which have worked for me.
1. During the winter, no more than twice-weekly showers, with "sponge bathing" in between. During warm weather I can go back to daily showering. I never immerse in a bathtub. 2. CeraVe cleansers and moisturizers are fantastic (but expensive). I use Cerave SA (ceramides that remove scaliness) daily, right after shower or sponge bath while skin is still moist. Hands down the best. 3. Shampoo and rinse-out conditioner residues are extremely irritating to skin, a hazard if you shampoo in the shower and don't rinse thoroughly. Rinse, rinse, and rinse again from body as well as scalp. This is a must. 4. Some laundry detergents are irritating to some people. You might try switching brands (try one with no perfumes) and use about half the recommended amount. My clothing gets just as clean with less residue to irritate the skin. 5. If you live in an arid environment, use a humidifier day and night. 6. Make sure you drink enough water.
This works for me, and trust me, I've tried everything.
It could be allergic reaction to laundry soap or dryer sheets or even bath soaps, creams, or shampoo. Have her doctor do bloodwork to rule out chronic kidney disease, hepatic dysfunction, or endocrine disorders; infectious etiologies of pruritus, (eg, scabies, lice) are commonly seen among patients living in institutional settings. Another cause of itch among patients living in such environments is artificial air, which can trigger several problems, including dry skin. While medications can cause allergic reactions that can manifest themselves in the skin and cause itching, there are some medications that don’t necessarily cause an allergic type of rash but on their own can cause itching. Some common ones include opioids, anticholinergic inhibitors, and aspirin. These medications can cause some histamine release and other mechanisms that can trigger itching without a rash, she says.
The older one gets, the more likely it is that s/he will develop non-specific inflammatory reactions. I'm 81 and developed gluten sensitivity 3 years ago, and about the same time began to itch at night--primarily hands, feet and genitals. Giving up gluten helped the diarrhea, but not the itch. I generally use cortisone cream if it gets too bad.
You might try 2000 iu of D3 vitamin daily. As we age many time the D vitamin levels go down, and the skin suffers. I had a rash like eczema and the doctor gave me a lot of creams, lotions, etc., and none of them helped. Then I heard about the vitamin D deficiency and tried it. I haven't had any problems since then and I am in my 80's. The small gel capsules are easy to swallow. I hope it helps. HettaK76
Changing his laundry detergent to a sensitive skin non-allergenic brand made a huge difference in my 89 year old father's itchy, rash covered back. It took a week or two to see the rash start to go away, though.
Use plain white Dial soap, Cetaphil, laundry detergent for sensitive skin and have her wear white cotton gloves. Plus remember winter time promotes dry, itchy skin on already thin skin on an aging body.
Goat milk soap, unscented-or with lavander or honey-not scent, oils-both are natural anti inflammatory. Also Goat milk LAUNDRY DETERGENT, or if you cannot get that go with something like ALL or DWEFT baby laundry detergent. Also Grampa Soap brand, with buttermilk is great. (they have other kinds too for itching) If you REALLY want to fix up dry skin, get Korres body butter SPRAY (not the tube lotion), it is scented in various scents but not all are knock you out of the room strong. Korres body butter spray is about 90% natural ingredients and the results are AMAZING. You did not say if the itching was all over, from dry skin, or a rash etc. so that's what I would go with generally speaking. Regular soaps are FILLED with petroleum and mineral oil (so its like putting whats in your gas tank on your body) and both HARM the skin. Goat Milk has the SAME PH as human skin. Might wanna have a look see at her mattress and pillows, is it old, it it foam or feathers, does it have a mattress liner or pad or cover? Sometimes ye ol mattress and pillows, are something that are frequently overlooked. But as our elders shower less, the pillows and mattress collect more at a faster rate in the way of yuck.
Let me second the mentions of "low iron" that Scottie and Marcia suggested. Years ago I develop severe itching that nothing would help. There was absolutely no visible evidence of any skin issue to explain the itching. I tried every other suggestion on this page, two dermatologist got tired of seeing me after ordering everything they could think of .
For me, the itching was worse whenever I sat still or tried to sleep. I would end up making myself bleed, with the scratching, At night, I couldn't sleep because of it, so I sat on the edge of my bed, holding my arms tight to stop myself from scratching, while i just rocked my self back and forth. And cried, until the exhaustion made me fall asleep for an hour or two.
..I was working at the time (night shift RN) and found I couldn't even sit still long enough to do my charting. I found I had to stand up at a counter and shift my weight from foot to foot, because that little bit of activity seemed to help. But sit still, and it was unbearable.
Needless to say, I was exhausted. But it turned out the exhaustion was also due to anemia. I took iron for that, (despite the annoying constipation it caused.) But the anemia kept getting worse. Eventually my doctor sent me to a hematologist to deal with the anemia. He mentioned the itching could be from the anemia. Three years I'd been going literally insane with this crazy itching and not one doctor (of several) ever mention this possiblity. (Maybe they thought the typical OTC iron that I took should have solved this if it were the cause. Who knows.)
Anyway, the hematologist ordered IV Iron infusions for me. That stuff burns pretty bad. But turned out to be totally worth it. The night after the first infusion was my last time night to spend scratching my sking to bleeding, sleepless, and sobbing, on the edge of my bed. I was so depressed, because , foolishly I'd hoped for a miracle. Not so foolish, though. Because the second night after that infusion I slept like a baby. And never had that crazy itching again.
I still tend to have itchy skin, due to mild psoriasis, and normal winter dryness. But those three years that I suffered with that horrible itching was like torture. And just the memory of it almost makes be cry again.
So all that is just to suggest you find out your mom's hemaglogin and hematacrit levels. And talk to her doctor about this possibility, if nothing else works. Good luck.
so often it is gall related. Even without gall bladder it kept on going here and after a long time we found out it were the gall ducts. i use menthol powder for him and take my husband to the gastro- enterologist elena
My brother had chronic itching. His care taker gave him everything under the sun to help but it didn't work. I googled it. Turns out itching is a symptom of diabetes and he was diabetic. Just a thought.
This is a good rx med for itching --- I, myself, used it for a few years for winter-time dry skin/itching.
What is hydroxyzine?
Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of itching, or hives on the skin. Hydroxyzine may be used to treat allergic skin reactions such as hives or contact dermatitis. Since hydroxyzine also reduces activity in the central nervous system, it can be used as a sedative to treat anxiety and tension. It is also used together with other medications given during and after general anesthesia. Hydroxyzine is also used to treat allergic skin reactions such as hives or contact dermatitis.
Although the Hydroxozine helped my mother's itch, it becomes a crutch. Although I will tell her that I gave her the "itch pill", I will also, place either Dermacloud or Absorbase on her legs for the diabetic dermatitis. I wash all of her of her clothes in Tide, Free and Clear. The dryer sheets are Bounce Free and Clear. Dermacloud is an ointment and hard to find but the Absorbase is for very dry skin. I will place the Absorbase on her legs and then cover with cold wash cloths on both legs. Of all of the things that I've tried , the "Absorbase" works the best and adheres for a longer time.
Some medications have the side effect of itching. I think at a certain point you can only do so much -- i.e., treat it symptomatically and check to be sure there are no detergent allergies, soap or lotion allergies contributing.
I did find my mom was itching like crazy a few years ago and when she finally let the doctor check she had a raging yeast infection in all of her major skin folds. Really bad. She was embarrassed and didn't want ANYONE to know or see. She finally was raking herself raw and was willing to be examined. It took several medications at once to rid her of this yeast overgrowth and break the itching cycle.
As a person who has some "folds", I sometimes get the beginning of a yeast infection in summer. With a yeast infection the skin will be bright red and the itching intense. There will actually be the smell of baking bread. I had a friend who's mom had a yeast infection under her colostomy bag. They were trying different bags to get rid of the itching. When I got near her, I could smell the problem. When I saw the skin colour, I was sure. They were so happy that it was easy to fix. I'm glad my nose could help!
Lots of good answers here! I have also had good results on skin issues with olive oil. Yes, just the plain old cooking oil from the grocery store. I worked as a caregiver for an elderly gentleman whose leg (he was an amputee) from the knee down was so dry and scaly it looked almost like crocodile hide. He also had sores that wouldn't heal, that needed to be dressed twice daily. Every morning and evening when I changed the dressings I rubbed that leg down with olive oil. After a few months the skin was so soft and healthy, his doctor called me to ask how I'd achieved it, as he had another patient with the same problem, and he wanted to know how to advise her! I just thought you can't go wrong with olive oil, it's pure and natural, and they used it for everything in Bible times, from cleaning newborns to preparing the dead; anointing kings and priests for their stations in life to flavoring salads and baking bread; making one's hair or face shiny to binding wounds..... so I'd thought it was worth a try. I know coconut oil is the popular thing right now, and it probably is a little easier to handle, being solid at room temp... but I find that olive oil is more readily and quickly absorbed by the skin, which to my mind makes it preferable if a person is very sensitive, as it requires a lighter touch and less rubbing. I used to pour a small amount in a flat dish and microwave it about ten seconds to warm it first to make it even easier to apply. Just rub it all over your palms and smooth it onto the skin. Hope this helps!
Congrats on curing the crocodile hide without using a $100/ounce prescription cream! I used to use olive oil myself on my face hands and feet, but switched to coconut. I found the coconut to leave a less greasy feeling. Ancient Romans washed themselves by spreading olive oil on their bodies and then gently scraping it off. They used no soap. They were reputed to have beautiful skin.
You may try this if you have exhausted the other options. My Mum is bed ridden and also suffered itching and this product helped. It's a case of trying the different options, what works for one person may not necessarily work for someone else. This is gentle and you will note that it also treats eczema.
Had that problem with wife. Itching, scratching and digging until she bled. But when one of her meds was discontinued that biggest portion of the itch stopped. Now just one area is itching and we are looking into a yeast infection. Hope it works for her.
Vaseline, with no perfumes, locks in the skin moisture . Lots of scientific studies on this, but because vaseline is messy most people will not use it. At least try until the itching stops.
The thicker the barrier such as Vaseline, which stops moisture leaving the skin, the better. That is why vaseline is much better than just thin lotions. (Do not use aything with perfume/ fragrance )
Cornstarch: If moisure/sweating on skin causes itching cornstarch is great.
1. During the winter, no more than twice-weekly showers, with "sponge bathing" in between. During warm weather I can go back to daily showering. I never immerse in a bathtub.
2. CeraVe cleansers and moisturizers are fantastic (but expensive). I use Cerave SA (ceramides that remove scaliness) daily, right after shower or sponge bath while skin is still moist. Hands down the best.
3. Shampoo and rinse-out conditioner residues are extremely irritating to skin, a hazard if you shampoo in the shower and don't rinse thoroughly. Rinse, rinse, and rinse again from body as well as scalp. This is a must.
4. Some laundry detergents are irritating to some people. You might try switching brands (try one with no perfumes) and use about half the recommended amount. My clothing gets just as clean with less residue to irritate the skin.
5. If you live in an arid environment, use a humidifier day and night.
6. Make sure you drink enough water.
This works for me, and trust me, I've tried everything.
While medications can cause allergic reactions that can manifest themselves in the skin and cause itching, there are some medications that don’t necessarily cause an allergic type of rash but on their own can cause itching. Some common ones include opioids, anticholinergic inhibitors, and aspirin. These medications can cause some histamine release and other mechanisms that can trigger itching without a rash, she says.
already thin skin on an aging body.
For me, the itching was worse whenever I sat still or tried to sleep. I would end up making myself bleed, with the scratching, At night, I couldn't sleep because of it, so I sat on the edge of my bed, holding my arms tight to stop myself from scratching, while i just rocked my self back and forth. And cried, until the exhaustion made me fall asleep for an hour or two.
..I was working at the time (night shift RN) and found I couldn't even sit still long enough to do my charting. I found I had to stand up at a counter and shift my weight from foot to foot, because that little bit of activity seemed to help. But sit still, and it was unbearable.
Needless to say, I was exhausted. But it turned out the exhaustion was also due to anemia. I took iron for that, (despite the annoying constipation it caused.) But the anemia kept getting worse. Eventually my doctor sent me to a hematologist to deal with the anemia. He mentioned the itching could be from the anemia. Three years I'd been going literally insane with this crazy itching and not one doctor (of several) ever mention this possiblity. (Maybe they thought the typical OTC iron that I took should have solved this if it were the cause. Who knows.)
Anyway, the hematologist ordered IV Iron infusions for me. That stuff burns pretty bad. But turned out to be totally worth it. The night after the first infusion was my last time night to spend scratching my sking to bleeding, sleepless, and sobbing, on the edge of my bed. I was so depressed, because , foolishly I'd hoped for a miracle. Not so foolish, though. Because the second night after that infusion I slept like a baby. And never had that crazy itching again.
I still tend to have itchy skin, due to mild psoriasis, and normal winter dryness. But those three years that I suffered with that horrible itching was like torture. And just the memory of it almost makes be cry again.
So all that is just to suggest you find out your mom's hemaglogin and hematacrit levels. And talk to her doctor about this possibility, if nothing else works. Good luck.
Apple cider vinegar?
Do not mix vinegar with baking soda!😲
and after a long time we found out it were the gall ducts.
i use menthol powder for him and take my husband to the gastro- enterologist
elena
I, myself, used it for a few years for winter-time dry skin/itching.
What is hydroxyzine?
Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of itching, or hives on the skin. Hydroxyzine may be used to treat allergic skin reactions such as hives or contact dermatitis.
Since hydroxyzine also reduces activity in the central nervous system, it can be used as a sedative to treat anxiety and tension. It is also used together with other medications given during and after general anesthesia.
Hydroxyzine is also used to treat allergic skin reactions such as hives or contact dermatitis.
I did find my mom was itching like crazy a few years ago and when she finally let the doctor check she had a raging yeast infection in all of her major skin folds. Really bad. She was embarrassed and didn't want ANYONE to know or see. She finally was raking herself raw and was willing to be examined. It took several medications at once to rid her of this yeast overgrowth and break the itching cycle.
I just thought you can't go wrong with olive oil, it's pure and natural, and they used it for everything in Bible times, from cleaning newborns to preparing the dead; anointing kings and priests for their stations in life to flavoring salads and baking bread; making one's hair or face shiny to binding wounds..... so I'd thought it was worth a try.
I know coconut oil is the popular thing right now, and it probably is a little easier to handle, being solid at room temp... but I find that olive oil is more readily and quickly absorbed by the skin, which to my mind makes it preferable if a person is very sensitive, as it requires a lighter touch and less rubbing. I used to pour a small amount in a flat dish and microwave it about ten seconds to warm it first to make it even easier to apply. Just rub it all over your palms and smooth it onto the skin.
Hope this helps!
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sudocrem-Antiseptic-Cream-125g/182504923