I’m Itchy (Sometimes)

[David87]

Okay folks, bit random but there we go. Over the past few months I’ve developed sporadic, fairly short-lived periods of bumpy, extremely itchy skin. It probably appears 9 out of 10 days.

It starts with a burning sensation and then a few moments later the bumps appear. It’s then intensely itchy for a short while before subsiding and you’d never know it had happened.

It’s very unusual in that it tends to appear on the inside of my forearms in the daytime (pictured was this afternoon), but at night (usually around the time I go to bed), the lumps tend to be on my outer upper thighs / bum cheeks, although are more like little spots than what is pictured on my arm. Again though, they completely disappear after a little while. My back can also get the burning and itching sensation, but doesn’t get any of the skin texture.

I suppose I should go to the GP, but getting an appointment is a nightmare, so strangers on the internet are definitely my first port of call.

For reference, 33, otherwise healthy, if a bit tired and stressed.

Edited by David87 on Monday 10th May 00:01

[paul.deitch]

I had something similar and it was dermatitis. Topical cortisone cream sorted it out in 4 days.

[Riley Blue]

Go to a pharmacist and ask their advice.

[Don1]

Itchy episodes for me are sorted with better hydration and an anti-histamine. Hope yours is as easy to sort!

[sherman]

Change your washing powder. My skin goes like that if my clothes are washed with Persil or Surf but is fine with Ariel .
Your body can just change for no great reason. I used to use lynx body spray until it too broughtme out in a rash. Now use sure.

[MitchT]

I used to intermittently itch like mad for a good few hours after having a shower until I ditched products with sodium laureth sulfate in them. Try switching to Dr Bronner's castile soaps.

[FWIW]

Don1 said:

Itchy episodes for me are sorted with better hydration and an anti-histamine. Hope yours is as easy to sort!

I’d do this first, then pharmacist.

Don’t scratch!

[h0b0]

MitchT said:

I used to intermittently itch like mad for a good few hours after having a shower until I ditched products with sodium laureth sulfate in them. Try switching to Dr Bronner's castile soaps.

You may have been too restrictive in your selection. I react with uncontrollable itching to some products. Mostly cheaper ones but not always the case. What I do know is that it isn’t the Sodium Laureth Sulphate as it is present in both shower gels that work and don’t work for me. SLS is in so many soap products because it is the soap component.

[elanfan]

They look very like milk spots.

Not related to above but worth getting a general blood screen done. One of the symptoms of high phosphates is itching (but doesn’t look like that) and is a side effect of kidney problems.

[sparkyhx]

itching can be related to liver disease, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't come with 'spots'. So its more likely to be 'allergy'

[Carlososos]

I get little reactions on my forearms from animals like dogs and cats. Like little white lumps but maybe 4 or 5. When I wash them it goes away pretty quickly. Forearms are quite sensitive. Possibly a reaction to something touching.