Doesn anyone else have a constant itchy back???

[Disney1fan2002]

I can't take much more. I have had an itchy back for years, and I mean YEARS. I am now realizing this is not normal. My Dh does not ask me to scratch his back every night, like I need him to scratch mine. I have my kids lined up to take turns scratching. pens, pencils, wooden spoons, back scratcher, even a butter knife, anything that will reach.

I have my Dh and DD put moisturizer on it, and it still itches. It seems to be getting more intense and frequent, like all day and all night. I am thinking I should see a dermotologist.

 

[denisenh]

I am an itchy back sufferer as well. It's not a skin problem in my case. I think that it is a nerve problem. My dh can scratch my itchy spot forever (it is on my back, just out of my reach of course) and it is unrelieved. It is numb to scratching..... it just itches.

And to make matters worse, having an itch is the most annoying sensation to me. I can't stand it. I will scratch the skin right off myself if I am in a particularly intolerant mood.

You have my sympathy.

 

[mattsdragon]

I used to. I started using a laundry detergent with out perfumes, hypo-allergenic. Viola, no more itchy back.

 

[disykat]

I have an itchy back, but livable. I use all hypo allergenic, fragrance free products and take daily antihistamines. I can recommend a great back scratcher though. I bought some off the internet and have several around in different rooms! I don't know this guy - I just found his site while looking for a decent backscratcher. With these I can reach all the places by myself. legacyfurnishings.com I have the walnut since I'm allergic to cedar!

 

[grlpwrd]

Same for me with the detergent...I changed what I use and now I use a vinegar rinse and haven't had problems.

GL!

 

[stemikger]

I have an itchy back, but not that bad.

I keep back scratchers in my desk at work and my nightstand next to my bed at home.

I actually found really good bamboo backscratchers at the dollar store. I loaded up on them.

They are the same backscratchers they put in the drink of the same name at the poly. They really do the trick.

 

[minkydog]

I have something similar called chronic urticaria--chronic itching with hives. I suffered with it for a year before I finally went to see the doctor. They don't know what causes it, but the treatment is antihistimines. If i don't take my Allegra every day I will scratch myself raw.Eventually it will stop for awhile, and then start up for no reason. In my case, we never found any specific cause. Just itchy.

 

[powellrj]

I will have to show my DH its not just me that has an itchy back. I keep a back scratcher by our bed, (when I find the bamboo kind I buy several). I thought it was just me!!

 

[lewdyan1]

Me too. I have one specific spot that makes me nuts. And from what I can tell it is a nerve ending thing, not skin related! Disney makes a great backscratcher, not cheap, but really cute!!!

 

[Lynn CC]

Try Ivory Soap in the shower and Ivory Liquid Laudry Detergent on all your shirts, sheets, towels anything that will touch your back. It works for my son!

 

[Christine]

I had this going on for awhile--it was in one particular spot, upper back in the center. Drove me nuts. There were no hives. I finally did go see a dermatologist who gave it a fancy name (can't remember). He gave me a mild hydrocortisone cream to use twice a day plus he told me to moisturize it. It doesn't cure it but it works as long as I use the cream. Now I just have "flare ups" instead of constant itching.

 

[Twigs]

Wow, I am not alone! I have one small spot in the middle of my back that drives me crazy! I too am always asking DH and kids to scratch my back. I do not use detergents with perfumes. I have tried using hydrocortisone creme, but not consistently, will have to give it a better try. I am always asking if there is a red spot or anything there, and I am always told no. I too keep a bamboo back scratcher available and it really helps.

 

[Christine]

Wow, I am not alone! I have one small spot in the middle of my back that drives me crazy! I too am always asking DH and kids to scratch my back. I do not use detergents with perfumes. I have tried using hydrocortisone creme, but not consistently, will have to give it a better try. I am always asking if there is a red spot or anything there, and I am always told no. I too keep a bamboo back scratcher available and it really helps.

Yep, that was me! The cortisone cream REGULARLY did help, but it was hard getting it back there without help so, I too, would skip it often, and then I'd get the itching.

Also, I did have a bit of a raised rash in that area but it was more like rough skin and not hive-like or red. I didn't really see the rash (let's face it, it's not an easy area to see), but the doctor did and then I guess I could feel it. Felt like rough skin.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have one spot on my back that always itches. I always tell my DH that when I am diagnosed with malignant melanoma, it will start at that spot!!!

I'd try changing laundry detergent. That can make a difference.

 

[Buckalew11]

Well, who knew? I just told DD the other day I was going to have to go see about this itchy spot on my back. I had no idea how common this was. One small spot just out of reach...

 

[ducklite]

Sometimes it's not moisturizer you need, but a good exfoliation. I'd try that first--you can try it yourself at home--get a good exfoliating cream and have your DH use it all over your back while you are in the shower, then use a good cream moisturizer after.

Some moisturizers actually have alcohol in them, and can aggravate the problem. Use something like L'Occitane Shea Butter or Jurlique Lavender Hand Cream for the best results.

I'll be honest, I've never been able to get results at home like I can get at a day spa, maybe a good holiday gift for you would be a gift certificate

Moving on, I have a spot on my back that itches horribly on and off. As someone else talked about, it's due to nerve damage from surgery I had to remove a tumor from my spine in 1998. It still comes and goes with the insane itchiness, and for that there's nothing that will relive it except a couple glasses of wine and a nap.

Anne

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Try Ivory Soap in the shower and Ivory Liquid Laudry Detergent on all your shirts, sheets, towels anything that will touch your back. It works for my son!

Oh, no thank you. I can't use ivory soap. Neither can my DH. It dries our skin terribly. we use Dove with aloe.

Thanks for all the input. I think I am going to see a dermatologist, because looking this up last night, I discovered moles are not supposed to be itchy, and I have a little mole on my back that is the source of all the itchiness.

 

[froglady]

I also had an itchy spot on the center of my upper back; sometimes, I would end up scratching it until it was raw and bleeding. My Dermatologist felt it was a contact dermatitis, and we could spend years trying to track down the irritant (I suspect it was certain shampoos/cream rinses because of the location) or I could take a daily anthistamine, which is what I do.

 

[rigs32]

It also may be that you need to hydrate more. If I don't get my 64oz a day, in addition to moisturizing, I start getting itchy.

 

[Beachmama56]

I am an itchy back sufferer as well. It's not a skin problem in my case. I think that it is a nerve problem. My dh can scratch my itchy spot forever (it is on my back, just out of my reach of course) and it is unrelieved. It is numb to scratching..... it just itches.

And to make matters worse, having an itch is the most annoying sensation to me. I can't stand it. I will scratch the skin right off myself if I am in a particularly intolerant mood.

You have my sympathy.