Dry itchy skin??

Pharmmom

Dry itchy skin??

Pharmmom

Hello,

I have had the worst dry itchy skin lately.  What is up with that?? I also have been getting alot more hotflashes (and they were kind of lessening but they are back!).  It all happens at night and its driving me nuts.  Any suggestions? 

Thanks

Barb

Sierra

I use Eucerin

or Aloe..

know what you mean

and I also

change my bed sheets more often

which is a real job

as 4 floor and no elevator



GRRRR



LOL



Sierra

lvtwoqlt

I am using Neutrogena cream for my dry skin. It is aggravating to say the least.

Sheila

Anonymous

Oh, the horrid dry skin....

I went to my dermatologist with this issue, because it was really affecting my day to day life.  

They had me get "Robathol," which is something you can get from the pharmacy-it's behind the counter with the other "weird" stuff like Netti Pots and such.  It's a bath oil that you can bathe in, or do like I did and just rub it on to the trouble spots after every shower. 

Vanicream was a godsend for me, too.  Eucerin was REALLY heavy and just made me feel greasy.  Aquaphor, too.  Vanicream is a very light moisturizer that just soaks into your skin.  I like to put it on after I wash my hands and only sort of dry my hands before I use it. 

The other thing I did was get a prescription for triamcinolone cream and ketoconazole.  The triamcinolone was for the really bad areas (it's a steroid cream), and ketoconazole was for the areas that turned into fungal skin.  Yep, gross, I know.  I just have a tendency for dry knees, and with the itchiness, it became a fungal growth-a tiny patch of yuck. 

The hot flashes....hmm......Effexor really helped me with my chemopause hot flashes.  Those were horrible.  

Good luck!  Love and prayers, Deb

Rosemary44

Sometimes dry skin comes from within.  It's one of the effects we can get from lack of iodine.  If you salt, are you using iodized salt?  I've been taking kelp tablets, and stopped eating some vegetables uncooked which can keep us from absorbing iodine.  I am noticing a change in my skin.  I use soap that is made with olive oil, but I've been using that for years, now that I'm on the kelp, I'm finally seeing a change.

Sierra

Hi there:



I just got some olive oil soap as well

used Dove for years



no scent at all to it





best



Sierra

althea

Please be aware that dry itchy skin is one of many indicators that the thyroid may be out of balance.  I suspect my thyroid has been the number one culprit behind my fatigue since I finished radiation in 2005.  If I think about it too long, I start to get hopping mad that I've suffered all that time and my thyroid is barely getting on the radar of any of my doctors. 

Other signs of hypothyroid are unexplained weight gain, difficulty getting rid of the weight, elevated cholesterol, constipation, thinning or complete loss of the outer third of eyebrows.  Basic screening to test thyroid levels should include the TSH test and the free T-4 test.  Medical professionals should be aware of changes in standards that were issued in 2002.  My medical people still use old information.  They don't know about the changes and don't *want* to know.  

Hopefully your dry skin is just dry skin.  If it's really your thyroid trying to communicate with you, however, be prepared for some blind eyes and deaf ears trying to get help from doctors!  I suspect the thyroid gets little attention in medical education and perhaps that is why so many women suffer a long time before receiving needed treatments.   

Anonymous

Althea,
EXCELLENT point.  I have been dealing with ALL of the things you listed, and have pointed it out to 4 doctors so far.  2 of them tested my thyroid in the last 2 years, and it came out borderline.  They said it wasn't out of whack enough to give me meds.  In the past 6 months (since my Dad died), I have gained 17 pounds, half of that while on JENNY CRAIG!!!!  I called my new PCP, and was told he won't just order a TSH test until I see him in mid-April!!!!!!  

GRRRRR!!!!  So I should just keep gaining weight till then!??!!?!? 

Pharmmom

Hi,

Good suggestions. Thank.  I did ask about my thyroid last visit and they said it was ok.  I don't go again til June but I will revist that one.  Thanks again. 

Barb

althea

As far as I'm concerned, if I have symptoms of hypothyroid and I don't feel good, then things are NOT ok!  Somehow thyroid seems to be the ugly stepchild of medicine.  No one wants to acknowledge or do anything if it needs attention. 

There's a lot of information at the association of clinical endocrinologists.  The 'new normal' for TSH results is .3 to 3.0.  Old range was .035 to 5.5.  My TSH was 6.4, way out of range even by old standards.  In February it was 4.027.  My internist said it's in the normal range now.  This same internist also refused to add a free T-4 test to my paperwork when it was time for the do over on my labs.  I even had a printout from the aace website stating the new standards.  Like I said, they don't know and don't want to know that standards have changed.  

And that's just my bad encounter with the mainstream folks.  I got a recommendation from an alternative doctor to take iodine supplements.  Then my head really started spinning.  Information is all over the place and there's a LOT of conflicting opinions.  Mainstream folks say 1100 micrograms/day is the level at which iodine becomes toxic.  I was told to take 18 milligrams a day, WAY more than what usda says is toxic!  

Finally I decided the alternative group has more credibility than the mainstreamers.  I took iodine supplements for 3 weeks.  Didn't feel any better.  Now I've tried some products from a natural healing site and at long last, I'm starting to perk up.  I could type for an hour on this stuff, but I'm going to stop now because I'm starting to feel hopping mad again that I suffered for 2 years from fatigue and my oncologist would just shrug his shoulders and say he could help me with hot flashes if I wanted to take effexor.  No thanks.  I don't believe in taking a second drug to counter side effects of the first one.   

NarberthMom

Hi! I might suggest increasing the amount of water that you drink.



I have noticed a correlation with dehydration and both dry skin and hot flashes. In my pre-cancer days, when I was working at a very high stress job, I had terrible skin problems that were somewhat ameliorated if I stayed very well hydrated. Similarly, I have found that my night sweats are diminished if I drink a lot of water before going to bed (especially after a spicy meal or a glass or two of wine).

anneshirley

I'm using FU-5 on my face to clear up some superficial (I hope) skin cancers.  Speaking of dry itchy skin--I want to claw it off.  And it's also red like the worse possible sunburn.

But, after all my treatments for BC, aside from this, I have noticed that my skin is much dryer than before.  Not sure why! 

Sierra

Is everyone taking their Essential Fatty Oils



These certainly help the skin

and other things, as well





Sierra

candie1971

A few months ago I had such dry itchy skin that my butt and belly were bleeding! My pcp gaveme some prescription lotion and it went away. To keep it away I use Eucerin anti-itch calming cream. Boy, what a miracle cream. It was at the suggestion of one of the fine women here on the boards. I now wash with cetaphil...no more itchy and no more dry skin. Good luck.