Suggest treatment for severe itchy skin

Posted on Mon, 23 Nov 2015

Question: I am a 66 year old man. I have been bothered by itchy skin in the past few years. It has generally been on my arms and lasted a few weeks. I did not see a doctor. This year the itctchy skin condition is all over my body. I started about a month ago and it has become almost unbearable. I itch all day, but the nights are the worst. I have been putting lotion on my entire body 2 to 3 times a day, taking only one quick cold water shower a day, and still I itch to the point I can barely think sometimes. I have given up swimming ( which I did 2-4 times a week),changed to Dove soap, and All, Free and Gentle detergent. I saw a dermatologist a week ago today and she put me on daily Hydroxyz HCL 25 mg pills and twice daily Trimacinolone 0.1% CR cream, but I have felt no better.

Answered by Dr. Kakkar S. (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of xerosis; i suggest adding am-lactin lotion and cetrizine tab

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I have gone through your query and I have noted down your concern.

I will keep a possibility of Xerosis i.e extreme dryness of skin, as an underlying condition.
Xerosis of skin is a common in individuals over 60 years of age, and is due to reduced capacity of skin to store moisture which as a result escapes into atmosphere (specially in cold, dry weather) leaving the skin dry and itchy.

Do you notice any skin lesions? Or there aren't any skin lesions?
Can you tell me which lotion you are using?

In addition to triamcinolone acetonide cream, you should also apply a moisturiser because the underlying factor is most likely severe dryness of skin.
You may use an ammonuim lactate based moisturiser e.g Am-Lactin Lotion, twice daily.
In addition to hydroxyzine, you can add a tablet of cetrizine 10 mg once daily in evening.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar