Can't Stop Itching!!!

I would think it was either scalp dermatitis or stress, I've dealt with both, dry itchy scalp, I tryed everything from tea tree oil shampoo's, to denorex (which I might add worsens the effect), to lemon tea baths, vinegar, to V05 hot oil, I now have a neutrogena deep conditioning conditioner and it is great. As for the body rash I get that as well itchy hives all over my neck and chest from allergies or stress you pick but I take allergy medicine for that and it goes away, you dont need the prescription, try the over the counter zyrtec and see if that works.

Hey N.,
You might want to look into the Body Ecology Diet. It was specifically designed for people who have an over growth of yeast in their systems. From what you've described here, it sounds like you might benefit. The book by Donna Gates, www.bodyecology.com, stresses the importantce of eating probiotics and cutting all sugar. Eliminating the sugar kills the yeast off- it feeds on sugar- even the sugar from fruits. When you take antibiotics, that can just make the situation worse. My son and I have both been sick off and on with allergies- both food and enviornmental so I decided to put us on the diet. Its been two days and I already feel better. I hope this helps!

N.,
Go see a dermatologist. And then read the article in a recent New Yorker as well as in Scientific American's Mind Magazine. Both articles explain how itchiness is separate from pain, and that it is not a merely a minor version of pain, but rather it's a whole different sense of sensors and nerves that are rather exclusively devoted to the itchiness.

It will help you understand your symptoms as well as treatments. Prednisone is basically an anti inflammatory, but there are other classes of anti inflammatories as well.

R.

I had a similar thing happen to me & it finally stopped when I went to a dermatologist who gave me a medicated mousse to rub into my scalp twice a day.

Even though you haven't changed products lately, you may have developed an allergy to something. In my case, it was hair dye.

Good luck!

See a dermatologist! : ) (Regular docs can't always diagnose this stuff...) If you're in Chicago, I would see someone at Northwestern. Their research is so advanced - if its something rare, they're more likely to figure it out. Good luck!

I hate to say it, but it sounds an awful lot like shingles, which is related to chickenpox and lies dormant in your upper spinal column, which is why it erupts on the neck, head and/or face. Go see a dermatologist right away!

See the derm a.s.a.p. for your own comfort and peace of mind.

I would suggest the dermatologist too. Had a friend who had similar sx and it turned out to be Shingles. Her GP missed it but the Derm caught it immediately.

It could be influenced by stress, as your body can do that. I would contact the dermatologist.
I've also read about using a vinegar solution, but never have done so for myself.

good luck.

Your post made me think of an article I read in The New Yorker a month or so ago. You can probably access the article through the magazine's website. There's a mirror treatment that's been helping people with severe itching. It's vital to stop the itching because our body's natural urge to itch can lead to more itching rather than relief. More itching can lead to. . . you'll have to read the article, but there are a few terrible scenarios depicted. If you find that the itching cannot be remedied with other treatments, you'll want to bring this article to your doctor's attention, and try this non-invasive option.