Skin Issues

Sometimes my back itches between my shoulder blades with I have some "dead skin buildup" as I like to refer to it. I usually have my sister (as my husband refuses) rub my back with a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol on it. It gets icky from conditioner and sweating all summer etc.

Possible food allergy? My mom was itching a lot and finally got tested after trying to figure it out. Found out she was allergic to chicken! Cut back on it and she's fine.

It could be allergies. I've found that my skin doesn't itch anymore now that I use scent free laundry detergent and fabric softener. Try taking an anti-histimine, like Claritin and see if that helps.

could it be the shampoo you are using?? i have a little bit of sensitive skin so when i use certain shampoos it makes the skin on my body itchy. because when you rinse your hair it gets on your skin...just a thought.

It could very well be dry skin, if you're using a detergent or non-natural soap. I would start with some lotion or something but definitely check out better soap options.

My first thought was that you could have developed a sensitivity to your laundry detergent or you shower soap. I went through severe itchiness for a year before I realized it was 2 things - dry skin, and my shower soap making the dry skin worse. I switched to Aveeno skin relief body wash with Oatmeal and have not itched once since! Sometimes I'll also use the Aveeno dry skin lotion.

Hope this helps!

It could be dry skin. I find it very difficult to spread lotion evenly on my back. Hopefully you have someone who can lotion your back.
My other thought is that maybe you are not rinsing your back as well as your front in the shower and the residue is making it itch.

I'd try a good back scrubber during showers for a few days and see if that helps. Build up from shampoo, dead skin, sweat, etc. makes for itchy skin and that might help.

Possibly dry skin. That is an area where you can't reach to put it on. Try having someone put it on atleast a couple times a day and see if it helps, you should notice a difference in a couple days if that's the case.

Well, this is a long shot but it is a possibility: Celiac's Disease can cause itching in odd places, and at odd intervals. My stomach itches like crazy when I ingest gluten, and there are signs of dermatitis herpetiformis there, though it is most commonly found on other areas of the body.

There are other symptoms, as well, ranging from weight loss to malnutrition to pain/gas/bloating/nausea, but some people show no physiological signs of suffering from Celiac's at all - none.

The problem is that many doctor's aren't familiar enough with Celiac's to suggest a blood test, the blood test panel is expensive and wasn't covered by my insurance (which is really good insurance otherwise), and even though blood tests are vastly improved nowadays a positive result is not enough to confirm the disease - a biopsy is generally required to assess damage to the small intestines.

I would certainly read up on it and determine if there are other symptoms you've been having that fit the description and just aren't aware that they may be related. Excess gas or weight loss can certainly be a result of diet, after all! If you think it might be the case that this is the cause then find a gastroenterologist who is willing to run the blood panel for you. Better safe than sorry at that point as continued damage to your body is not a good thing and will eventually cause permanent problems.

I hope and pray it's something much simpler and less life-changing. I really wouldn't wish this one on any one.

Perhaps a recent change in laundry detergent? Lotion? Even a change in hand soap - especially if someone else touches your back - could cause a reaction you weren't aware of.

L.

Dear T.,

I just went to the dermatologist for this very same reason. I have had an "itchy spot" on my back for quite some time and was worried that it may be skin cancer. This is the second time I went to the doctor for this. After checking me out, she told me that sometimes a person can have a pinched nerve and that it manifests itself by creating an itch as opposed to pain.

I would suggest having your back checked out by a dermotologist first to rule out anything skin related, check into going for a chiropractic treatment and then look into buying a handy dandy back scratcher!

Good luck!

C.

Are you prone to eczema or dry skin? That's what it sounds like to me. Try taking fish oil capsules with meals--within a few weeks, your skin should be a lot less dry and itchy.

I don't have a suggestion as to what may cause the itch, but for relief you should try Sarna lotion. My sister in law had a horrible itchy rash around her waist, as well as mystery itches, and Sarna was the only thing that brought her relief. It is also great for sunburns!