Itchy!

saubryn

I'm going insane here - a few days ago I broke out in a rash - I ignored it for a day or so thinking it was a bite, but its really spread, so I made an appointment at the docs - they won't see me till Monday though.

In the mean time I'm being driven mad - can't sleep because of the itching, and nothing seems to be helping it

Anyone got any tips for how to ease it until I can see the doctors? The pharmacist said mild soothing lotions would be OK since the skin isn't broken, but the only one I have (that I used to use after getting a tattoo) doesn't help.

Bennifred

I think I'd probably take an antihistamine tablet - this works on allergic responses to all sorts of things, including insect bites.

black-saturn

Sounds like an allergic reaction so yeh antihistamine would work. Or it could be scabies :eek:

sexymouse

I echo the use of antihistamines, but if you have any witch hazel apparently that it good. Lidl are doing a roll on bite and sting relief stick for £1.89 at the moment, and it contains aloe vera and witch hazel. Has helped with the itching of my bites, and I really react to any insect bites. It can be applied as often as needed, and I think it can even be used if the skin becomes broken.

black-saturn

How about good old fashioned Calamine Lotion?

Spikey_2

benadryl is very good....

saubryn

Thanks everyone for the advice. I don't tend to keep antihistamines around (no allergies I know of, and never get hayfever or anything), but I have some witch hazel in the first aid kit - forgot about that, will give it a shot

I'll nab some antihistamines off a friend thats a walking pharmacy if the witch hazel doesn't help.

I hope something works - will be needing psychiatric treatment if this itching keeps up till monday :-p

saubryn

Started typing this reply before the last two appeared, then went AFK - I don't have any calamine lotion either (Wow, I don't keep a very good medicine cupboard).

I thought benadryl was a cough treatment?

Thanks for the suggestions though! Tomorrow I'll be heading down town, will try a bigger / better pharmacist and pick some lotion up if the witch hazel doesn't help.

purplepurple

Piritron liquid is quite good for general skin itchyness....worked like a dream when my two got chicken pox...

L_D_N

Can highly recommend taking a bath in dead sea bath salts - helped me no end when I had chicken pox a couple of years ago.

Do you have a medical drop in centre near you? Don't need an appointment and at least you get to see someone to help diagnose the problem. Alternatively you can call medical helpline for advice.

Eurax (don't think that's spelt rigth but you get the idea) is also fantastic. Does the same as calamine but has a mild local anestetic in too.

Does sound like some sort of allergy. Hope you feel better soon.

Savvy_Sue

When kids have chicken pox then giving them a bath with bicarbonate of soda in the water is supposed to help ... so if your store cupboard is better stocked than your medicine cupboard you could try that!