So itchy

sragreen

My legs (mostly thighs and hamstrings) are so itchy. I have tried lotion and increasing my water intake. What else can I do? I seriously want to scratch my legs raw they itch so much. It's worse after I shave.

Emerald27

You could stop shaving...kidding )

I use coconut oil for lotion. It's really soothing and worth a shot. My tummy has been really itchy and this has helped.

I've also heard that oatmeal can soothe itchiness (like oatmeal baths), so you could look for a lotion made with oatmeal.

ETA: Apparently Aveeno lotion is made with oatmeal. Just googled to see what I could find.

sragreen

Thanks! I think DS has some baby Aveeno. I am too scared to sneak in his room for fear of waking a sleeping baby, but I will definitely try it tomorrow.

JJsMum

Try an oatmeal bath.  It sounds wierd, but really really helped me when I was dealing with PUPPS with DS#1.  It also helped with I found poison ivy as a kid  Just a good help overall when itchy!

Justabean3

Coconut oil actually drys out my skin.
I don't think this is the case for a lot of people and they use it just fine.
I use palmers and vitamin E. I know emerald was joking but seriously stop shaving it helps.

I second the oatmeal bath and Aveeno makes oatmeal bath packets.

yella726

Itchy belly, itchy boobs and most of all ITCHY BACK!!! I get the belly and boobs thing, but an itchy back?? I don't get it. It's frustrating because I've starting to aggravate the skin on my back from scratching and every time I get an itch and try to scratch, it hurts more than it feels good!

Littledeer84

My chest has been really itchy! Like the top of boobs and above. So annoying. I will have to try a few of these suggestions...

femail

My whole torso, back and my legs have been itching, too! I use aveeno bath wash, and it doesn't seem to help me at all! I'll be trying the coconut oil tonight.

I take comfort that I'm not the only one itching like a mad woman...

Maggie6424

I have been itchy everywhere also. I want to bathe in olive oil.
You can do your own oatmeal bath, those packets are expensive! Just use a high quality blender or food processor and regular oatmeal, not the quick or 1 minute oats. So much cheaper! You can actually add a small amount into lotion or olive oil. It will help.

yella726

@femail My back has been the WORST! I've had my husband go over it with a cotton ball and witch hazel and then coconut oil. It's the only thing that has somewhat soothed the already-irritated spots.

Justabean3

Of all things my eyebrows itch non stop!! And my lower back

BreandMikewedding

yella726 said:

Itchy belly, itchy boobs and most of all ITCHY BACK!!! I get the belly and boobs thing, but an itchy back?? I don't get it. It's frustrating because I've starting to aggravate the skin on my back from scratching and every time I get an itch and try to scratch, it hurts more than it feels good!

I have an itchy back too! It's so weird. I didn't have an itchy back with my other two babies.

I rub baby oil on my skin while in the shower and then rinse it off. It soaks into your skin when you're in water. I've tried palmer's cocoa butter but I'm not a huge fan. I love body butter from bath and body works. I think they still have it. I have a stock pile! It is more soothing and I feel like it moisturizers deeper than the palmer's. I've heard good things about bio oil but I've never tried it.

Justabean3

Backs probably itch because tummy pull them from the front... That is my guess

cabxd

Oh my goodness, I feel for you!  I had this with DS (only it was upper extremities) - I thought it may have been due to elevated levels of testosterone in my body... turned out to be a boy.  It lasted for a few weeks though.

Slapdashalice

I have always been an itchy kid so here are a few things that help me.

The oatmeal baths as others have said.  I also add baking soda which is also an itch killer and oil for moisturizing.  My recipe is 

1 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup baking soda, a good slug of either olive or grape seed oil and enough water to get it moving in the blender.  The finer you get it blended the better.  Then just pour under running water.  I do this every day when I am really itchy and it's like magic.

Be mindful of the soap that you are using in the tub as that could counteract the good that the oatmeal bath is doing.  Same for any lotions.  The ingredient Sodium Laureth Sulphate is the worst!  Alcohol is drying for itchy skin too.

I use an epilator instead of shaving.  It is more painful but doesn't affect the skin so it works better for me.  The first time is the worst, then if you keep up with it once a week you are only doing a few hairs at a time so it isn't bad.  If you can, get a wax first as it is less painful  and then start your once weekly epilation sessions.  Remember all that money we are saving on cocktails?  We can use it to splash out on a beauty treatment now and then

If I get a very bad patch I use hydrocortisone cream.  This hasn't happened since I got preggo so I don't know if we would be allowed to use it.  You would have to ask your OBGYN.

Also moisturize like a maniac especially as our skin starts to stretch as that can be pretty itchy too.

Good luck!

yella726

@Justabean3 I was thinking that, too, but the majority of the itching is on my upper back. Sigh.