this has been happening to me for 10 years. Started as an intense itch on my right upper arm and over time has moved to left arm, right shoulder, left shoulder and now it is my neck! I've done all the routine allergy stuff like changing detergents and stuff but this is not an allergy, it's too untreatable! Was wondering if any of you had been taking wellbutrin for any period of time OR perhaps using the self-tanning lotion...hard to imagine it's the self-tanner because I use it all over but the only places that itch are above my elbows! Only other thing that I can think of that changed for me about 10 years ago was I started using Alieve, daily, for back problems. Has the Lyrica worked??

Oh my god, this is the same thing I have...only it's in private places :\ I take benadryl religiously.

I have had similar symptoms of itching, stinging, and burning in my right arm. It is located on the dorsal surface of my elbow approximately 4-5 inches in diameter. It becomes a vicious cycle of itch, scratch, burning, scratch, seraing burn, etc. These symptoms have been flucuating on and off (mainly on) fo rthe last three months I have tried many remedies such as Hydrogen Peroxide, Alcohol, Hydrocortisone, and Witch Hazel. Witch Hazel and Ice hae helped the symptoms temporarily.

I am a low key kind of person and do not feel that it is stress related at all and I do not get stressed out easy.

I went to a Dermatologist twice and his diagnosis was Brachioradial Pruritus which is a neurogenic itching of the arm. It is characterized by the typical scenario as I have stated above. It is usually caused by one or both of the following: over exposure from the sun (causing damage to the cutaneous nerves) and/or damages to the nerves at the cervical spine. He felt that my symptoms were caused more from my cervical spine since I don't have over exposure from the sun. He gave me Pramosone 2.5% initially which has helped to keep the symptoms in check to some degree. Upon returning for a follow up, he recommended Zostrix and Prax Lotion since the Pramosone only helped temporarily.

Just wanted to share these things with this forum. Thanks.

I too have this itch. I can agree with most of what every one is saying. I'm 41 yr female. Stressful lifestyle. No apparent one source of stress, just in general.
Fit
lift weights
itching in the same places on the arms. (seems to move from one to the other)
have has previous neck and shoulder pain that has seemed to go away.
ice is the only thing that helps
have been treated for allergies (did help at all)
I even take wellbutran (I first thought this was the cause) but stopping it did not help.
I have noticed since since the posting of the Cervical nerve information was posted the postings on here have stopped.

Does that mean everyone got the solution they were looking for?

Just a thought but has anyone tried pure tea tree oil. Its a damn good cure all for lots of skin conditions and can be bought in lots of forms: washes, soaps, balms, oil, lotions etc. I find the Australian brands are best and have cured all kinds of things for my family because its so versatile. Its also has quite a strong herbal scent so might help with the sleep. Try a tea tree bath then moisturise with either a lotion or the oil (in a carrier oil). Good luck.

Hi folks, I see there hasn't been a post in several months to this topic, so I hope some of you are still watching it.

Here's my story as briefly as I can tell it. When I was 21, I went on Ampicillin for 6 months for light acne, and after that all hell broke lose. I started having all kinds of health problems, amongst which itching was one of the most pronounced.

It starts on my upper arms, in my ears, and then to pubic area, scalp, and then everywhere. It's worse at night, and there are never any lesions or discolorations that come along with it.

18 years later, I've done so much health research and experimentation that I should be a doctor myself, and my overall health is much better now, but I still have itching fits now and then, and here's what I think is going on-

I think the fundamental problem relates to my liver. The liver, as you might know, is the main blood filter in our bodies. In modern times, there's a lot more junk to filter out since we are exposed to food additives, environmental toxins, RX drugs, and whatever else. Thus, some of us have livers that can't keep up with the job, and itching is one of the ways that our liver tells us that's it's overloaded. It ebbs and flows for a couple reasons- for one, your blood flows less at night, giving the dirty blood time to hang out in the liver and possibly overload it more. For another, some days you might consume more junk that your liver cannot handle.

For me, sweet stuff is a primary culprit, but it's not just sugars of various kinds that cause it. Diet drinks can also cause it. When i realized that, I knew that it had more to do with filtering capacity than anything like carb/fat/protein intake balance.

I have found two primary ways to help my problem- salt baths for immediate relief and a liver tonic called Livatone which I take twice a day. If I've been off of it for a while, it can take 3-4 days to start working. If I have an itching attack while I'm on it, I just take more and it seems to help within a few hours.

I also got noticeably better when I did one of those apple juice/olive oil liver cleanses.

I still feel like there's more work to do to strengthen and cleanse my liver, but I'm pretty sure I'm on the right track.

Any suggestions about other liver strengthening tactics would be greatly appreciated. This issue is definitely not something that lies with the purview of western medicine. With possibly the exception of Chinese Medicine, we are all on our own.

I'd love to hear some feedback on all this.

Thanks, Jennifer

I am soooo happy to hear that there are other people out there that are experiencing this. I have been scratching on and off for 2 years now. Last year it did happen during a stressful time and it was both arms. It was soooo bad the only thing that helped was an ice pack. Now it started again during the summer fall season and it's only my right arm. It runs from my wrist to my upper arm. I went to the neurologist, derm, and reg, doctor. I had been on zyrtec for a year thought it helped but think it was just that time of the year. It does not help now. I had an MRI for my neck to see if there was nerve damage causing the itch. It of course showed nothing. I am not giving up. I am going to another doctor to see if he can help with blood tests and stuff. I also have lidocaine patches they help but hello now I can't feel my arm. I do not want to be on these for ever. Anyone come up with the cause yet????? Thanks for listening and I FEEL YOUR PAIN.....I CAN NOT TOLERATE IT ANYMORE....PS I was also perscribed Lyrica...I am going to start taking it however I heard it increases weight and it's a dependency drug. I really want to know the problem and what is causing it!!!

I have had the itchy arms for about 4 months now. I also have been to dermatologist, my GP and others. I still have no relief from the medical world. I will pursue the idea on liver filtering as it does only occur at night.
I want to fix the problem not just pacify it.

The only product at this time I found is GOLD BOND body lotion which is a triple relief action for itching. I put it on my shoulders and upper arms just before I get into bed. It has been the only relief I have found so far. A doctor had recommended curel but does not work as well.

I can't believe I found this site. I've been going out of my mind trying to figure this out...same symptoms as everyone here. I've been up at night washing my arms with Eucerin calming body wash, lidocaine lotion which my dermatologist prescribed. The lidocaine is great because it numbs them so I can sleep.
I just had an mri, which came back ok, according to the neurologist and what he was looking for, but there are some minor things going on with my cervical spine, so I think my next step is a chiropractor.
I've been on Doxipen which helps alot but I've gained weight on it. I'm glad I found you all.

have been told lots of things its 'Not'
have been suffering with this for 4-5 years now
have tried lots of things, in desparation have even used compressed air I use doing computer repair work on spots to freeze them, slept (I use that term loosely, sleep deprivation coupled with this is enough to drive anyone nuts but who can sleep with this?) for months sleeping lying on my back, wrapping my arms in ice packed towels even with garbage liners (can't totally close it in as it 'hates' that but underneath to lessen wetness as ice melts and seeps through towels) so much fun waking up soggy and going to get more ice but it is unbearable. It definitely likes to be dry and clean typically when I'm not freezing it that is and doesn't like too much heat/sweat. Sunlight withouth sweating seems to help heal the irritations. Although they say it is neither shingles or herpes or scabies or sprew or fungal or parasitic or lots of other things its not LOL There is a cream by a natural group called Twin Star called Herpes/Shingles Solution that I have been getting relief with of late. I've tried everything they've ever given me and used things like cooling athlete's foot sprays, liquid magnesium topically and internally (quite putrid) to calm 'jangled nerve endings' as this does seem to follow a nerve path to ends of branches, yeast infection creams as it is that kind of ungodly deep seated itch/burn/pain thing, muscle rubs, green alcohol, all kinds of anti-itch stuff, even vicks and God knows what else. It's been a long nghtmarish run sometimes and I've tried basically everything in the house. Definitely worse at night. Mine is mostly my upper right arm (outside). Doctors have prescribed all sorts of things but nothing has seemed to help to date. Like the guy florida I have some scarring from the irritated spots that come either from this or the scratching. For a while I also got some relief of a combination of zi nc oxide and eucerin itch relief cream. Just mix together and slather on... Oh yeah.. it definitely doesn't like nonbreathable materials. Light soft cotton works well for me especially when its on a rampage. Good Luck To All... there have been times I definitely thought I was 'losing it' with this and it is awful. Seems like there are enough of us out here (now I know that... didn't know there was anyone else out there like me until a year ago) Hope they find something. You can also try looking at something called 'brachio=radial pruritis' I do have compression in the cervical/thoraxic spine and that was something I came across a couple of years back. My symptoms do seem to lesson for a while after I get my spinal epidurals, and with steroidal anti=inflammatories which I take for other chronic issues. I've had those for a lot longer but perhaps it is 'jangled nerve endings' that is causing this. Definitely intense enough. Hope the TwinStar cream helps if you get to try it. Only about $7 or $8 a jar and at first I used to slather it on.. now just need to cover well especially before bed and seems to be working times 3-4 weeks now. I'm amazed, it's not gone but much more tolerable and 're-dousing' brings flare ups back down so? I'm so grateful. If you do try it or can share that idea with others it would be great to hear back from any of you. Haven't a clue which part of what is actually helping but am hoping it keeps up the good work Would love to know if this works for anyone else. I got it at our local health food market. It's an all natural product by the way and smells kindof calming. Beats smelling like athlete's foot sprays and diaper rash creams LOL God Bless and Good Luck this 'nothing' really is enough to make you grit your teeth and think you'll never get through it (again LOL) can't tell you how many times I thought it might go away when it gave up for a bit... not yet but I'm not giving in yet! Wishing all of you the best.

i have been having the same problem for about6 years off and on, been to doctores and dermatoligists have had allergy tests steroid creams lotions nothing helps i feel that im going mad all that helps is running cold water over my arm, it is always my left arm from wrist to shoulder, sometmes around my neck, sometime it will go away on its own, i think its stress related, have been on citalapram an antidepressant, but dont like to keep taking it, have just come off and having side effects, glad to read other people have got the same thing, it drives you insane, its like things crawling under your skin and you have to scratch.

I have the same thing, its been about 6 years now off and on. It is truly a life altering condition and with how advanced today's medicine is, I cannot believe that there is not a solution to this. Please to anyone who has found things to treat or cure this, or even what this terrible thing is called. Often times when a solution is found, people are no longer concerned and neglect the forum unintentionally. Remember to post back on here with any helpful things, for the sake of us all! Thanks.

I too have had itching on my arms for 5 years. The last year it has gotten worse and my MD ordered an x-ray of the cervical spine which showed degeneration in C4-5. Gabapentin was ordered for me in the AM and PM which relieved the itch. Lately, I increased my fitness routine and the itch became unbearable. My MD sent me for a MRI which showed a mild herniation on one side of C4-5. To calm the herniation, I was given a solu-medrol pack decreasing the dose over 6 days - during that pack the itching was gone! The day after finishing the pack the itching came back, not quite as severe. I was adjusted at a chiropractor and again the itching calmed down some more. After 6 sessions with an acupuncturist, the itching has disappeared except for late at night. I was told the itching comes back because gravity pulls the head down all day and it starts irritating a sensory nerve. My advice to everyone is find out if you have some type of cervical degeneration (itching is a mild form of cervical pain that not many MDs are familiar with) going on via an xray or MRI - find a good chiropractor and acupuncturist - they know how to deal with this itching situation, otherwise the only option is pain management and I really don't want someone sticking needles in my cervical spine.

Me too, me too! It's a crazy itch that also affects my mom and my best friend. I've been experiencing it for the past 5 years or so, and lately have not had it as often but still just as intense when it comes on ( once or twice a week). It was always on my left upper arm when I first started getting this insane "itch" but now moves, sometimes on my wrist or elbow or forearm of both arms. It's hard to describe it as an "itch" because it's so much worse that that. An itchy mesquito bite can be annoying but this is beyond the worst itch you can imagine! It is deeper than the skin and feels like little bugs are crawling and biting. Scratching it doesn't even touch it. I just want to get a knife and DIG the heck out of it. It makes ya feel like you're going crazy. It's definitly brought on by heat and stress and I mostly get it in the late summer & early fall. I've gotten it duing the day but mostly at night. And oh yes, the ice... bring it on! I too, have had to try to go to sleep with ice on my arms held on with a towel ( I don't like using ice packs 'cause the direct contact with the actual ice cube works better). Just tonight, a spot about the size of a dime flared up on the top part of my right wrist. Ice didn't help. I didn't scratch it but I slapped it a few times. Now the iching has subsided but the spot is oozing clear liquid out of my pores. It's been doing this for about an hour. This has been happening alot recently. In the morning it will be scabbed over and look like I have a little hickie on my wrist, even though it never bled. So freakin weird. I can't wait for someone to figure out what the heck this itchy beast is!

OMG I thought I was going crazy. the itching as described by you all is just like mine except upper right arm and one small spot lower rt. arm. Unbearable itching, stinging and burning not relieved with rubbing alcohol, poison ivy med, or benadryl cream. It will even wake me up. I do have a few spots (probably from scratching) started about 3 mo. ago after a sunburn. I am a retired nurse in MO. and have even thought of it being nerve damage from shingles but I never had chicken pox so can't be that. I have an appointment w/dermatologist soon but from your reports it will probably be a waste of time. PS I too am going thru a stressful situation but this started first. While keep checking hope someone finds out something.

If you are a nurse you are familiar with dermatome mapping. Map out on your arms where the itching is occurring. See if it follows a dermatome - C4-5 is across the shoulders down to the elbows. Have you had any trauma to your neck anytime? Itching is a mild form of cervical pain. The constant itching will cause bumps that look like bites or chicken pox - that itch. If you scratch - it will set up a never ending cycle of severe itching. Stress will initiate the itch too - because you are dealing with a cervical nerve - nerves react to stress. My mild itching responded to Gabapentin 100mg in am and PM. An MRI showed a small herniation on the right side. I had my neck adjusted and the itching dramatically decreased; am now on my 7th acupuncture treatment and it is almost gone. Have had to watch fitness routine with arms and neck - that definitely brings it on more severe. Hope this helps - nothing the dermatologist can do for you - unless you have a rash of some sort that can be detected.

I live in central New Jersey. I absolutely think its Brachioradial Pruritus, thats the only thing that makes sense. I personally believe its neck/spinal problem causing the itching not sun exposure. I know that i had a problem with my neck when i was younger and maybe that is what has started causing this now. I also have a slight case of scoliosis. Many people are debating the cause and reasons for this its been written about in journals but there is nothing concrete. A few of questions are criticisms for the Brachioradial Pruritus diagnosis because the itching is seasonal which doesn't make sense if its a nerve problem.

I agree with you Nagnal. A friend of mine asked her chiropractor (specializing in neurology) about this itch and he said it is definitely a cervical nerve problem. I too thought it was seasonal - but then it was never the same season. I believe chiropractic and acupuncture care put me on the road to relief. If the itching comes back, my next step is the chiropractor for cervical traction - someone else told me that got complete relief with the traction. Hope this information helps!!

sun sun sun, avoid it like the plague, but anyhow take heliocare, works from the inside out, google it check it out and take it all the time coz it wont do you any harm, but may get rid of the symptoms. Prevention is better than the cure

ME TOO !!!! I've suffered on and off for 3 years. Don't know what triggers it because I'm not that attentive. I've had a serious neck injury (about 3 years ago) falling from a horse. I'm under stress taking care of my 80 yr old handicapped (from a stroke) husband and our properties. I'm an outdoors person and in the sun lots. I also drink rather frequently. I'm leaning towards liver or neck.
We all have stress and all deal with it differently. If you're dealing with it through alcohol that might have a correlation. I've picked up a supplement from the Health Food store to improve liver function and hoping it may help. I'll let you know.