I have been investigateing this as I have had this problem off and on for the past 16 years and it did seem to start at the beginning of menopause and I was also out in the sun a lot playing tennis which can irritate it. I read some postings on the itching arms web site and found a ton of people with the exact same problem and they gave a lot of things to try, some of the same sugestions were mentioned by a lot of people. I don't know if you are writing me from the itching arms site, if not please put in "itching Arms" in your browser and you will find all of these people's postings to read. I will let you know if I find something that really works. Right now only ice helps me. But certain antihistimens did work for a time and then stopped working. I have taken sudafed,

I am thrilled to find this forum. I have had the "itching thing" for about a year. I've described it as elctricity under my skin or sometimes like bugs biting me (no rash, hives, etc.). It rotates around my body, but has definitely increased in how often it occurs. I am 51. I FINALLY realized that the first time it happened was last year when I skipped my period for the first time. Now a year later, I skipped two more in a row before starting again.

My doctor has been trying to help me figure out a cause. I have a perscription for Hydroxyzine HCL that I take whenever I feel it coming on. It definitely helps. Like another woman suggested (can't remember who posted it), I have thought it might be herpes related. I have the fever blister kind. I also have hypothyroidism. Maybe someone will eventually be able to connect the dots.

Thank for sharing your stories and good luck.

Have had an horrendous itch for about 14 months and have trawled websites looking for possible cause/s. Thought about menopause as a cause just today and then found this sight. The only help I;ve found is calamine lotion - it really really eases the itch. The only draw back is you have to keep the area moisturised other times. Hope this helps.

I have itched on arms & legs for 8 yrs-even pre-menopause-I'm 51 now.I use menthol cream from the pharmacy and sometimes pure peppermint oil on really itchy spots.It really cools the area and stops the itch for the moment.Try this it may work for you.

have you ladies had blood tests? I ask because one of the systoms my sister had when she found out she had sugar was itching..

Thanks meblonde.Did your sister have diabetes type 1 or 2?

I started having itching whenever I went near water especially in the shower. This had been going on for three years and having having three doctors either laugh or tell me it was in my head I went to an anti-aging doctor. He immediately did a blood test to see how far into menopause I was and prescribed hormone cream specifically for each hormone I was lacking in. You take 1 mg a day and rub it into different parts of your body. My itching went away almost immediately in and out of the shower. This morning I took a really quick shower and there was no itching at all. It's wonderful.

thanks sessbreuger.I tried the hormones-cost $900 and made no difference after 1 month so I discontinued-could be related to Diabetes though-I'm going to have full blood sugar testing,it's in my family.

geez i am so glad i not imagaining the itching my arms legs and body itch so much and i have scratched them to the extent where i have drawn blood as any one got any help for me please

Oh my gosh! I am 49 and for the past few months my legs and arms have been so itchy! It doesn't look like dry skin however. It is actually bothersome!

RELIEF IS ON THE WAY LADIES!
TAKE A SHOWER USING A LOAFA SPONGE AND WASH FROM HEAD TO TOE WITH A MOISTURING BODY WASH SCRUBBING OFF ALL DEAD DRY SKIN CELLS, THEN USE YOUR FAVORITE BODY LOTION ALL OVER WHEN YOU DRY OFF--THEN DRINK A CUP OF TEA WITH 1 DETOX TEABAG(ANY BRAND, ANY FLAVOR--I USE PEACH DETOX) AND 1 PAU D'ARCO TEA BAG( BOTH FOUND @ YOUR LOCAL NATURAL STORE AND COST ABOUT $5 A BOX), MIX IN A GENEROUS AMOUNT OF HONEY(KILLS BACTERIA) AND SOME LEMON JUICE(CLEANS BLOOD), AND DRINK 1 GLASS OF SOYMILK(SILK HAS CHOCOLATE, MOCHA AND COFFEE FLAVORS), ONCE A DAY TO REPLENISH ESTROGEN NATURALLY, ICHING WILL STOP IN 2 DAYS!

YOU CAN THANK ME LATER!

O my gosh!! I scratch myself so badly in the middle of the night , I have bruises on my leg!! It actually feels like it is coming from the inside. Showers make it worse. On Saturday, if I can get away with it, I actually try to not take a shower!!!!!

I am 37 and just had multiple fibroids removed - my naturopath put me on a Chinese herbs formula Dong Quai and Bupleurum (as well as high doses of powdered A/C) to clear the excess estrogen I supposedly have.

The interesting thing is - over 2 months of using it I developed extremely itchy, painful and flaking eyelids, so I just found your posts!... all I remember is that I didn't have this pre-surgery, ever - and hence pre the formulas. So I stopped them and my eyelids have almost gone back to normal after a week.

It's strange and my conclusion is that something, most likely the dong quai formula, was causing this. It's definitely something to do with estrogen levels in my opinion which of course would make sense for you ladies experiencing menopause.

Perhaps see a really good naturopath and work out your estrogen levels with your GP if possible so you can combat it with the right foods and herbs perhaps. I don't think that the dermatologists are going to sort this one out!!!

I beg you to research xenoestrogens and stay clear of bottled water and non-organic meats and fruits etc - these things are messing with your system, try to detox them out. Also look into Maya Abdominal Massage on google - Roseta in Berlize. Something we never hear of in the west and it makes so much sense to me.

Hope my small experience may help.
All the best to you all!

After having suffered Aquagenic Pruritus general itching for 6 yrs I have found some relief by increasing protein and oils in my diet,I also don't eat wheat(it really increases the itch) and dairy.I like a glass of wine but the sulphite preservative can also set off the itch later at night.I try to eat a very natural diet-plenty of organic meat/chicken/fish,nuts&seeds,veges and fruit,dried fruits(not preserved with sulphites) and I eat lots of things made from rice and spelt bread.If I follow this I am much better.I also have recently discovered that 1500mg daily each of Quercetin and high strength(2400gdu) Bromelain has stopped the itching (and after bathing),it is working like Zyrtec as an antihistamine but without the side effects.I am delighted with this and found it on my own without help from any doctor or naturopath(I've spent thousands going from one to the other).I do think that we can become intolerant of foods that we've always eaten and they behave like allergens.I am 51yrs old and this started at age 45yrs.If I do eat something wrong and start itching I use a thick cream or menthol or capsaicin cream on the area to stop the itch-it works well.I don't use soap or shower gels on my skin and have very quick showers at night ( the itch is more intense in the morning-don't know why-could be something to do with liver function).It has been a real journey to try and sort this and I don't give up easily so I hope what I have found out can help some of you.Good Luck!!

Hello,
I have been trawling the web as well and am wondering what's going on. I am not menopausal but my huge 4-5" long terribly painful itchy welt appeared on my inside/back of thigh out of the blue. Today while in a workshop for work I actually had to excuse myself because the itching and burning was so bad. Coincidentally, I began my period same day as the welt appeared. Hormonal? Never have had any allergies or PMS symptoms of any kind or anything..

Just have a normal shower and then at the end turn all the hot water off so that the water is cold and stand there for 20 seconds. Hope this treatment helps you.




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dear whynotme i was wondering if you got my message that i sent you if so can you e-mail me back thank you itchingbad.

dear whynotme i was wondering if you got my message that i sent you if so can you e-mail me back thank you itchingbad.

I am so glad I finally did a search. I am 53 yrs old and have gone for 1 1/2 yrs w/o, so I am "officially" in menopause. This has been what I think the worst 6 months of my life. I am so itchy, it drives me crazy. I keep looking to see if I can find bugs, parasites etc on me but don't . It's like others have said under my skin, and sometimes I scratch so much that I also draw blood and end up with open wounds that take forever to heal. This has been going on since the spring (around April) My dr. told me to take an antihistimine, but these do not help whatsoever. There are nights where I am literally up most of the night scratching. I have had other itchy episodes in other years, but never one that has lasted for this long. I also deveolped a skin condition called Lichen Planus and have broken out with a rash. This started last November and got worst until I finally was sent to a Dermitoligist. Most days I feel like I was hit my a truck and feel like c___! I have been thinking that it is menopausal related, and now that I have read other's experience, I am convinced it is and am also relieved. I thought I was loosing my mind. Thanks everyone!!!

I am 55 and just stopped having periods 8 months ago. I have terrible itching and hive like bumps on my arm/shoulder area, middle of back and behind my head (lower scalp area). These are the same areas where I sweat the most during a hot flash. I took my son's advice and put a bunch of ice in a baggy. I wrap it in a light weight towel and put it on the rash. I take this to bed with me! This is the ONLY remedy that seems to relieve the symptoms. My freind who is 51 has the same itching, especially at night. According to ayurveda, heat accumlates in the body during summer then comes out in fall. This heat is related to skin disturbances and it is best to eat "cooling" foods. That does not mean eat COLD foods, but foods with cooling properties like rose jam, coriander spice etc. If fall is the most intense itching, it could be related to this heat accumulation (pitta imbalance per ayurveda).
Smelling rose can also reduce the heat. but try the ice packs, they are great!!!!