What can I do about the itching?

Question

A week ago, I experienced an allerigc reaction to acne medication I had been taking for about a month. (Don't ask why my body was so late to react.) After having severe blotching, swelling, throwing up, and other symptoms, my body seems to have calmed down. I have gotten back to normal life. However, the reaction still occurs (and will continue for another week or two, according to my doctor) in the form of an itch. All over my body, I constantly itch. It's so much, I've never felt like this in life before. After itching, the skin becomes VERY red and enflamed, as well as having raised skin where my fingers scratched. I'm currently taking Tylenol, Bennydryl (sp?), and steroid pills that are intended to end the reaction and assist with the itching. Is there anything else I can do? It's SO distracting and is keeping me up at all hours of the night.

Thanks, you guys, so much. I'm gonna try to take more cold showers, and I did go out and get some cortizone cream today that I forgot to mention. I find that the absolute best way to stop the itching is to sleep, but given the fact that I have so much homework and such I need to be doing, it's not a real possibility. I missed 4 days of school last week because I was so swollen I couldn't move. Wow I have lost my trust in modern pills. Thanks again.

Answer 1

You can take a luke warm Aveeno oatmeal bath or a baking soda bath. Cortizone cream might help, but don't put it on your face. Cool compresses help too. So sorry!

Answer 2

Try not to scratch it is the most important thing!
I used to have really bad eczema but it dissapeared when I was about 13, thank god, because it was unbearable sometimes!

You say your taking steroid pills, you should see if your doctor can prescribe you a cream with steriods AND antiboitics in it, I have one called Lociod Lipocream which is pretty good.
You could also try taking a cold bath or shower, and you can sometimes get anti-itchy things to put in your bath (I think people use them if they have chicken pox or whatever).
Also, when my itchyness used to be so bad, the best thing to do is to try and take your mind off of it, which seems hard, but once you forget that your itchy, you stop itching.

Answer 3

Almost the exact same problem for me. I have been to COUNTLESS doctors of all kinds, from general practitioners to dermatologists. They have done skin tests and patch tests and have prescribed me so many pills and creams that I cannot recall the names. MY skin problems began to clear up when I realized who I was and accepted it and stopped being completely stressed all of the time about life. I hope this is of use to you.

Answer 4

I really pity you my friend! For my tradition : we don't bath with soap in your condition, we just use our palm to sooth our skin with warm water and end with a quick cold water shower, then apply baby oil/cream on our body, have a cup of hot ginger tea (with sugar or milk) sit down and relax. Good luck !