Entire Body Itching...?

Typically at night, both of my legs, buttocks, back, arms, and shoulders itch like crazy. I scratch them, and then they swell up, and look like welts, or a big patch of swolleness... My stomach and chest never itch. This all started about 2 months ago. I constantly wash my sheets, clothes, etc. I am only 21 years old, and others have suggessted liver disease and that scares me to death. Could it just be allergies? Hives? I find this strange, but I was in the bahamas this past week, and I did not get any itching anywhere... However, the minute I got off the plane back in New York, I started itching again. Antihistamines help me, but I think that there should be a better method to cure this. Please help b/c this itching is really driving me crazy, I lose sleep over it, I just want it to go away.

Drink plenty of water.

just scratch til it feels good!!!

Stress. Drink water and take vitamin e for dry skin.

you really need to see a Dr..

I would say its just dry skin.
Try using a lotion to moisturize the effected areas.

sounds like to me it is an allergy to something in your bed or home. It could be airborne in New York. I would see an allergist.
I would leave again go out of state and see if it goes away again

I bet it is an allergy to the detergent you are using. I bet you sleep on your back and side.

Jump in a hot spring, or go see a DR.

You need to vacuum (really, you can do it) your mattress and then put a dust mite protective cover over your mattress. The protective cover will be between your mattress and your sheets and keep the dust mites from bothering you -- I will bet that you are more allergic to them than other people. I think your stomach and chest never itch because you either sleep on your side or your back. Give it a try and if it doesn't work as your doctor for a referral to an allergist.

Its allergy's! You just have to grin and bear it. I use benedryl every day of my life and you probably will have to also. I had my eyes swell up and almost shut completely once but I take benedryl daily so it hasn't happened in awhile but if I don't take my medication daily-I'm a mess indeed! Its much better than liver disease or something like that. Someone always has it worse than we do.

I agree with the dust mites. Or possibly bed bugs. There was an article on a resurgance of bed bugs particularilly in highly populated cities like NYC.

Perhaps it is stress related and/or food(s) alergies. Keep a journal of the events of the day everyday especially on days that you itch. Include your thoughts in ths journal. You might notice a pattern that will lead you to a solution.

Do a retroactive journal going back 3-4 months ago and come forward through today. Is there a noticeable patern there?

Try to stop scratching.

I had the same thing and I am 20! It was hives. I took tylenol pm and got hives. It turned out to be the benadryl in it. Usually Benadryl treats hives but for me and a small % of people we get hives from it. Have you taken any new meds? Is there alot of dust in your home? See a doctor if you have not aready. But is does sound like hives.

Sounds like you may be allergic to something. Is there anything that you eat or drink at night regularly? Anything acidic like fruits, juices etc? Do you sleep in front of a fan (sometimes the dust that blows off of them will get on your skin and make it itch) These are dust mites. Do you shower at night? If you do, it may be the soap, not necessarily the bar, but the washing. It sometiems destroys your ph balance and makes your skin very irritated and itchy. why don't you try a hydrating bath gel like suave. they make this liquid gel (make sure it says hydrating) IF your skin is dry, it will replace the moisture and hopefully this will help. If you think it is the soap, try rinsing with water for a few days instead. IF you think it's fruits, juices, chocolates, nuts, try to lay off of them. Yes, it could be kidney problems (not filtering waste) or liver problems, but usually, its very simple. Try sleeping on soft sheets and turn the fan away from you and see if that helps, and try the sauve. If you still have itchy skin, you can try hydrocortisone over the counter. After you shower, look at your skin, especially, the back, with a mirror. If it is red, then probably its the altered ph of the skin. In that case, it just needs to heal and you might have to bath with plain water.

go see a doc sounds like body lice

Try a different laundry detergent- though since your stomach and chest don't bother you I don't think it's that. Have you tried shampooing your mattress, and then putting a hypo-allergenic cover of some sort on it? Or maybe there is indeed something in New York that you're allergic to.

Move to the Bahamas!

Start by trying to find the source of the reaction taking away a little of this and that try first by using a different detergent or something like that and if you cant find anything may be having a nervous action to something you are only aware of.