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Skin condition

M

Misty1

Active Member
Messages
29
Hi
My son, aged 20 has very itchy skin all over his body and the doctor has attributed this to his T1 and said that it'll come and go throughout his life. He has been prescribed antibiotics, a cream for scabies and a standard moisturiser. Has anyone else had experience of this? Any suggestions to alleviate the itchiness would be appreciated as it's stopping him sleeping and increasing the stress of Uni exams. Thank you
 
Hello Misty, I personally haven't come across this, however when my daughter was young she got eczema on the insides of her arms which got very itchy and inflamed, it was helped by using either an aloe vera gel or E45.
 
I have T2, but have all my life had problems with itchy skin. It helps relieve it if I keep skin moisturised. Emollient cream as a soap substitute, I use Diprobase, then when skin is still wet after showering, apply Doublebase gel, and pat skin dry, gently. If skin is hot as well as being itchy, I use Menthol 2% in Aqueous cream. For really bad flare up I use Betnivate, which is a cortisone cream. This needs to be used sparingly and infrequently. There are also antihistamines, which I need to take daily. I would emphasise that all of these remedies were recommended by a Dermatologist, and available on prescription. Perhaps your son would benefit from a dermatology referral, @Misty1 so he can get to know the cause, as there are many reasons he could have those symptoms, and we cannot make any assumptions as to why he is suffering. It must be misery for him, especially as he is at an important stage of studies. I hope you find a solution soon.
 
Thanks Pipp. He's away at Uni so I'm going to pack up a parcel of potential remedies to pop in the post and encourage a dermatology appointment.
 
Get his vitamin B levels checked as that can be a symptom of B12 deficiency
 
Does he suffer with this when home.......the reason being that a change in water, washing powder, fabric softener, soap, shampoo and other such like things can trigger or exacerbate the problem......... also something as simple as a change in the material his clothes are made of can do it, and the laundry facilities at uni may need looking too an extra rinse cycle may be required.
My son has found if he wears 100% cotton or silk his skin is much less prone to outbreaks.
 
Misty1 said:
Thanks Pipp. He's away at Uni so I'm going to pack up a parcel of potential remedies to pop in the post and encourage a dermatology appointment.
Click to expand...

Something else I just remembered, if he is really unwell, he could perhaps defer the exams. He would need a note from GP. The university should have a policy for this, and as long as the doctor agrees and provides the evidence, the university should be able to make arrangements for him to sit exams when he is better.
 
After a chance remark by my daughter I thought I should pop in a caveat........... BED BUGS..........sorry to gross you out.
No matter how prestigious the Uni there could be the possibility that these little monsters are living in his mattress and causing him grief..........apart from changing the mattress and getting the room fumigated a good quality mattress protector, preferably waterproof, should help.
 
I was going to suggest the same and change of diet when living away from home. Student diet. Mine was mainly alcohol and chips. Altho before diagnosis.
It could be an irritant. Of any sort. Stress can give some a rash.

Can you pop to see him in his current student environment to check? I know too old for mammy but worth a visit to put your mind at rest?
 
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