Random itching all over my body

134 answers - active on Aug 28th 2021
Hi all I'm 22 and female, and for quite a long time I have been suffering from itching all over my body, mainly during the night. It will occur almost every single night and it is so irritating that I can never sleep! The only allergy I know of is of a certain body wash that I once used...but that was a few years ago and quickly stopped using it. I have had the itching for as many years as I can remember, but it has always been extremely rare and only seems to occur at night, just when I'm trying to sleep. (Typical.) However, last year when I moved house, I suffered from it slightly more often (roughly every few weeks?). And in March this year, my boyfriend and I moved into a flat together, and since then, I have had it very nearly every single night. I have tried sleeping tablets (just the over-the-counter type) but with no luck. Doesn't matter how tired I am. I have used the same body wash and shampoo for years and like i said, it used to pretty much never occur, so I ruled out allergies to that. The same applies to washing powder for my clothes etc, and my diet has always been the same. It only seems to occur at night, and it's mainly on my legs, but it does occur all over (from head to toe!). I haven't ever had any kind of rashes or visible problems. I sometimes apply moisturiser, which can help a little but not always. I try to avoid scratching at all costs! Erm what else...my boyfriend has never seemed to suffer from it (we share a bed). One thing I've heard that can cause itching is mould, and there is a little of it in my bedroom. However, when we moved in, we slept in a different room, and also, why would I have itched last year when I lived in a different house?? ARGH every night is almost guarunteed to result in no sleep at all...it's getting me down so much and I feel so exhausted. Funnily enough though....I usually find I can sleep during the daytime! I try to avoid it so I won't mess up my sleeping pattern, but it's the only time the itching isn't too bad.
Dhruv Gupta, MD answered this in What Causes Random Itching? - READ MORE
Anxiety could definitely be the cause of your itching. See if your doctor will prescribe something (Xanax, vistaril). You may also want to start with counseling to go with the medication for more effective treatment. They can also teach you many alternative ways to deal with it & talking about it may help you be rid of the basis for the anxiety, thereby the anxiety would hopefully STOP!!! Good luck & hopefully this helps :)
i have the same problem for about 2/3 years, i have tried alot of creams but it wont help me!
I have had the same thing for about a year now!! I have tried everything i have went to the doc and he said it will go away just as fast as it came!! My dad had the same thing and his did just go away one day!! But i have tried everything and didnt work!! I now have tried benadry!! I take two right before i go to bed and it works i dont itch and i get to sleep!! But if i dont take it i am up all night long!! It is so funny as long as i am setting up and not laying down i dont itch this is crazy!! I have looked for everything from bed bugs to lice to everything you can think of and nothing!!  
Just a thought, if the itching stops in the daytime it could be a sign of Psoriasis. UVA and UVB rays have been known to help stop the itching in some kinds. Psoriasis does not always show up in the obvious ways. It is also known to come on randomly in life, is Genetic, and is not caught often in early stages because doctors do not know what to look for until you've scratched yourself into scabs or, if it happens to be a form that obviously thickens the skin in places and causes scaling. If you have kept yourself from scratching, you may have just staved off a proper diagnosis but the itching will continue. have a skin sample taken
I have also had this itching like crazy only at night for months....nothing changed in diet, medications, detergents, soap, lotions etc. Tried using a detergent for sensitive skin - washed everything in it, have been to Dr., tried different lotions, pills....,nothing is working. Just was in Vegas for a week and was fine the entire week...once back home, the second night it starts again!!!! Am going to now try the suggestion of a gluten free diet....can't hurt.....if anyone finds anything else that works.....please help!
Hi.  I started the topic and I can't get into the account.  These are all good things to consider.  I suspect the pain pills are causing itching.  I was on hydrocodone, I had a total thyroidectomy about 3 weeks ago.  Before the surgery I went for about 3 weeks with maybe 1 pain pill a day and the symptoms lessened a little.  I told the doctor and he said it's a buildup of histamine, I didn't understand why it's only in the evening if that's the case.  I am on endocet now for a change and it has helped some.  Also, I bought coconut oil and melt it a little and slather it all over and that has helped the most.  I haven't eaten right in a year also, so I am trying to eat fruits and veges now.  I am having fibromyalgia symptoms of horrific pains in different areas each day, unless it's from the thyroid surgery.  Thanks for responding, I haven't felt like being on the computer since surgery.  
I have noticed since I an kind of on a gluten free diet now too, that my symptoms are slightly better. Try the coconut oil on your skin. I bought a big jar a Costco after I tried some at a health food store. Thanks.
This is interesting. I don't notice this as much when I am up either as when I am sitting down. I hate taking benedryl because it dries me out Everywhere and I have an eye problem and it makes it dry out more.
Hi, unfortunately I am on Xanax, I haven't told the counselor about the itching tho. Thank you.
Hi, I hadn't changed any medicines in quite awhile, maybe a couple years. I use a allergy nasal mist. I am not sure if this has anything to do with this thyroid problem I have had or not.
I have been getting simular symptoms for the last 5 years. I have tried alsorts from the doctors and some made it worse. The only thing what gave me a bit extra sleep was baby talc on the area's I normally itched. After trying different things myself I have found I am allergic to potato's. If I stay of them, potato crisps as well it clears up in 4 weeks and I stay rash and itch free till I eat potato's again. The itching stops in about a week being potato free the rash a little longer. I now have rice in place of potato's and chips. Snacks made from wheat instead of potato crisps and use OXO cubes instead of gravy powder has that has potato starch in it. some meat pies are potato starch free. My skin also feels a lot smother and softer.
I have this! It drives me absolutely crazy! It is so frustrating. I've been to several doctors and had lots of blood tests (they took 16 viles!!!) and nothing explained the itching. I do have an iron deficiency. I find it helpful to shower my body right before bed, and restrictive clothing definitely makes it worse. I've tried taking an antihistamine like benadryl and I can't really tell if it helps.  
I have the same itching problem as most here. It started during the spring, summer, and fall months. During the day I am fine, but at night after midnight it start inching like crazy. I'm a late sleeper as always in my life. It started at my thighs then to my back and then to everywhere.  I am still inching as I am tying this right now at 6:17am. I am living a miserable life as I cannot sleep at all during the night. I try most suggestion I found here on the internet. I was also thinking of suicide every night, thinking what is the easiest way to kill myself. I cannot bare this torture any longer. I don't have health insurance and I am unemployed. My life suck.  
I have had the same problem for quite a few years, and Claritin helps me.  I have noticed a food allergy connection.  Believe it or not, tomatoes and cabbage are my culprits.  If I eat something with cooked tomatoes in it (pizza, spaghetti), the reaction is much milder than if I eat fresh tomatoes.  I only made the cabbage connection recently, after speaking to my mom about it, and she has the same problem.  If I eat cabbage or tomatoes, I have to be certain to take an antihistamine.   HTH
you should see your doctor.. it can be a lot of different things but it can be to do with liver function as well as being anaemic or allergy's. Ive had the same problem and I'm off to see my doctor its driving me crazy :( it wakes me up at night and I have no rash, and during the day as soon as the afternoon comes I'm fast asleep every five minutes.. i just cant keep awake :( good luck hope you get your answer to whats wrong :)
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