I am 35, with severe itching despite treatment. What to do?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 35 years old and weigh 172 pounds. I have been experiencing severe itchiness on my leg, from the knee to the toes, and on my arm, from the elbow to the fingers, for the past three months. I have used Piriton (Chlorpheniramine) and Ivermectin with no change.

What steps should I take to manage this?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I am very sorry about your medical condition, and I am glad that you are paying attention to changes in your body system. But do not worry, we are here to take care of you.

Regarding your concern, severe itching that has persisted for over three months despite using Chlorphenamine and Ivermectin needs thorough evaluation. Since the itching is localized to your limbs from the knee to toes and the elbow to fingers, here are some key possibilities and what you should do next. I believe the itching may be caused by either of the following:

Contact dermatitis: An allergic reaction to something you touch (such as soaps, fabrics, or creams). It is typically bilateral and symmetrical.
Chronic eczema or lichen simplex chronicus: Constant scratching leads to thick, itchy patches. Look for dry, scaly, or darkened skin.

I advise you to do a skin scraping test to rule out fungal infection and an ova and parasite test to rule out parasitic infestation. Meanwhile, please use one of the following to help relieve the itching:

Topical 0.2% Tacrolimus cream.
Topical ointment 0.05% Clobetasol once daily.
0.2% Hydrocortisone cream twice daily for one month.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.