Itchy and red legs at nighttime- advice please

anxioussarah

Has anyone experienced this ?

Every night both my legs go red and very itchy from knees to feet

I do take anti histamine tablets and nurse prescribed dermacool cream which helps a bit but I've been at doctors a few times

Some nights I can't get to sleep for hours because of it , scratch my legs so much sometimes they bleed , it is so frustrating

Last night was the worst didn't get to sleep till after 4am , wife put cream on about 4 or 5 times

Any help appreciated thanks

MaryL44

Hi @anxioussarah . Sorry to hear about your difficulties. I have trouble sleeping, not due to itching but I can empathise.

I'm sure there will be members of our community that can advise to you. In the meantime, there is an article on our website that looks at sleeping difficulties. Hopefully it will help:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/sleep/

Best wishes

Mary

Trish9556

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/63716/itchy-and-red-legs-at-nighttime-advice-please

Hi

Have you eliminated the obvious things like fabric softener, detergent etc? Perfumes in shower gels etc? The things your wife uses that you don't, body creams etc may also affect you? Try to think of anything that you have used that's different or even the fabric content if you've bought anything recently or even medication, check your patient leaflets. I have had allergic reactions to drugs I've been on for years and I guess it's my body's way of saying it's time to change.

May be something as easy as keeping a daily diary of everything you use eat or drink for a few weeks and cross checking it with your symptoms.

Trish

crinkly

I would suggest a check-up with GP, Practice Nurse or Pharmacist since these symptoms are also common to cellulitis. If treated with antibiotics at an early stage it is quickly resolved.

frogmorton

I have no advice really @anxioussarah , but wanted to offer my sympathy - itching is dreadful

and b) suggest you keep on at the Drs you may need to see a dermatologist.

Skin on our shins breaks really easily and before you know it you could have an infection (including cellulitis as @crinkly said) even an ulcer could develop.

((()))

Toni x

Catfriend

I have a similar problem - I'm 81 and for years have had somewhat itchy red lower legs, combined with swollen calves and ankles, especially in warmer weather. Sometimes it looks as though I'm wearing bright red socks! All the GP could suggest was to keep the skin as moisturised as possible, so I slather on Nivea cream in the morning and sometimes at night. I also sometimes use a cooling gel cream based on horse chestnut, which I found on Amazon. This does have a temporary cooling and soothing effect, but I think there are probably cheaper cooling creams and gels around.