I like a few others on this forum, have been scratching, and itching. I had my 6 month follow up today, with my PCP, and told him about it. I showed him the pink spot under my arm, in my pit, and so forth. I told him I have been an itchy girl with dry skin, but this is silly. now behind my ears is itchy, and the skin can crack open. He said "its yeast" very common in the increase of heat, and where skin may have a chance to stay moist. I do normally have dry skin itch, but this goes way beyond that. He gave me an anti yeast cream, and said it would be dramatically better in 3 to 5 days.

Has anyone else been told its yeast? I am looking forward to not diggin in my pit in the middle of the night. He said it was nothing I did wrong, or anything my diet kicked off. its just one of those things, and he is seeing a large increase in the amount of yeast patients this year. must be a seasonal or regional thing.

he said some of the over the counter yeast products may help, like lotromin, or things like that, if someone cant afford the MD visit.

Whew. I feel relieved that this can be over with.

I have found that Lamisil is the best...fastest working too.

One thing that may upset your skin is residue from detergents when you wash your clothes. Once the skin gets irritated, then the fungus moves into the tiny cracks and sets up shop. The skin always has fungus on it. Always. But most of the time it does not set up shop.

We double rinse all our clothes. And do not use fabric softeners either. Try this experiment... do a second rinse on a load and watch how much soap comes out into the tub! You will be amazed. In fact we cut back on the Tide also to avoid this.

Also make sure the soap you use to bathe with is mild. I use Dove unscented and it does not leave a soap residue behind and keeps the skin from being defatted. Strong detergent type soaps can remove the protective layers on the skin, and leave little spots for fungus to enter.

The double rinse thing really cuts down on skin problems and works very well for us.

I have itchy skin, too. The worst place right now is on my left hand on top of my thumb.

I seem to itch all over at night when I'm trying to fall asleep. It goes from my hand to my arm to my leg....then my back then my neck then starts all over again on my hand.

I think I finally fall asleep from exhaustion!

I've tried everything. Unscented lotions, cheap lotions, expensive lotions. I have a pharmacy of lotions in my bathroom closet! Nothing seems to help.

My Dad used to complain of the exact same kind of itching. We used to buy Eucerin lotion by the gallon because he claimed that was the only thing that helped. I admit....I got aggravated at times when he'd constantly complain about the itch. Karma is at work here.......I'm getting my payback twofold!!

great tips! thanks.

I do have a big boy washer in the house with a skin care rinse. I cut back to half detergent long ago. We use one of those softener balls in the dryer. works like a charm.

I only use bar soap, the liquid stuff has sodium lauryl sulfates in it. They use that stuff to degrease garage floors. Makes great lather, but strips the protective layers off your hair and skin. I use sulfate free shampoo as well.

I am a lotion junky. I need to drink more water, I know that, but my skin has been dry dry dry for years. I think that helped trap some of that stuff, and it got stuck.

Nice to know I am not alone in my scratchy universe.

Sometimes we seek clean by scrubbing our skin and drying it with towels, cleaning our clothes to the nth degree, fabric softener, dryer sheets, etc. But I find less is best, dry tiny cracks are tough, but the big stuff is manageable. I try to never to disturb (pick pimples, bug bites, scabs, etc) the integrity of my skin. It's there for a reason. Detergent makers want to sell more detergent. We can use less than they say. Fine dry cracks are harder though.

There are detergents out there where you do not have to use nearly as much. Cheer is one. I get the sensitive kind.

The skin is the largest organ in the body. We need to take good care of it.

Another factor:

Our skin is renewed using fatty acids from our diet. Primarily the Omega-3 fatty acid alpha linolenic acid from Flax oil, and some other sources, like canola oil, walnuts. You have to actively seek out ALA sources. Some "smart" foods now have flax in them.
Some breads ( I am using a flat bread now with flax)
some cereals (will list on the labels or front of box)
Smart Balance products like peanut butter, and mayo have Omega-3 s in them.

If we do not consume enough Omega-3 (and not fish oil which is an end stage product of ALA intake), we cannot renew our skin.

Adequate intake of ALA is important for maintaining our mucus membranes, and skin. Including the lining of the stomach which is dependent on this nutrient.
Testing over the years for ADHD and other neuro problems has shown that in USA we consume far more omega-6's than 3's. Up to 1:25 omega-3 to 6. Optimum levels should be 1:1 up to 1:5.
I have an EFA thread here on this subject:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=6092

If you have deep calluses on your feet, they will change with this dietary change. That is only one example.
My son's acne cleared up with only 1 flax oil a day. I also removed transfats, back then, and now that is being done for us by the government restrictions on it. Today we have infant formula with DHA added, and even pet foods that use this technology. (this was not true 10 yrs ago) So if you'd do it for your dog or cat, you need to do it for yourself too!

Does ALA stand for Alpha Lipoic Acid or Alpha Linolenic Acid? Is there a difference in the two? Should I be taking both? Thanks!

My dad has always been itchy. He has those bamboo back scratchers EVERYWHERE around their house. The solution for him has been Purpose bar soap. It's OTC, but I'm not sure if its in the medication or soap section of the store. His back is the worst so he uses a back sponge on a long handle, lathers it up real thick, applies it all over his back and lets it sit and soak on his back as soon as he gets in the shower. Then he rinses his back as the last thing before turning off the water.

I just started getting the itchies after a shower. When we visited them last month, they had a white bar soap in the guest shower that I used and didn't get the itchies. My mom can't remember what it was, though. She's a retired dermitology RN and brought home samplers the drug reps left. She told me what she thought it was but after I bought it and started using it, I can tell its not what they had. Oh well....

Just thought a recommendation for Purpose soap might help someone.