Itchy Skin!

[KEN's ROSE 0]

This is literal. My Rose has been here in Chicago for two weeks, and since the first night she has been a scratching. I can rule out fleas, bed bugs, lice, dust mites and all of that. Then I though it may be allergies, but theres no symptoms of hay fever. so that leads to thinking it may be the dryness in that air with a change in altitude living.

So I want to know if any fiance/spouse comming from a low lying area (e.g. HongKong, Philippines, or islands) near sea-level moving to Chicago or anyother higher altitude places in America and experienced itchy-ness

Also how long had it lasted and can be taken to soothe it.

[~Chad~ 0]

it's not uncommon. It's part of culture-shock, or so i heard, and it should pass.

[MissStacey 1]

It definately sounds like dry air. It is quite a change coming from a humid climate to a dryer one.

If you don't have a humidifier, get one.

Lots of good body moisturizer.

Bath oils- real essential oils, not petroleum based, Lavender and chammomile oil are very soothing to the skin.

[russ 1]

My wife is from Russia and we live in Florida. She always has itchy skin. It can also be psycological. See an alergist if it is bad.

It definately sounds like dry air. It is quite a change coming from a humid climate to a dryer one.

[wong_watkins 1]

OMG I'm from HK too and I have the same problem! I've been here for 2 years and I still have no idea what causes it...I thought it could be the laundry detergent but we've used all different kinds of laundry detergent and my skin still itches quite often. It itches at all different areas too, and after the itch I would have hives. I have bought anti-itch lotion but it doesn't seem to work..

I acutally just try to ignore it when it itches or I'd put a large amount of moisturizing lotion(the one for severe dry skin) on my body..it usually helps a little bit. It could be allergies and I could go see a doctor and have my blood tested but personally I'd just hate to do that.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Hmmm. My wife, too.

And strangest thing, after she was here about 6 months, seeing her scratch all the time, I started feeling it too. When I'm busy I don't feel it but when she's sitting next to me scratching and my mind isn't on anything particular, I feel it. I'm pretty sure it's in my mind. And in hers, because she doesn't scratch at all when busy either.

[KEN's ROSE 0]

Is there anyone in the airline industry? I know airline workers are subjected to the widest range in atmospheric humidity and pressure changes. What do they take or apply to the skin to keep from acting up?

Oh and yes, scratching is like yawning at times; can be contagious!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Drink more water and moisturize the skin.

[Ta Ta 1]

maybe food related.

[Caladan 19]

Not an immigrant, but I have some suggestions that might help as someone who suffers with nearly chronic dry skin, eczema, the whole nine yards.

Triggers for me:

Dry air. A humidifier can help with this, especially during the winter months with the dry heat.

Dehydration. Probably due to the dry heat and the dry air, but I need to keep a pretty high water intake to avoid itchy skin.

Laundry detergent. I've had luck with Arm & Hammer's unscented detergent. Dreft is also milder, and I've had good experiences with Trader Joe's lavender-oil based laundry soap and an eco-friendly brand I can't remember, but these latter two don't seem to get the clothes quite as clean.

Body wash. Most fragrances drive me crazy. Dr. Bronner's soaps (peppermint & lavender are nice) are all olive-oil based, and non-chemically smelling.

Moisturizer. I cannot stress this enough. Aveeno makes a daily moisturizer, costs about $10 a bottle, that has menthol added to it. I have no idea why it works, but it works better than anything out there.

If she's developing hives, an antihistamine like Benadryl in either an oral tablet or an OTC cream can help sooth it.

And the last one:

Stress. Both environmental (body's combatting hundreds of new allergens) and psychological (hi, just moved to a whole new country). Both will decrease with time as Rose acclimates.

I hope this helps a bit.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Wash your a@% and use soap.

Edited May 8, 2007 by Sheriff Uling

[Portlander 0]

Could be allergies, too. When I'm in Portland my nose is stopped up. When I've travelled outside of the NW then it goes away fast. I have no idea why, but its there. You can see an allergenist and have a mega-allergy test performed. You don't need hay fever symptoms. Benadryl may or may not work. Just a thought... good luck!

[homesick_american 1]

I went from a humid climate (Dallas) to a humid climate (England) so I don't think it's that.

I itch all the time. Constantly. I haven't stopped itching since I got here six years ago. I think it's partly allergies, partly stress. In March I literally broke out in hives all over my body, even on my face, and my throat started to close up and I was having trouble breathing. The docs assumed it was something I'd eaten but I've eaten the same foods since then and did not have the same reaction. I haven't changed the bath soap or laundry detergent that I use either. I haven't changed a thing. They say you can't get hives from stress. I think you can.

Stress can wreck your body. In the last year I've had the following conditions either caused by or worsened by stress:

* Systemic allergic reaction (had to go to A&E)

* Abnormal uterine bleeding (it has since stopped, but docs weren't prepared to do much about it anyway)

* Eczema (nothing they've given me has worked)

* Digestion problems (changing my diet hasn't helped)

* Acid reflux (I take pills for it)

* Hypertension (when I'm stressed it goes off the charts but it isn't sustained at a high enough level to treat)

* Migraines (I need to buy stock in whoever makes Nurofen)

* Problems sleeping (docs can't help me there unless I want sleeping pills)

So...as you can see...stress can really #### you up.

So for the itchers...change to soaps for sensitive skin and try a colloidal oatmeal bath. I used those in TX when central heating systems dried out my skin and it started to itch. Try an over-the-counter antihistamine. If you can't get any relief...for god's sake, see a doctor. Don't make yourself suffer; it only makes your stress worse.

[bora bora 1]

No itchy skin here.

But it's interesting this topic was brought up because my husband has noticed changes in his skin since he arrived 2 months ago. Our friend told him it's the food (could be but he cooks Brazilian food).

I never had problems when I lived abroad so I didn't know the extent of his culture shock/adaption would include skin.

[Mags 112]

I have incredibly itchy hands and elbows. I have already got a predisposition to eczema (had it as a child and have itchy episodes) but as soon as Summer (or pretty hot weather) comes along I can't stop scratching. My hands come up in tiny little clear blisters and I'll scratch them til they bleed if given half the chance.

My current episodes are caused by sun exposure. As soon as my hands and forearms are exposed to the sun I start to itch. There is approximately 15-20% of the world's population allergic to the sun and it mainly occurs in women, especially between the ages of 20-40.

Edited May 8, 2007 by mags