Caladryl test

[cjsmith]

I pretended one patch of skin on my arm itched like mad. I scratched it fiercely. Then I smeared Caladryl all over it. I put a Band-Aid on so I wouldn't leave pink goo everywhere.

This is a test. (Granted, not a very good one.) This is only a test.

Yes, I am a geek. 8-)

Comments

[sunnydale47.livejournal.com]

Oh my, I don't have an icon for itching! This is as close as I can get. :-/

I'm so far behind, but I didn't want to get in trouble for commenting in the other thread, so I'll do it here! =snicker=

No, seriously ... I know that's horrible. I have very dry, itchy skin in general, but I also have some strange occasional skin condition that doesn't happen frequently enough to get a diagnosis, but when I itch like that I'd rather have pain than that kind of itching. I scratch till it bleeds, and don't even realize I'm doing it till I notice blood dripping.

My allergist said I'm not allergic to anything but that it was some kind of internal histamine reaction (?), so I started taking Claritin once a day, and it actually does help a lot. Are you taking an antihistamine?

For immediate relief, though, in all of those 43 comments, I didn't see anyone suggest topical betamethasone (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682799.html). It comes in ointment or cream (and I think lotion, too) and unless you can't use topical steroids, it's excellent. It's the only thing that works when I get one of those intolerable itches. Unless you already know you can't use it for some reason, ask your doctor if you can try it.

And don't put the Vicks on it, rub some tuna on it so the cats will lick it with the sandpaper tongues. That oughta help! ;-)

=sympathetic hugs=

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I have very dry, itchy skin in general, but I also have some strange occasional skin condition that doesn't happen frequently enough to get a diagnosis, but when I itch like that I'd rather have pain than that kind of itching. I scratch till it bleeds, and don't even realize I'm doing it till I notice blood dripping.

This sounds VERY like me. I've done that. (Not this time... okay, not MUCH of that this time.)

I'm not taking an antihistamine on a regular basis, but I did take some Benadryl the night after my post. Thanks for the recommendation about topical betamethasone! Interesting. I can ask.

*giggling* about the tuna!

[sunnydale47.livejournal.com]

*giggling* about the tuna!

Oh, good! I was hoping to make you laugh! :-)

Tongue of Cat is even better than a wire brush. When I scratch Val's back or shoulders hard enough he gets a compulsion to lick whatever he can reach, which is usually the skin on my arm. I guess it's a grooming lick, because he gets the sandpaper going full-strength, and it actually scrapes the skin on that area raw!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I guess Val really wants to make sure you are clean! Maybe you just don't taste clean no matter how much he licks. "What," he must be thinking, "is all this human-skin-like stuff all over her fur? Must get that out of the way!"

[sunnydale47.livejournal.com]

I never thought of it that way ... I think you're right!