itchy skin remedies?

[luckiest]

Hello all,

I'm about 11 weeks along, and for the last two I've had insanely dry, itchy skin all over. My belly, my back, and shoulders are driving me crazy. My skin is fairly dry normally, but usually it's manageable with daily lotion. Not anymore!

So far, I've tried taking cooler showers, showering every other day, mineral oil on damp skin, extra strength gold bold. It's helped a little, but not much. Are there any oils I can mix up myself that are good for body? That will absorb and not make me a grease ball?

Any recommendations are very welcome!!

[Ellen Griswold]

Not sure about oils, but I wonder if an oatmeal bath might help.

[MacKinnon]

Well, I don't know about dry skin remedies but I just got over poison ivy, which was about the worst two weeks of being pregnant ever! So sorry for the crazy itchy skin! Hopefully someone will pop in with good advice!

[BarnMomma]

Extra Virgin coconut oil! Lather yourself up and your skin will never feel or look better. This is also my no stretch mark cure- My skin was in better condition after my pregnancy than before- softer, smoother and it seems to be doing the trick this pregnancy too.

[Danidama]

Mix some unrefined coconut oil (my fave is Spectrum) with shea butter and put that on all over, every time you come out of the shower. Add some to your hair and face and lips, and around eyes, too. It's better than anything else.

[violet_]

I use pure shea butter, which works really well, but I'm afraid it will still make you a grease ball, so I only use it at night so it has more time to absorb. For an intermediate step, a heavy, non-greasy lotion like Aveeno or maybe Yes to Carrots might help.

[longtallanimal]

I am 25 wks and last week had the worst bout of itchiness I have EVER EXPERIENCED. I woke up in the morning all red from scratching in my sleep! It was on my stomach, arms, breasts, back, etc. I had a very light smattering of bumps that nearly looked like flea bites on me (no fleas -- my husband and dog were unaffected). My midwife advised me to take oatmeal baths and drink dandelion tea. Lo and behold, it fixed me up! Here's what she said about the dandelion:

"Dandelion root and leaf tincture or tea is the best to help get rid of the rash and itchies. It may also help to increase your protein. Rashes are the liver's way of detoxing. The dandelion and protein will support your liver and help it do this more effectively and quickly. "

For the oatmeal baths, I put the oatmeal in the food processor and ground it up as finely as possible, and used about 1 cup per bath.

I am glad to pass this along because last week it felt like a MIRACLE cure.

[felicitous]

It's not exactly natural, but a few months ago I had a horrible reaction to a new medication and when the oatmeal baths and aloe vera gel did nothing I resorted to Sarna, a non-steroidal, topical analgesic lotion that is available over-the-counter.

You probably wouldn't want to use this all the time, but during a particularly itchy stretch (in my experience, those usually come right as I'm trying to sleep) it certainly can help, if nothing else does.