Itchy?

[camille76]

I can remember being really itchy in the last weeks / months of prev pg's.

And I am now too... you know, down there. I seem to be managing it ok... I guess. Could be better.

Anyone else have this problem and find a good way to manage or solve it?

Thanks.

[Mommy2Austin]

I'm having trouble deciding whether the itching is pregnancy induced, jock itch induced, or getting used to soft water induced....

We just moved into a new apartment from my parents house and I'm used to having hard hard hard water. I've never had to deal with soft water before. So I spend a ton of time trying to rinse off soap. So it might be irritation from not getting rinsed enough?

DH has athletes foot again and last time he had jock itch (a few months ago) I think I might have caught it from him (even though he had already treated it) so now we're on a no sex/showering together stint until we both get rid of whatever this is.

If it's neither of these then it has to be pregnancy induced which makes me want to go out and buy cortizone cream!


Ohhh I didn't think that it might be a reaction to some new laundry soap we haven't used before....It's concentrated and maybe because of the soft water its not getting rinsed well enough? We just ran out of it so I'm gonna use less of the stuff we just got to try and make sure it's not that!

Hope you figure things out!!!

[shanniesue2]

I'm not really itchy down there... but my belly itches like crazy. And the itching is worse if I'm wearing higher-waisted pants. I've been putting body oil and lotion on my belly several times a day, and I'm still itchy... so I don't think it's dry skin... maybe it's just all the stretching that's going on... I don't know... but it's about to drive me nuts.

[snozzberry]

I'm itchy all over. My belly's only been a little itchy, but I'm oiling it every day, along with my bum, hips, and breasts. But my back, shoulders, and legs (thighs and calves) have been very itchy. What gives?

I haven't changed laundry detergent or anything. I can't figure it out!

[ericaz]

I'm a couple months behind you guys (21 weeks) and I came here to seek help for my itch. I think I'll just double post in my ddc too.

I do have eczema like issues on my hands but what's really driving me nuts is the crotch itch. It's on the outside only and I've tried both conventional and natural otc things. I'm so ready to call my ob and see about getting a prescription since nothing seems to be working. And, fwiw, I never use scented soaps, detergent or non-cotton undies so I know it's not that.

Anyone else? wdyd?

[Angierae]

I was so itchy all over by like 20 weeks, that I went to extreme measures.

We threw alway ALL of our soap/bodycare stuff. DH made me a bunch of soap that is just Cocoa butter. NO FRAGRANCES!! I only use it on my "hot spots", armpit, crotch, under breasts, face, and rinse the rest of my body with water. I stared taking cooler showers and only showering every other day at most. I bought straight coconut oil and cover by whole body in it (even "down there") every time I shower. Olive oil was working too, but it was greasier, and I smelled like a salad. I also made some laundry soap out of the soap DH made me, and my clothes are wonderful.

My skin was so not itchy, in about 3 days, and it hasn't started again. Even though it is this awful dry time of the winter. I think the key was getting a pure moisturizing soap with no fragrances and using the straight oil. FWIW DH decided to do it with me, and his skin is wonderful too. He is a guy that usually uses too much soap and NO moisturizer and gets dry in the winter.

Hope you feel better!

And the only thing that got rid of the really bad crotch itch was clotrimiolze. Definitely got it from DH. And keeping the hair down there trimmed very short. (Way too much moisture right now!)

[ericaz]

Originally Posted by Angierae

And the only thing that got rid of the really bad crotch itch was clotrimiolze. Definitely got it from DH. And keeping the hair down there trimmed very short. (Way too much moisture right now!)

Here's the weird thing...this bad crotch itch started almost immediately after I trimmed the short and curlies. They were out of control and I cut them way back. Not shaved, which would better explain itchies, just trimmed very short with regular blunt scissors. I can't see how that would bring about this incredibly itchy, inflammed scenario, though.

[Angierae]

Originally Posted by ericaz

Here's the weird thing...this bad crotch itch started almost immediately after I trimmed the short and curlies. They were out of control and I cut them way back. Not shaved, which would better explain itchies, just trimmed very short with regular blunt scissors. I can't see how that would bring about this incredibly itchy, inflammed scenario, though.

That sounds REALLY uncomfortable. Maybe the ends of the hair are uncomfortable. I've had that happen when I trim, but usually only for a day or so. Otherwise, if you've tried all the regular external application stuff: Calendula Gel, Tea Tree Oil, Hydrocortisone, Lotrimin, and its still there, I'd go see the OB.

I had an itch last pregnancy, that started in the crotch area and ended up spreading up my abdomen and on my back. SOOOOOOOOOOO disgusting. It kept going away, and then coming back in new places. My midwife thought it was just pregnancy rash, but it turned out to be something fungal. I still have some discoloration on my skin from it 3.5 years later. SO, to say the least, I'm a little fanatic about the itchys that don't resolve!

[Mommy2Austin]

Yeah so I showered and put the Lotrimin on. I had DH take a picture of the rash down there and it looks exactly like what I had before and what he had! So I'll have to keep putting this stuff on!


(Whcih reminds me I should go delete those pics lol)

[camille76]

Originally Posted by Angierae

And the only thing that got rid of the really bad crotch itch was clotrimiolze. Definitely got it from DH. And keeping the hair down there trimmed very short. (Way too much moisture right now!)

Yes, I agree... I've noticed that keeping the area trimmed very short (almost completely!) helped a lot too... and almost immediately. So now, it's like I only itch on the inside areas (not WAAAY inside) and not the outside areas now. I've been using the hydrocortizone and I guess it helps. ...is that clotrimiolze supposed to be better than hydrocortizone?

[the elyse]

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin

(Which reminds me I should go delete those pics lol)

[Mommy2Austin]

Originally Posted by the elyse

Yeah I could just see me forgetting and going to show my family pictures "Here's Austin playing with his toys....here he is after he got ahold of mommy's powder.....Here's the rash on my woohaa...!!"

Camille- The clotrimazole is an anti fungal cream. If the rash is fungal in nature the only thing that will get rid of it is an antifungal cream. The same fungus that causes athlete's foot can thrive in the moist regions around the genitals and it's no fun!

[TrishWSU]

Originally Posted by snozzberry

I'm itchy all over. My belly's only been a little itchy, but I'm oiling it every day, along with my bum, hips, and breasts. But my back, shoulders, and legs (thighs and calves) have been very itchy. What gives?

I haven't changed laundry detergent or anything. I can't figure it out!

Do you have any kind of rash? Does the itching get worse at night? I ask because these can be signs of a very serious condition called Obstetric Cholestasis. I have been freaking out for the past 3 weeks or so and I have finally been able to get a doctor to order the blood test needed to determine if I have it, but the results won't be back until Friday so more waiting and worrying. Go to the site www.itchymoms.com to read more info about it and see if you have any of the symptons listed. I hope I don't scare you, luckily it is pretty rare but it can be very dangerous for the baby if you do have it. I'm hoping I just have some kind of odd hormonal-cold-weather-dry-skin thing going on. Pretty much the only place I don't itch is my crotch!

[Nymph]

Add me to the itchy list...

I am at 32 weeks have raised flesh colored bumps that started on my feet and have spread to my legs and hands.

They only itch when I'm overheated (socks are not my friend right now) or in the middle of the night when I'm snug in the flannel sheets. The itching can get INTENSE though. I had to get up the other night and soak in an Aveeno Collodial Oatmeal bath. It doesn't make the bumps go away but it does relieve the itching.

We were in Florida for the holiday where we had a hard time cooling off our room at night. I would wake up extremely itchy and swollen including my nether regions. Now that I'm back home, the latter part has stopped.

I bought some cocoa butter last night and am slathering it on my hands. We'll see how that goes.

I'm going to a dermotologist on the 9th for a mole removal (another pregnancy joy) so I'm going to have him take a look at my bumps.

I'm also going to do some meal planning. The holiday season has involved too much eating out and junk food and goodies and such. I'm ready to get back to healthy made from scratch non-preservative foods and see if that helps any.

Good luck to all of us itchy girls!