[Kathryn]

I am going insane. My skin itches and hurts so bad, I can hardly stand it. I was scratching in my sleep last night and made my belly bleed.

:

I know I am only going to get bigger and I'm only going to get more itchy/stretchy and uncomfortable so I'm looking for help now.

Here's what I've tried and cannot use or doesn't work:

-Cocoa Butter: I'm allergic. I don't know if I'm allergic to the perfumes (most likely) in it or if it's the Cocoa. I'm getting pure coconut oil tomorrow to try out.
-Olive Oil: makes me feel greasy and nasty. Doesn't relieve the itch or make my skin feel any better
-A&D Diaper/Cut Ointment: Greasy, but helps for all of about 10 minutes.
-Oatmeal extra dry skin lotion: helps until it dries out, lasts about 5 minutes
-Personal Care extra dry skin/anti-chaffing lotion: doesn't help at all
-Stretch Mark Belly Oil: Doesn't help
-Anti-itch first aid cream: helps for about 10 minutes
-Vitamin E capsules: Doesn't help a lick and takes like 30 capsules to get my belly wet enough that it doesn't hurt to rub on

Any other ideas or suggestions? I've never had stretch marks before and I'm just dying here. They hurt so much. They've become raised pink welts now instead of flat or indented marks.

:

 

[Finch]

Lansinoh, maybe?

 

[Kathryn]

I'm going to pick some of that up tomorrow as well. I don't see it helping much though. It's almost the same as the A&D ointment.

 

[Ilovelife]

Try Evening Primrose Oil. You can buy the capsules (like vit E). Maybe you can get it in oil form, I haven't seen it though. I'm not sure if it will help with the itching, but it will help with the stretch marks. Really. I use it for a patch of eczema (sp?). So throughout my pg I used it on my left side for the eczema but not on the right side. Guess what? No stretch marks on my left side. At. All. And, um, a few on the right... When I mentioned this to my MW she said that she had read a study that said EPO was effective at preventing stretch marks. Anyway, just a thought. Good luck to you & hang in there!

s

 

[twins10705]

I'm sorry you are in such discomfort!

You're probably already doing all this, but make sure you drink tons of water(when I was pg, I added a pinch of seasalt for electrolytes and minerals). Also zinc rich foods like nuts and fish promote skin health and foods high in vitamin A and C. I know that that the gelatin in broth made from boiling meat bones is good for hair and nails, so should be good for skin too. And I wasn't even going to mention protein

because I am sure you are maxing out on that.

Aromatherapy -- sandlewood or lavender may make you more comfortable, I looked up their properties and they are said to help with stretchmarks -- I don't know if that means they lesson the discomfort or help the skin to stretch better.
Witch hazel is good for skin irritations like varicose veins and stretch marks and aloe vera gel can be very soothing and healing.

I hope you find something that works better!

How many weeks are you now?!

 

[mamajody]

Kathryn,

I know what you mean about the lotion only lasting until it dries out. I am still using th oatmeal lotion for sensitive skin, but I reapply like 3-4 times when I first get out of the tub. I have found putting it on in layers over a ten minute period helps.

 

[Kathryn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilovelife Try Evening Primrose Oil. You can buy the capsules (like vit E). Maybe you can get it in oil form, I haven't seen it though. I'm not sure if it will help with the itching, but it will help with the stretch marks. Really. I use it for a patch of eczema (sp?). So throughout my pg I used it on my left side for the eczema but not on the right side. Guess what? No stretch marks on my left side. At. All. And, um, a few on the right... When I mentioned this to my MW she said that she had read a study that said EPO was effective at preventing stretch marks. Anyway, just a thought. Good luck to you & hang in there! s

Never even thought of that. I've got almost a whole bottle in my cabinet. Hopefully, it'll help.

 

[Kathryn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by twins10705 I'm sorry you are in such discomfort! You're probably already doing all this, but make sure you drink tons of water(when I was pg, I added a pinch of seasalt for electrolytes and minerals). Also zinc rich foods like nuts and fish promote skin health and foods high in vitamin A and C. I know that that the gelatin in broth made from boiling meat bones is good for hair and nails, so should be good for skin too. And I wasn't even going to mention protein because I am sure you are maxing out on that. Aromatherapy -- sandlewood or lavender may make you more comfortable, I looked up their properties and they are said to help with stretchmarks -- I don't know if that means they lesson the discomfort or help the skin to stretch better. Witch hazel is good for skin irritations like varicose veins and stretch marks and aloe vera gel can be very soothing and healing. I hope you find something that works better! How many weeks are you now?!

Oh, yeah, I'm drinking a ton of water. I counted yesterday how many oz and I'm drinking about 450 oz (wow, huh?) a day.
I've been eating lots of Almonds.
However, the bone gelatin thing totally squicks me out and I can't do it. I eat fake gravy and use chicken broth made from a cube because it disgusts me so much.
I'll try Sandlewood, lavendar makes me rash out.
I didn't even think of trying Witch hazel.

I'm 30 weeks on Monday.

 

[Kathryn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamajody Kathryn, I know what you mean about the lotion only lasting until it dries out. I am still using th oatmeal lotion for sensitive skin, but I reapply like 3-4 times when I first get out of the tub. I have found putting it on in layers over a ten minute period helps.

My only problem I've found with that is that when I go to put the second layer on, the first layer rubs off with like dead skin or something into these annoying little nasty gray balls.

 

[udonandbroth]

rose hip seed oil helps with collagen production, too

 

[MistyD]

I rubbed arnica oil on my belly. It helped the most when applied directly after a shower.

Taking flax seed oil as a supplement dramatically helps my eczema, maybe you can see if that's okay to take during pregnancy. I did, but YMMV.

 

[royaloakmi]

Former bleeding belly skin here too . . . it's just awful.

About six weeks after I delivered, I couldn't take it anymore, my skin still hurt and itched and was paper thin. My dermatologist prescribed amonium lactate lotion and it really seemed to help soothe my skin and make it softer.

It might be worth a call to your midwife/ob/dermatologist/whatever. Since I was nursing, I assume it's also safe during pregnancy, but I would double check of course.

 

[Ellie'sMom]

Oh, so sorry Kathryn!! I had PUPPP (itchy, itchy skin which started in stretch marks and eventually became itchy full-body hives). Here is the thread where I describe what I did that helped. Some of it (particularly the ice packs and the cornnstarch) might help.http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=338930

 

[twinmommykc]

Hi Kathryn,
Itchy belly is a bummer. Do you have skin changes??? I agree with the last post- check on PUPPs. I got that right before I delivered and post partum. But, if you don't have skin changes, does your entire body itch (esp your hand and feet)?? This cold be another condition, cholestasis of pregnancy. You should talk to your provider about the itching.
good luck, and it will go away.

 

[nora--not a llama]

30 weeks!!!!! You are doing an amazing job Momma!!!!

As for the raised welts on the stretch marks, I had that as well, and there is a name for it...but dangit I can't remember it right now. The only thing that got rid of the welts and made it stop itching was 100% aloe vera gel. I put it on after getting out of the shower and then I also kept it sitting on the sink next to the toilet as a reminder to put it on my belly every time I was in the bathroom...which was of course a lot!!

I hope it gets better!

 

[ninafel]

Sorry you are going through this.

I ended up with no stretch marks, though after a year I still have a fair amount of loose "twin skin."

Internally: tons of water, flax seed oil, brazil nuts, tahini

Externally: Emu oil twice per day and weleda pregnancy oil sometimes.

All the best. The itching is the WORST!

 

[Kathryn]

I haven't really noticed any other skin changes, but I've got horribly dry, itchy, rashy skin to begin with. If I shave my legs, I get tons of little red bumps all over. If I don't, every hair becomes ingrown. I randomly break out in hives. Usually, it's cause I've touched a scented product or a pineapple or something. Sometimes it's stress caused.

I have very sensitive skin. I just have a hard time accepting this level of itchiness and pain is normal for stretched skin. I put some cream on it last night and almost screamed. My skin had broken open in a few spots and the cream burned so bad. I had to jump back into the shower to wash it all off. I've been just laying in bed every night for over an hour trying to not touch my belly long enough so I can fall asleep. It's horrible. The only time I feel relief is when I'm scratching. Once I stop scratching, it hurts 10 times worse because I've basically cut my belly up. If I don't scratch, I feel like I'm going to go insane from the intense need to just scratch.

*sigh*

 

[twins10705]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathryn I haven't really noticed any other skin changes, but I've got horribly dry, itchy, rashy skin to begin with. If I shave my legs, I get tons of little red bumps all over. If I don't, every hair becomes ingrown. I randomly break out in hives. Usually, it's cause I've touched a scented product or a pineapple or something. Sometimes it's stress caused. I have very sensitive skin. I just have a hard time accepting this level of itchiness and pain is normal for stretched skin. I put some cream on it last night and almost screamed. My skin had broken open in a few spots and the cream burned so bad. I had to jump back into the shower to wash it all off. I've been just laying in bed every night for over an hour trying to not touch my belly long enough so I can fall asleep. It's horrible. The only time I feel relief is when I'm scratching. Once I stop scratching, it hurts 10 times worse because I've basically cut my belly up. If I don't scratch, I feel like I'm going to go insane from the intense need to just scratch. *sigh*

Do you have a hot water bottle? Maybe instead of scratching you could press a hot water bottle on the itchy parts -- I've done that with really bad mosquito bites and such.

 

[elisabethmelner]

I'm experiencing the intense belly itching as well! It just started last week (I'm 35 weeks along) and it has been driving me up the wall. Luckily, when I lay down at night, this is the only time is doesn't itch. I've found that a wet washcloth that is put in the freezer for 20 minutes or so will give me some relief. You may want to try that right before bed so you can fall asleep. I guess in the big picture, if itching is the worst symptom that we have, than we really don't have it all that bad. It could be a lot worse! However, I'm resisting the urge to scratch right now as I type and not knowing how I can take a few more weeks of this......

:

 

[Kathryn]

Maybe that would work. Heat has the same effect as scratching. Feels soooooo wonderful, but soon as it's gone, it hurts way worse.