Posted by Glori on April 07, 19100 at 23:51:08:
In Reply to: I can't control my ichythosis posted by Mark on April 04, 19100 at 08:45:13:
What might help you out is if we give you some general terms instead of specific brand names of products.
Two things that are known for their itch relieving properties are Oatmeal and Tar. Here we have a bath product called Aveeno, and basically it is just what's called coilladial oatmeal, meaning it's ground very fine (it's actually oat flour) and added to your bath water. This same kind of oatmeal can be found in some lotions as well, and it is helpful for relieving itching (and trust me, I know exactly the itching you are talking about!). Aveeno also makes what they call a concentrated Anti-Itch lotion that is predominantely calamine and oatmeal. These two ingredients together seem to really help itching, but calamine can be quite drying.
The tar is simply pine tar which also relieves itching. Here, the only product I have seen is by Keri, and they make a pine tar soap, bath additive, and shampoo. The bath stuff can only be used in a non porous tub like porcelain, because it will stain fiberglass and many newer tubs. Pine tar products can help alleviate your itching if you can stand to use them, as they sometimes have a strong smell to them. It's a very old fashioned and medicinal kind of smell.
I also take an over the counter antihistimine (Benadryl) to help control my itching, because at night I will scratch myself raw and not even know it til morning.
In drastic situations, I have gotten big tubes of bug bite medication and coated my itchier spots with it. Most bug bite lotions have an "anesthetic" quality and they are rather thick and greasy, so they numb the itch and intensely moisturize the spot where you put it.
Hopefully, armed with ingredients instead of just brand names, you can find a pharmacist who can recommend products to you with these things in them that may help you out.
If any of the products on the products page interest you, but you can't find them where you live, you could go to a site like drugstore.com and read the ingredients list of a particular product. While this site still does not ship overseas, you can at least find out what's in the products that people find useful to them and then find a comparative product in your country.
One more hand dandy tip, and then I will stop rambling :)
Many brand names and their manufacturers have a web site where they list not only the stores that carry their products, but the alternative names these products are known by in other countries. You may be able to read about a product on this site, and check out the manufacturer web page and learn what it's known by in your country.
Please feel free to mail me if you want to talk more, or want any more specific details!