How I (Barely) Survive the Annoying Scleroderma Itch

When I moved to Florida in 2002, I knew nothing about tropical climates, other than they’re great for beach vacations. While unpacking the moving truck, I sat down in the grass for a quick rest. That was my first mistake.

Within seconds, my upper legs were covered in fire ants. The tiny monsters went straight to work injecting their venom. No matter how fast I swiped them off, they had already left behind burning bites all over the back of my legs and up to my lower back.

Once I was finally rid of them, I made my second mistake: I scratched the burning itchiness that had spread across my skin. That was a quick lesson: The scratching only exacerbated the problem and made it last longer.

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My skin itches

Fast forward to 2016, my second year after receiving a scleroderma diagnosis. My skin, muscles, and everything in between began a “turning to stone” journey. My form of scleroderma constantly leads to tissue damage and the overproduction of collagen, which causes my organs — including the skin — to harden and tighten. While it is painful, it’s the insane itching that drives me crazy.

I live in a body that feels like it’s forever covered in an army of fire ants. Not in the sense of an initial sting, but rather a burning, itching sensation that makes me want to desperately claw at it with long fingernails. Worse, the itch is deeper than solely on the surface of the skin.

Sadly, I’m not exaggerating. Once, when I was holding a piece of sandpaper, I thought about using it to grind at the insane irritation on my body.

Of all of scleroderma’s symptoms, itchy skin is by far the biggest nuisance to me. It requires constant moisturizing and even dictates the clothes I wear.

Sometimes even the tickle from a single hair from my head can set off an uncontrollable urge to scratch. When I’m in public, it looks like I’m awkwardly squirming, as if I had ants crawling up my back.

The right clothing helps

For the most part, when this happens, I keep busy and can ignore the itch. If I remove tags from clothing and make sure I’m wearing soft materials, I get by pretty well. Of course, I also must ensure that no loose hairs are trying to hitch a ride in the threading of my clothing.

Bedtime is when I must be extra diligent, however. Lying idly to watch TV or fall asleep is when my focus shifts to the irritating areas of my body. Without realizing it, I’ll start scratching. When I notice blood under my fingernails, I must force myself to stop. It is so hard to resist the urge to scratch once I’ve started doing it. Yet no matter how hard I try, I can never get deep enough to relieve the itchiness.

I do better at night when I wear soft cotton pants and loose T-shirts. I used to love the freedom of wearing a nightgown, but even the tiniest stubble of hair from one leg touching the other becomes a trigger.

Moisturizers also help

Another way I battle the urge to itch is by always staying moisturized. Right after getting out of the shower, I drown my body in coconut oil. It’s cheap, healthy, odorless, and lasts longer than other products I’ve tried. As a bonus, one of my dogs follows me around trying to lick it off my feet. It’s like a comedy routine trying to race him to get socks on. And I welcome any form of comedic relief in my life!

I also have moisturizers strategically placed around my home — by the sink, at my desk, on end tables, and elsewhere. My hands take a beating throughout the day, especially since I wash them often. (Germs are not my friend.) If I don’t moisturize my hands regularly, I’ll be destined for a miserable, painful, itchy experience.

My favorite hand moisturizer is Mary Kay’s Satin Hands. It’s thick and coats my hands like armor. It also helps to keep my nail cuticles soft, which is important because they tend to scab and harden if I don’t maintain them.

My face, however, is a different ballgame. Thick lotions give me pimples, and fancy ones make my skin red. The only product that doesn’t irritate it is Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, the original version. It’s the first thing I put on after showering — and I mean the very first thing. Scleroderma is stretching my cheeks, jawline, and forehead like it’s trying to pop my skin like an overfilled balloon.

Do you have a favorite moisturizer you can’t live without? Or perhaps you’ve found another secret weapon that battles the itch. Please share in the comments below. We can all support and learn from one another while the experts find us a cure!

Note: Scleroderma News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Scleroderma News or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to scleroderma.