Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: walking the dog on June 17, 2016, 02:02:08 PM

Title: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 17, 2016, 02:02:08 PM
For couple month now my arm pits have been incredibly itchy to point where have stop what I'm doing and scratch.
Got no dry skin there or spots or lumps etc and not changed deodorant or showel gel washing powder.
Any suggestions ? Should I mention it to GP next time I'm there ?
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: breeze on June 17, 2016, 02:07:08 PM
You may have become allergic to something in your ususal deodorant.

Might be worth changing it to see if it improves.  There are several on the market without strong chemicals.

I myself am finding that I increasingly have adverse reaction to everyday chemicals as I get older.
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: dahliagirl on June 17, 2016, 02:19:13 PM
I have always had problems with antiperspirant deodorants making my armpits itch so don't use them.

I do use body sprays and these have a lot of alcohol in them, so that will probably kill off anything anyway.  ;)
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 17, 2016, 02:32:12 PM
I used impulse all my life until couple years ago I got red sore rash under arms from it so started to use sanex roll on , a lavender roll on and a mum roll on I been fine but now this itching  ! No idea what to use now  :-\
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: dahliagirl on June 17, 2016, 02:58:38 PM
I was using the body shop body spray but since they were taken over by loreal, their products have changed and it now smells like scented vodka and not the lovely essential oil smells it used to have (I am sure of this because my daughter still has some of the old stuff in her drawer).

So I have tried Neils yard stuff and Weleda.  No problems with it; I just don't like the smell, or the heavy glass bottles.

So, at the moment, I am back on the scented vodka  :-\
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: babyjane on June 17, 2016, 03:07:59 PM
I get this from time to time and I don't use any of the proprietery brands of anti perspirant of deodorant.  I use Toms of Maine Calendula stick.  If it was the deodorant or laundry products it would be there all the time so it can't be that.

I had a eureka moment the other day when I realised that the itchy pits coincides with a flare up of my night time flushes.  I think I get a bit sweaty pits as a result and it is a bit of sweat rash.  When my night time flushes tail off then so does the itching.
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 17, 2016, 03:30:58 PM
Oh I will price it babyjane and dahliagirl thanks
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: Joyce on June 17, 2016, 03:37:41 PM
I got this with a particular brand of deodorant. Changed & all was well again.
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 17, 2016, 04:03:40 PM
Thank you everyone 😊
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on June 17, 2016, 09:09:29 PM
Stop using it for 5 days.  Make sure that the pits are hair free.  I get whiffy if I'm hairy  ::).

Maybe a light dusting of baby talc.
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 17, 2016, 09:26:23 PM
I was wondering if iwas over shaving as I run a razor over them every day but no rash etc
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on June 17, 2016, 09:29:31 PM
Ahhhh - low grade infection maybe?  If mine get itchy after shaving I use my stand-by Savlon then sit with arms in the air for a while  ::)
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 17, 2016, 09:31:50 PM
Got savalon will apply at bed tonight , something isn't right just not obvious 😊 bah
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on June 17, 2016, 09:33:01 PM
It's quite comical, Himself walks into the bedroom to find me with arms in the air  ::) …….. naked with my little belly sagging  :-X

Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 17, 2016, 09:45:14 PM
Lost 1.5 stone but still cant refer to belly as little. !  :o
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on June 18, 2016, 12:25:24 PM
Any improvement over night?  My first thought was you as I woke up at 8.30  ::)
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 18, 2016, 01:47:01 PM
The itch has moved down my inner ams now and still underarms ! Spreading !
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on June 18, 2016, 02:02:13 PM
I hate that  ::).  After breast surgery when a nerve was cut I periodically get an itch that moves  >:(  …… I have to scratch gently if that makes sense?
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 18, 2016, 05:06:44 PM
Going on hunt for new deodorant tomorrow
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on June 18, 2016, 10:23:52 PM
Don't forget: deodorant is designed to stop bacteria causing smells; antiperspirant stops sweat leaving the body by blocking pores so sweat leaks from elsewhere.  ;)
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: ancient runner on June 20, 2016, 09:06:58 AM
Trust is good (but not as good as it used to be!) You put a little tiny amount on after a shower at night, wash it off in the morning and no odour for several days (used to be over a week but they've reformulated so is about 3 days now). Works a treat. Effectively your sweat does not smell during the time it's working.
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: breeze on June 20, 2016, 10:01:07 AM
It could be a fungal skin infection.

Might be worth having a chat with your local chemist.
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on June 20, 2016, 11:07:16 AM
ERRRgggh   - sweat is odourless  :-\ until bacteria gets it's teeth into it.
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 20, 2016, 02:38:39 PM
Got very mild steroid cream. Off gp for itching as no rash etc she no idea what it is says could be deodorant but normally red sore could be heat but normally red etc stumped !
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on June 20, 2016, 02:42:15 PM
Both stumped  ::).  I suggest that you don't use anything under there apart from the steroid cream.  How long did she suggest that you apply it?
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 20, 2016, 02:55:39 PM
Apply twice day as needed I forget for how long oh dear prob not more than a,week?
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on June 20, 2016, 03:01:11 PM
As needed = when the area itches?   I had steroid cream after radiation treatment but was warned to use only a very small amount to ease the 'sat in the sunshine' look I had developed  ::)
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 20, 2016, 03:14:12 PM
Thank you 😊
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on June 20, 2016, 04:04:45 PM
Let us know how you get on!
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: babyjane on June 20, 2016, 04:36:32 PM
I have been reading about this online and the bit that alerted my attention was that it is quite common in pregnancy due to the hormonal fluctuations.

Could it be as simple as another disturbance of the menopause hormonal turmoil?
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 20, 2016, 04:53:58 PM
Just my luck babyjane but at least I'm not pregnant 😊
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: dahliagirl on June 21, 2016, 03:45:03 PM
I always thought it was the antiperspirant bit that made me itch - it did not go red but feels like there is a layer of something on the skin that comes off with a good soaping in the shower.

Hope it is not pregnancy  :o
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: babyjane on June 21, 2016, 03:52:59 PM
I also itch if I shave too often.  shaving takes off a very fine top layer of skin cells so if it happens too often there could be a reaction even if you don't see it.
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: dahliagirl on June 21, 2016, 03:58:50 PM
I usually use talc and shave dry with a sharp razor and have no problems.  I used to have problems if I used soap in the shower though and end up both sore and itchy.  You would think it would be the other way round.
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 21, 2016, 04:26:46 PM
That's how it feels dahliagirl like want to scrape a layer off ! Got the steroid cream today
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on June 22, 2016, 02:23:29 PM
Applied cream last night and this morning and itching no where near as bad  :)
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on June 22, 2016, 08:39:42 PM
 ;)
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: Dennylou48 on August 06, 2016, 11:06:20 AM
Hi all, I get itchy under my arm pits, I thought that I had become allergic to my usual deodorant but was told it down to declining hormone level on your glands, oh happy days, another symptom along with everything else, wish I was 21 again. Xx
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: Annie0710 on August 09, 2016, 10:41:27 PM
I've started with this recently since reducing my patch strength, I've lost count but it must be @ symptom #599 !

Annie X
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: walking the dog on August 10, 2016, 07:47:19 AM
Mine have calmed down since stopped using roll on and went back to impulse body spray but aboutvyear ago had stop body spray to roll on with rashes etc! It seems its,a balancing act in my case
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: Tempest on August 12, 2016, 10:11:24 AM
I have this at the moment! Recently stopped HRT completely as it didn't pan out at all well for me on the Estrogel, so my guess is the composition of my sweat has changed. I have to resist clawing away......it's really annoying! >:(
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on August 12, 2016, 02:14:41 PM
Put some talc there  ::) …….. think of what is used on a baby's bottie ;-)
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: Mardy on August 16, 2016, 10:05:15 AM
I find shaving very drying so only do it when wearing sleeveless tops or I end up with a very itchy rash.

I also find that some water has quite a lot of chlorine in it. I'm fine with ours which is a private supply with no chemicals in it, but was away last week & started to get a flare up of my eczema. Also happens if i'm stressed.
Title: Re: itchy arm pits
Post by: CLKD on August 16, 2016, 01:02:38 PM
UK tap water does not have anything that can be detected unless the system has gone 'wrong'.  If you are worried about your water supply, do ask your Supplier to come to the house and do free tests!!!!  It will tell you on the appropriate web-site if there has been a problem. 

ALL water supplied to householders, unless from a certified Spring or pump, has been treated.  Again, if you look on the appropriate web-site you will find details.  If your supply is un-cholorinated, you may well end up with Legionellas Disease!!!