Leg scratching habit

LegacyUser

I know what you are talking about. I have the same thing, and both my legs are scratched raw large patches of scabs cover both my shin, haven't worn a pair of shorts or skirt since this started, and I had this for 12 years. Saw many doc, some sugggested that I have mental problems... I scartch when I was bored, but go into a frenzy when I am stressed.

I thought there was no hope, but 1.5 months ago when to a new doc. She used something called vascapast and wrapped my legs. I couldn't strached, first few weeks were tough, but now, I have stopped and I my legs are starting to heal. I am feeling hopeful that I will be able to go swimming by the end of summer, 1st time in ages...

Good luck to your girl friend.

xxdilemmaxx

Unregistered wrote: »

I thought there was no hope, but 1.5 months ago when to a new doc. She used something called vascapast and wrapped my legs.
Good luck to your girl friend.

Hi,

Are you this is the correct name? Googled it and didn't find anything. The reason I ask is because I have a friend who suffers a mild form of the same issue who would love to let her know of anything that might help, let me know if this is the correct name if u can!

LegacyUser

I suffer from something similar -I would imagine its an OCD problem.

Or something in thet OCD family, likes of hair pulling, scalp scratching, nail/finger biting etc

I have the scalp scratching one, it calms me and I do it compulsively even though I dont want to and then feel guilty/anxious about it so I start again. I have to scratch all through the scalp and find any irregularities, bumps. blemishes and scratch at them until smooth. Its ruined a good head of hair over the years.

Sometimes medication can help stop the obsessive behaviour but she would have to go to a doc. so for that she would need to admit it.

Also if she is constantly picking and re-opening she might cause folliculitis which is where the hair follicles become infected. A doctor might prescribe antibiotics to fix this.

But the core problem could well be OCD.....

cyrusdvirus

it's stress related......or at least in my case it is, and yes i do scratch till i bleed, or else scratch my legs in my sleep.

i use a cream, think it's called emulave... only available by perscription. tis a steroid cream, works wonders but there is no point putting it on until what evers bugging me is sorted.

haven't had a severe attack in almost 2 years though....

now if i can fix a problem, i try to, if i can't fix it, feck it... nothing i can do about it whether or not it affects me.

LegacyUser

I've had something like this twice in the past 3 years and I'm convinced it's psychological. I scratched the top of my feet raw (very thin skin anyway) i.e. so many weeping sores and scabs that they all combined into one rather painful mass. I tried changing washing powder, socks, diet (was convinced I was drinking too much milk at one stage) to no avail. But then once a stressful situation passed - my wedding first time, work the 2nd time - I could stop scratching.

It was definitely a comfort thing, like a soother or something for a baby. I actually used to get a high from it, like I'd just scratch somewhere that I knew I should be avoiding on my foot and suddenly I felt a release of endorphines (sp?) or something.

Two things helped; one was Germoline cream (not ointment) on the scabs, it had a soothing effect which stopped the physical need to scratch. Secondly, straight forward cold turkey; just try to stop scratching. My wife called me on it every time and sure enough, it got through. I decided I wanted the scabs gone by my 28th birthday and I pretty much did it.

One last thing; I never showed any other outward signs of stress and despite one flare-up happening in the run-up to my wedding day (my sister, who's a nurse, had to bandage up my severly-wounded foot on my big day - yay), I didn't feel stressed. But maybe these things lie so low in the conscious mind that they only manifest themselves in this way. I'm also prone to scratching my legs for no reason, so it might be related to the same issues.

trishawisha

Sometimes my legs are sooo itchy that they are red and sore after a bout of the itches,. my dad has the same problem, its not all the time, maybe once a week or so. My dad suffers from haemochromatosis, I also carry the gene, although I have no symptoms as of yet. Its something got to do with circulation in the legs. I find a heavy moisturiser can help.
Saying that the girl may be doing it out of nervousness, just like biting you nails

LegacyUser

This happened to me a couple of years ago. I tore and scratched at the front of both legs and the feeling was so satisfactory. I did it because I was stressed out and it got so bad, the scratching goes so deep.

What happened to me was I was with a guy who caused uncontrollable upset in my life, every day was a drama and I was trying to break up with continuously but he was a manipulator and I kept taking him back, I didnt know that the scratching was connected at the time.

After we finished, I stopped scratching. Not all at once, but the urge subsided.

I was given the vastoplast stuff by a friend who had a son with exema, it was the most satisfying relief. I wore them to work sometimes all up my legs. I was ashamed of what Id done to myself and seeing the pink plaster fill up the holes in my legs was so upsetting.

When I broke up with the guy, the scratching stopped gradually and I learnt self control. I havent had a repeat episode in 4 years. I scratched that place once after and I stopped myself because I knew where it led. I wear skirts and dresses, my scars use to be very noticible and now they're faded, all the new skin has grown bacl.

It is controllable OP, alot of it is in the mind.

JuliusCaesar

hairpulling, skin-picking, etc = habit disorders of the ocd spectrum.

But scratching can also be caused by itchy physical disorders (which may or may not be exacerbated by stress) such as psoriasis, eczema etc.

So it's important to get an opinion/diagnosis from your GP first.

IRISH RAIL

definitly go to a doctor as this can be a sign of heavy metal poisioning something a lot of doctors can easily overlook until its too late.
dont want to send anyone into a panic but a llot of things like that can be something other than psycological.

xxdilemmaxx

Iscratchedtoo wrote: »

I was given the vastoplast stuff by a friend who had a son with exema, it was the most satisfying relief.

What is vastoplast? Can't find anything on google?

LegacyUser

its actually spelled westoplast, and it might help your search on google

xxdilemmaxx wrote: »

What is vastoplast? Can't find anything on google?

xxdilemmaxx

Nope, nothing coming up in Google search? Maybe there's just no info on it on google....?