Question:
Have any of you post op had problems with itching skin?.

In areas like on my hands in my nuckles it is so dry and itches so bad.....Even my head is itching....I know our skin changes after surgery and thought maybe it is due to loss of water in our skin.....I have never had dry skin that itched like this before......Also in the fold of my skin(under tummy and in creases of legs), like where I have lost weight gets real irritated when I am hot and when I try to get it cleared up and it starts to dry up it itches like CRAZY.....Sorry to shout put I believe this itching is worse than the pain I had from actual surgery....I have a call in to my PCP doctor now so maybe he can suggest something...Everytime i call my surgeons office about something they just really don't know so I'm like most of you....My surgeon is just that "a surgeon"....but a good one. Please let me know if you have had this problem and any step you took to make it better.....I have tried lotion but to no avail....and the baths. Thanks for any suggestions!!!! Oh I am down to 211 and only 12 pounds behind schedule as far as the BMI page says......YEEHAW!!!!    — Cindi V. (posted on October 29, 2001)

October 29, 2001
My skin started itching the first week after surgery. Everyone said to drink your water and I did, but it was still itchy! I found some vitamin E lotion from Fruit of the Earth that I get at Walmart by the truck load! I easily go thru two 24 oz bottles per week, but it does help with the itching. It is reasonably priced, so you can use a lot without going broke!
   — gina P.

October 29, 2001
Hi All !! I too had severe itching and horrible redness in every crease area in my body. Lotions and oils seemed to help for a short while,then the itching and redness was back with a vengance. I suffered with this for almost 2 mos and then when at my PCP office for a cold, I mentioned the itching to her. She looked at a red spot just above my incision that was itching me to death and casually remarked that I have alot of "yeast" in my system. Probably from post op antibiotics. She said it is very common and gave me a prescription for some topical creme. 3 days later it is almost gone and the itching was gone with the first application. It started on the back of my legs also and the creme stopped it immediately. Check with your dr. A $5 tube of creme made my life ALOT MORE COMFORTABLE...
   — Joi G.

April 8, 2003
I am about 3 months post-op, and I am going to go crazy with the itching! My skin has never been dry in my life, and now I feel like I look like an alligator! My guess is that it is not from lack of water, but lack of fat that is being absorbed. Nutrogena Sesame Oil is great, light, and it seems to not soak in and disappear immediately. What about for the face and scalp though? Not like we want to put oil there!
   — Shelby M.