Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
We talk a lot about different sides... for me the rashes are a big problem. Last time it almost knocked me out of the program. Now at week 29 it's back and getting worse. Probably the winter dryness doesn't help. I wonder what causes it? Some say the riba. Others say it's a symptom of HCV.
My doc said try OTC cortisone cream for 3 days. If no relief, he'd prescribe Kenalog cream. If no relief after 3 days, call him and he'd prescribe Rx strength cortisone cream. Call your doc. There are meds to counter most of the side effects of treatment..... except fatigue, damn it.
I used Aveeno oatmeal bath (it's a powder that dissolves in the bath water) and I found that, as far as lotions, Eucerin Calming Cream worked the best for me. I used other Aveeno lotions that were pretty good but Eucerin did the best for me. As soon as I got out of the bath, I immediately put the lotion on from head to toe. I even took the stuff to work with me and sometimes had to put some on my back during my work day and then when I got home from work I stripped off my clothes and lathered up again.
I also started using Benadryl at night and eventually during the day too. Then when it lost it's power I started using Zyrtec.
I also had to watch what type of clothing I wore. Nothing tight and slippery material felt better to my skin.
Some people have found that Gold Bond lotion (ugly green bottle with a red lid) works well for them but the menthol in it aggravated my skin.
Good luck...I know how awful it can be. Keep at it with the lotions and baths. Sometimes, on the weekends, I soaked in the tub twice a day. It became a full time effort but eventually I got on top of the itching.
Try to use natural products that don't block the skins pores. Remember, the reason you are itching is because your body is trying to cleanse itself of the toxins. Both from the chemo and from the liver not functioning properly. So it forces that "garbage" through your skin. This throws off the PH balance of your skin.
I was just reading an article that said Chamomile and Tea Tree Oil topically can help to detox and calm the skin. Shea Butter or Olive Oil are non-clogging options to moisturize. So I am looking at some products to try right now. I'll let you know how they go.
Common sense things to remember is to take tepid showers rather than hot. To use a mild soaps and shampoos. And to drink LOTS of water to flush the toxins out.
Live disease can sometimes cause your skin to itch
and sometimes a rash
Riba will cause a rash that itch like hell
Aveeno Oatmeal Baths (1x/day) are my savior when itching is intense, I apply rx cortisone cream to rash sites, I use Aveeno lotion all over my body, I take Zyrtec with my AM pills and 50-75mg of Benadryl if needed at bedtme for sleep and/or itching. I find that drinking LOTS of water helps keep my skin hydrated...especially with winter starting to bear down in New England...dry, itchy skin OFF tx was unbearable enough!
P.S. I also use T-Gel shampoo for intense scalp itch. It leaves my hair smelling like a minty version of a charcoal grill, but it sure helps!