How I (Barely) Survive the Annoying Scleroderma Itch

Does scleroderma itch? More than you can imagine - By Lisa Weber

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.

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.
Read the rest of the article here...