How I Manage My Itchy Skin With CKD

Itchy skin seems to be a common symptom for people dealing with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially during the end stages. My legs were the target for my itchy flare-ups. At first, I was not sure if they were itchy from CKD. I thought that perhaps it had to do with shaving my legs, but I was scratching to the point that I would start to bleed and then have scabs, especially on my shins. Sometimes, I would not remember the scabs were there and would continue to itch, leaving small scars up my shins from accidentally scraping them off. GROSS. I know.

Sometimes, I'd wake up in the middle of the night itching like crazy. You know when you're in a semi-slumber state and you're doing something you aren't even aware of... that's me itching.

Why my skin was itchy

I began to research why my skin gets so itchy with CKD. It can be due to a buildup of phosphorus in your blood that your kidneys are unable to filter out. Apparently, high levels of phosphorus can cause itchiness and dry skin. Phosphorus is included in all kinds of foods such as meat, dairy, fish, and nuts.

I was also getting super dry eyes and muscle cramps, which can also be related to high phosphorus. I'm a big believer in managing my blood tests through diet. Whenever I could, I would reduce my intake of red meats, dairy products, and nuts. I wasn't a big fish eater, so I didn't need to reduce my intake, but I aimed to be more aware of how much I ate in the future. I didn't stop myself from eating all of these foods, but I made sure that I portioned everything out and did my best not to overindulge.

Managing my itchy skin

For the most part, I was able to keep my phosphorus levels down enough to stay off calcium carbonate until recently. In the end, although I had changed my diet, it became harder for my kidney to filter out the toxins. This led to a buildup of toxins in my blood and the itchiness returning. I was put on a medication to help reduce the itching.

A home remedy for helping my itching skin was not shaving my legs as often. Each time I shaved my legs, it made them even drier, which added to the existing itchiness. But sometimes, you do want to shave your legs. So, when I do shave, I try moisturizing much more. This isn't my primary method, as sometimes I found the moisturizer could also irritate my legs and make them itchy. However, it might also be the specific moisturizer I have been using.

Overall, I was able to manage my itchy skin through changes to my diet and some minor lifestyle changes. Medication came into play when my kidney function got lower and also had a massive benefit on my skin. Please talk with your doctor before taking any new medications. What helps one person might not help another.