My name is Sarah Reynolds. I'm 47, a high school teacher in Arizona, married with two teenage daughters.
Two years ago, I thought I was losing my mind.
It started with mild itching at night. Just my arms and legs. I bought better moisturizer. The itch got worse.
My doctor suggested antihistamines before bed. "Probably just seasonal allergies."
I took them every single night. Full dose. They barely made a dent.
Within six months, the itch had spread everywhere. My back. My shoulders. My scalp. Inside my ears. The soles of my feet.
It was worst at night. That crawling, burning sensation under my skin.
I'd scratch until I bled. Wake up with blood under my nails and red welts all over.
I tried everything topical. Anti-itch creams. Cortisone. Expensive dermatologist lotions.
But how do you cover your entire back? Your scalp? Inside your ears?
It felt pointless. This wasn't a surface problem.
I couldn't sleep more than two hours at a time. I'd lie awake at 3 AM, scratching and crying, searching forums on my phone.
That's where I found them. Other women just like me.
"Taking antihistamine full dose every night. It barely helps."
"Tried everything topical. Nothing works because it's too widespread."
These were educated women doing everything "right." And still suffering.