I am in your camp. I found some neat gloves at Target that are some kind of soft thin fabric with the fingers dipped in plastic. They are the thinnest and least irritating gloves I have found. One thing is everything needs to be washed all the time. Wash your gloves and shoes often. I also have soft close fitting goatskin gloves and they are great so long as they are clean. Then of course, wash yourself often. Try one of the clear glycerin soaps. My new best handcream is "handmade" by philosophy. I do not know what to do about the itchies. My ankles are constantly itching. Maybe wear wellies?

I found a homemade solution on line for my dog's itchy skin problems that I am going to start using for bug bites on myself and my family.

It consists of 3 parts: 1 part Listerine ( contains anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties) 1 part baby oil ( skin softener) and 1 part water. Just add all 3 ingriedients to a spray bottle, shaking well to mix.

I found a 1 cup capacity spray bottle, so I just measure 1/3 cup of each of the 3 ingriedients mentioned above, to fill the bottle.

This solution worked very well on my "canine kids" ! I think its worth a try for the rest of the family.

Marilyn

wannabe....I have the same problem....and look out for tomato plants - one touch and I itch all day. I also have eczema that gets REALLY BAD in the winter. My skin is so sensitive that I can't put anything on it but Keri lotion. Then...I found derma e products. (No I don't sell them). They make a cream specifically for itchy skin...check out their website. It is all natural ingredients.

The products we use for itchy skin are
Aveno bath products-Gold bond Lotion- and two
prescription products-Salex and Umecta.

All help. Also I am a bath oil junkie:.)
Gigi

I have sensative skin that is not necessarily dry. I like gold bond powder (which is helping the rash which is spreading across my stomach), I love the Target face wash, and I will use that on my whole body. When I get the rashes on my arms and lets (often invisible) from gardening, I come in and wash immediately with this stuff.
For everything else I've been using Aveda ever since hubby bought it for me. When I had no problems with the shampoo at the salon, he jumped on their products. Their hand and foot lotions are devine.

GGG

Thanks for all your responses. tessa - I just went out to our local health food store and picked up some derma e anti-itch creme. Thanks for that recommendation. fammsimm I'll have to also try to 'recipe' - it sounds interesting. Jean

Washing immediately when coming in is probably the real secret, don't you think?

I use only Aveeno hand lotion (and always after washing my hands) and Dove soap. Never anything with perfume (this helps with bugs, too.) I have a dozen pairs of Atlas nitrile gardening gloves and always remove the pair I'm wearing if they get wet or muddy inside and put on a clean pair. The plants that especially irritate my skin are Heleniums, Euphorbias, Lantanas and both annual and perennial butterfly weeds. Hope this helps!

I'm glad you brought this up. I developed hives as a result of my gardening and suffered for 2 months thinking it was just an allergy. This is the first year this has happened, although I do break out from certain plants, including hollyhocks, that may have been the cause of the hives. Once I break out I become even more sensitive and react to even more plants; sometimes just being outside, especially with the heat/humidity wave that we've been having. At least I'm not alone.

I have always had very sensitive skin and my regimine is tedious and boring. As far as bug control goes though I use only avon's original scent Skin So Soft.

I know many people have tried it and do not have success but it works wonders for me. I cannot use any of the regular insect repellents. They either make me ill or make my skin break out. The SSS works for me and does not irritate my skin. I also think that the layer of oil helps keep other irritating plant 'stuff' and chemicals from getting next to my skin as well.

What does irritate me about it is the oily mess. I cannot come in from out of doors and sit down on my dining room or living room chairs. If I rest my arms on a table or desk I leave an oily mark. So I trade one problem for another because I live and breath outdoors - I just cannot stay inside for any lenth of time.

But back to the plus side again - I have pretty good looking skin for my age :-). I think all those years of oiling up before I go outside might have something to do with it.

I love the gloves mentioned by Debbie-- I have several pair provided me by my sil from his industrial supply. They are great!

I can't use most insect repellants, either, so end up covering myself up. Having Lyme already, I am particularly paranoid about ticks- skeetos don't bother me, as West Nile as a threat is vastly overblown.

The absolutely best stuff I've found for bug bites and skin irritations from plants is called "StingStop", an herbal homeopathic ointment that is greaseless. Wouldn't be without it. That stuff works.

Dayle Ann

For highly sensitive skin, select products very carefully to lessen the chances of suffering from allergic reactions. Buy products that are hypoallergenic as they do not contain any harsh chemicals. Avoid products that contain fragrance as the alcohol in the fragrance can irritate your skin.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sensitive Skin Treatment

Prevention is best -- find a good pair of gloves. I have really sensitive skin too. I have several different kinds of gloves for different garden tasks. I use "mud gloves" which are nitrile tipped for muddy gardening, handling fertilizer/chemicals, and weeding in beds that don't have roses. I have goatskin gauntlet gloves which are supple and leave my skin soft for weeding and stuff around roses and where I need forearm protection. I have tough womanswork pigskin gloves for pruning thorny roses when I may be handling canes but these give me the least "feeling" of the task.

I use a home made bug spray for the dogs (since they can't have normal bug spray), and it works well for people as well.

Boil water. Stuff full of sprigs of Rosemary. Bring back to boil and turn off the heat. Add a ton of very thinly sliced (paper thin) lemon. Let steep overnight. Pour into spray bottle and store in refrigerator. Not only does it cut down on the number of bug bites, it also smells wonderful.

My cousin's daughter has extremely sensitive skin, and cannot use soaps. She uses a mixture of lentil flour and yogurt for baths; it's a little messy, but works well. And the only cream that works for her is Cetaphil.

There's a product called Gloves in a bottle being sold by Lee Valley Tools that claims to protect hands that are sensitive to latex gloves and the like. Perhaps this can be of help although I've never tried it myself.

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&cat=2,42551&p=10256

Ianna