Hi - I am on Long Island too! Not to far from you, but on the south shore. I feel your pain, I really do. My girl Roxy has allergies and she has and can scratch herself raw. Now, Roxy has MVD (tiny little shunts in her liver). Have you had a Bile Acid Test done? This is really inexpensive and it shows how the liver is functioning. Honestly if you haven't had one, I'd get one
Next, you say you are not found of your Vet....I don't know how far you are willing to travel, but my Vet is Dr. Duffy with the Eastport Animal Hospital - Montauk Highway in Eastport (631) 878-PETS
I LOVE HIM!!!! He is so kind and gentle and really, really tries to get things solved properly.
Since Roxy has liver issues, we are limited to 'what' she can have and can not have medically to treat her problems. Roxy itches her armpits and ears and sometimes her neck, she'll get little pimples on her belly and private areas. I have been battling this since she was 2 y/o (now she is 3.5 y/o) - It started with dry flakes, and then the intense scratching making her skin raw, and then I would get it better and it would all happen again, over and over.
I home cook for her and she gets Vit E and Fish Oil everyday. I have been forced to give her 1/2 of a Children's Benedryl in the AM and PM. And I did this b/c I needed her to stop the scratching so her skin can heal. For a month straight I tried to aide that healing (which I do think worked) - I feed her 1/4 teaspoon Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar in her AM food and 1/4 teaspoon of Aloe Vera Gel (from the Vitamin Shoppe) in her PM food. I am also now feeding her 1/4 teaspoon of Organic Coconut Oil - All of these things you can do a Google Search and you can read the benefits it has for both humans and dogs - inside and outside.
She can not have any steroids so all I can do is keep her food and supplements at the very best level. I also have a shampoo from the Vet that is microbacterial. I use a product called Skin Works by the Coat Handler, these heals her spots too. I don't use Conditioner, I rinse her sooooooooooooooo well during bath time. I use dye free and fragrance free detergents. No fabric softener. I vacuum every week.
If you want to talk - PM and I'd be happy to speak with you