Skin Allergies - help!!!! - Allergies Message Board

Twinklez81 · 05-20-2005, 10:25 PM

Please someone let me know if you can help me figure out what this is.

I have had itchy skin now for ten years. My skin doesn't have a rash, it doesn't have swelling, it just itches really bad. Once I scratch, then a rash breaks out and swelling but not before. I itch from head to toe and I don't know what wrong. Ive gone to allergist, had several blood test done, but to no avail.

I was placed on antibiotics for a few years and it stopped, and even when i came off i didn't have a problem until i was placed on antibiotics for a sinus infection and since then its come back. Topical creams don't work, the only thing that works is oral antihistamines.

What could this be? Because ten years is enough. I have another allergist appointment on the 6th.

I'm miserable.

Titchou · 05-21-2005, 06:40 AM

Have you tried a dermatologist? Sounds like it might be a contact condition...I have to use Tide Free for laundry or else my clothes and sheets make me itch...certain lotions, soaps, etc are problems too...you might think along those lines rather than something ingested or inhaled.

rheanna · 05-22-2005, 01:48 AM

Twinklez81,

As Titchou suggested, it could be contact allergies. My itchy skin cleared up dramatically when I switched to perfume- and alcohol-free products. That means laundry soap, body soap, shampoo, body creams, deoderants, etc. I don't have a dryer, so I don't have to worry about those nasty-smelling anti-static thingies that people throw into their dryers -- I hang thins up to dry -- outdoors when this crappy northern Germany weather permits!

If you can stand the smell of perfumes (which I can't, as you might have guessed from my sarcastic comments!), then maybe if you remove ALL other sources of perfume, you might be ok with a little dab behind the ears.

At any rate, a dermatologist might be able to help you track down what you're sensitive to.

It also COULD be something that you're eating -- like sulfates in wine or dried fruits. But I'd go for the reactions to perfumes first.

Good luck.

--Rheanna