Question by Bess2002:
Can a food or food additive cause generalized itching?
I’ve been having trouble with severe itching (creepy-crawly and pinprick feelings) for several months now. There is no visible rash (except where I’ve caused it by scratching). The doctor has treated for scabies (just in case) and my blood tests are normal. I use hypoallergenic everything (laundry soap, lotion, etc.), the pets checked out OK at the vets (no mites or fleas), I’ve checked for bedbugs (no signs), and can’t think of anything else that might be causing the itching. I asked the doctor about food allergy, but he said that food allergies can cause shock, but not generalized itching, and that if I was allergic to a particular food I would be able to tell.
I know that in animals, whenever they itch and parasites are ruled out, that a food allergy is often suspected. Why would a food allergy in humans only cause anaphylaxis, and not just cause generalized itching?
Any other ideas?
Best answer:
Answer by coral
When I was in college several years ago, this would happen to me. I realized it was my lack of a healthful diet that was causing the problem. I was eating too much junk food, top ramen, and not enough vegetables. When I changed my diet to a more healthy one, the itching went away. Something to think about.
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Yes..anyone can have issues with any food product or ingredient
This could also be caused from your nerves.
Your detergents, any and all including: lotions and colognes have CHEMICALS in them EVEN THOSE DYE FREE,FRAGRANCE FREE…Now if you have purchased these products from a HEALTH FOOD STORE they maybe free of ALL CHEMICALS but personal care products in my experience have had one or two CHEMICALS still in them.(The products still LIE about what they are and the stores still stock them)That continued my breakouts, itching etc. Your Bedding may have SYNTHETICS in them and this also can cause an allergic reaction,then there is ALL the FURNITURE you sit and lay on and if its OLDER they maybe loaded w/ DUST MITES this includes ALL PILLOWS! This is my problem.If I touch the couch or covers on the couch and then touch my face,I will start itching more and more…Think about the things you are doing when the itching occurs.Are you just waking up in the morning?Been lounging on the couch or floor,favorite chair? Do you handle the housecleaning daily? Work outside?Washing your hands is a big deal.YOUR CLOTHING COULD BE A PROBLEM as well BECAUSE THEY MAYBE BLENDED WITH SYNTHETICS.If you are allergic to synthetic materials this could be triggering the itching and then if your noticing it after a shower,maybe your water has alot of CHLORINE in it.This triggers me too.Feel free to email me if you have any questions or need more help at all with this.I could go on & on…
eminemcreations@yahoo.com
Big help, big help. And sueprlitave news of course.
You are describing exactly what I went through. It would keep me up all night. I finally made the connection. It was the perfumes in the fabric softners and laundry detergents that I was using. Later I found that various perfumed soaps and body washes would cause the same thing. I found products that wouldn’t cause me to react. And just like you, a rash wouldn’t appear until I started scratching. Okay, so you seem okay in the lotion and laundry detergent deptartment. How about your shampoo? Your conditioner? Are they perfumed? How about your deodorant. Even though your detergents say “hypoallergenic” do they have perfumes? Are the sheets of your bedding washed in anything perfumed such as detergent or downy fabric softener in the rinse? If my wife even washes our sheets in downy, I’ll wake up itching. Well, I hope this helps. Good luck and I hope you find the answer to your problem, my friend.