Allergy or Not?

Updated on April 05, 2011
L.D. asks from Katy, TX
19 answers

Recently my hands and feet started to itch something fierce. I thought maybe it was an allergy to something, but it seems to be mostly at night (occasionally in the daytime). I have seen my regular dr., but they haven't been much help, only referring me to a dermatologist. I have done some research on the internet and there are some things that I've read regarding similar symptoms--from high blood pressure, to diabetes, to carpel tunnel syndrome. Just wondering if anyone out there has suffered anything similar or knows someone that has. I would welcome any help you can provide before I scratch myself to death. Thanks so much.

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C.M.

answers from Houston on

My dad had this itching but it was not just his hands and feet. He had a disease called PCV(poycythemia vera) He produced too many red blood cells. I also had itching a while back like you and took 1 benadryl morning and night. It helped and went away in about 1 week. Liver problems can also cause itching I have heard. Good luck.

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J.T.

answers from College Station on

My son had something similar to that last summer but his was also red and cracked. We tried everything until a friend suggested t might be fungal so I put some of his brothers anti-fungal prescription diaper cream on it and it cleared up right away.

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W.W.

answers from Houston on

Hi L.,
I had that when I was pregnant with my first child. I had gained a lot of weight and I think that I had gestational diabetes. My son was 10lbd 11oz. My doctor was not very good and I was not diagnosed with it. I did have GD with my second child.
Maybe it is related to blood sugar. I had never thought of that before. It does make sense to me.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
W.

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J.T.

answers from Victoria on

it could be stress reliated. my hands peel when i am stressed. i would go to a nutritionest/dietation or some other natural remedie place that can give you some nutrience you might be lacking. Just my guess.

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M.B.

answers from Austin on

Hi L.,
I get itchy hands when I eat foods that I have allergies too. Like wheat, eggs, dairy from cows, yeast and almonds. I have not had itchy feet but my palms to get itchy and I also get these eczema patches on three part of the back of my hands. If I stop eating those things it goes away. Mine flare up at night before bed and when I wake in the morning. Weird.
Check out this website. www.betterhealthusa.com
It will talk more about food allergies. You can get tested through a blood test. That is how I found out what was going on. Also, when I eat the foods I have allergies to I feel hungover in the morning from it. I feel achey and irratable after I eat them as well. It's worth tryig. The other girls had some good advice as well.
Good luck!

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D.J.

answers from Austin on

Ask your Dr. to check your blood sugar . . . itchy feet (espically at night) and hands are symtoms of diabetes . . . might be nothing more than a skin irritation (new/differnt type of shoe material, or new/differnt type of soap, shampoo, cleaner,etc) but better safe than sorry.

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C.S.

answers from Austin on

I agree with Jackie T-I have had similar stress related incidents since my teen years. and it's almost always worse at night because you are just laying around and realize you itch. I found going to a derma dr. and getting a prescription for some mild cortisone cream helped the most. When I have the outbreaks, I put the cream on at night and wear cotton gloves (you can find cheap ones on line-i use "pallbearer gloves" cheap and all cotton and you can buy them by the dozen) or socks to lighten the scratching. Scratching makes it worse (as I'm sure you have noticed). I usually get just a small "patch" of the itch on my toe or side of my finger and that's when I recognize I need to pay attention to Myself and try to unstress what is going on in my life. Also, watch what detergent you wash in-you might be allergic to it. Good luck - you've asked the right women-they know everything on this blog.

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T.W.

answers from Austin on

not that this really helps, but my mom and i randomly have this from time to time also. no underlying conditions in our cases. try buying the DERMAREST ECZEMA MEDICATED LOTION 4OZ. you can usually get at heb, but it's not cheap. seems to be the only thing that helps. good luck! let me know what the dermatologist thinks it is it you don't mind.

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S.S.

answers from San Angelo on

Not sure if it is the same thing but I had intense itching under my arm pits and on my palms. It was at different times. When it started in my arm pits I had just bought a new bra and so I stopped wearing it and it still itched so then I switched to Almay under arm deodrant and it stopped. Then shortly after that my palms started itching so I stopped using the lotion I was using and went to Jergens and have had no problems since. I never had any rash with this just the intense itching. Try switching your soap and if that don't work switch your lotion or whatever you use on your whole body. Maybe it is just a allergy to something. Good luck hope you find the problem

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A.D.

answers from Longview on

Sounds like an allergic reaction to something, probably food. See an allergist and get tested for food allergies. Until then start keeping a food/symptom journal. Write down everything you eat and note how you feel. If it is a food allergy symptoms can begin anywhere from moments to many hours after consuming the allergen. I suffered for years with various symptoms and visited many doctors before finally discovering the source of my problem was food allergies.
A. :~D

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D.R.

answers from Houston on

Go to Whole Foods and go to the Homeopathic area and find your symptoms and then take every 15min for the first hr then every 30min for the next three hrs. After the first 4hrs take the tabs every three hrs. Keep the tabs by your bed and take if you wake in the middle of the night. You really need to check out all Your cleaning products and personal care product at http://www.unsafehome.com/a_z/ and Go to www.saferforyourhome.com for alternative products.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions on anything.

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C.G.

answers from Austin on

I had this once, and it was an allergic reaction to the penecillin I was taking....
good luck!

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H.

answers from San Antonio on

the inside of my palm itches too alot , wonder what it is.

H.

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B.M.

answers from Houston on

Ask your doctor to give you a bloodtest for celiac disease. Sometimes an allergy to gluten can produce skin sensitivity. This can occur without any other gastrointestinal symptoms.

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S.S.

answers from San Antonio on

My sister in law recently found out she had eczema which manifested itself with itching feet and hands. She also had some behind her knees before she went to see a doctor. It is treatable, however. Yeah!

It seems like you would have other symptoms if it were a straight allergy. Is there anything that only comes in contact with your feet and hands? If your start to see sores, especially in your mouth, go back to the doctor. In the meantime, it is probably something fairly easy to treat like a fungus or virus but since both might be transmittable, I recommend going to see that dermatologist. If you find one you really like, please let me know!

Good luck, L.!

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L.A.

answers from Houston on

I had the same problem and by dumb luck figured out what it was - I am gluten intolerant. Once I removed gluten from my diet, the intense itching stopped. Hope this helps.

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C.C.

answers from San Antonio on

I get it occassionaly and have no idea what it is. I do know that if I take one Benadryl it seems to ease the itch and helps me sleep. It usually happens right before I go to bed. Good luck.

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M.R.

answers from Houston on

I get excema breakouts on the palms of my hands and it itches worse at night, probably because I'm not doing anything to distract myself. If it is really bothering you I'd go to the dermatologist.

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Z.S.

answers from Honolulu on

You may want to research "scabies". Many people scoff and think it is a dirty disease but unfortunately in places like Hawaii and Brazil it is common. Your wrist and ankles itch so bad and especially at night.
Honestly I hope you do have it because it is easily treated with a cream (one time application) from your Dr. and the other things you were mentioning are really severe.
Best of luck.

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