Itchy Hands and Feet??

Updated on June 24, 2018
R.G. asks from Wyandotte, MI
27 answers

For the past couple of weeks, my 3 year old son wakes up in the middle of the night scratching the bottoms of his feet and the palms of his hands. He can't sleep because he is so itchy. I can't understand what it may be. I give him baths with mild baby wash, I rub lotion on his body after baths and before bed. I haven't changed any of my soaps or detergents. He has no rash, red areas, or anything abnormal on his hands or feet. He doesn't even seem to have dry skin. Has anyone else experiences this?? I heard of hand, foot, and mouth disease. Could it be that??

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all of the great advice, ladies!! I realized that it could be eczema, as I also suffer with this horrible disease. I am lactose intolerant, which only causes the exzema to worsen. So....I decided to switch my son to Soy products. He has been drinking soy milk and eating soy cheese and yogurt. Hopefully, this will help. He hasn't been complaining about the itching lately. Wish me luck!! :)

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J.B.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Well, here's a new one to consider: blocked bile duct causing an elevated belirubin (sp?) level. See the doc.

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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

With hand, foot and mouth they get actual sores. My daughter had it in her mouth and they run a fever. I would think that he has an allergy to something. I have a food allergy and we did not relize how many things it is in until my reactions escalated to mouth swelling and difficulty breathing. I used to get really itchy on my legs and feet, like scratching until the skin was raw, this was after I ate something that had coconut in it. My first guess would be a food allergy, I would make an appointment with my pedi and ask about a referral to an allergist.

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R.H.

answers from Detroit on

Hi R.,
As already mentioned, it's not hand, foot, mouth disease. There would be red bumps and a rash.

But it really does sound like an allergic reaction.

Is it ONLY at night??? Just because you've always used something doesn't mean he hasn't developed an allergy to it. Think about his diet, of course... any new foods that maybe you've added because of the spring time of year. But, try eliminating the lotion and see if the itching goes away. Might take a couple of nights.

Keep in mind, when you are trying to eliminate potential allergens... don't do a whole bunch at a time. Unless the reaction is a serious health risk of course. Eliminate one at a time... wait a few days... then move onto the next. Otherwise you'll never know what caused the reaction.

The benedryl will help eliviate the itching... but you do run the risk of not really finding out what caused the reaction.

You may want to consider getting him allergy tested at some point. But I know most doctors don't do it on kids younger then 5.

A.W.

answers from Detroit on

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Quaternium-15
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quaternium-15 is a quaternary ammonium salt used as a preservative in many cosmetics and industrial substances. It acts as a formaldehyde releaser. It can cause contact dermatitis, a symptom of an allergic reaction, especially in those with sensitive skin, on an infant ' s skin, or on sensitive areas such as the genitals.

Formaldehyde is a Cancer Causing Carsonigeion and does NOT need to be used in personal care products. There are Natural alternatives that can be used.


Chemical Information (http://householdpro ducts.nlm. nih.gov/index. htm)

Chemical Name:
Quaternium-15

CAS Registry Number:
004080-31-3

Synonyms:
Quaternium 15; Methenamine 3-chloroallylochlor ide; 3,5,7-Triaza- 1-azoniatricyclo (3.3.1.13, 7)decane, 1-(3-chloro- 2-propenyl) -, chloride; N-(3-Chloroallyl) hexaminium chloride; Hexamethylenetetram ine chloroallyl chloride

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P.R.

answers from Detroit on

Has he eaten a new or different raw fruit or vegetable? Strawberries, maybe, or something that is not in his diet all the time?

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S.M.

answers from Saginaw on

Hello R., This is an early sign of allergies. Since it is happening while your child is in bed, my first guess would be dust mites. Get rid of the mattress if it is old. If you cannot afford a new mattress, then buy an exercise mat that your son can sleep on while you save up. If it is a newer mattress than I would encase it in a sheet make for allery proofing. My son had severe asthma and dust mites where his worst trigger. He kept having such severe episodes during his first year of life that we made countless trips to the ER. None of the doctors pinpointed his trigger, until we went to a pediatric allergist. At the very first visit he knew what it was simply by the fact that it happened in the middle of the night almost every night. Hope this helps.

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A.N.

answers from Detroit on

have you washed your carpets recently? my feet got really itchy once out of the blue and i discovered i was allergic to the soap from the carpet cleaner.

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S.S.

answers from Lansing on

I'm no expert. That's for sure. Do you have any animals? I sometimes have very mild allergic reactions to my hands and feet after I have been petting animals. Spring is coming, along with the allergy season. Maybe he is developing some sort of allergy. Good luck!

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K.B.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Hi R.,

Could it be ezcema? Does he have little red bumps? It may look like more of a patch if he's been itching. I would recommend changing to Dove soap. Also, I would recommend a lotion without dyes and chemicals. I use CeraVe on myself and son, which is a great lotion that can be picked up at most CVS stores. Otherwise, I would suggest as others have a food log to determine if he may have food allergy. This seems to be a typical age where some toddler develop enviromental allergies. You could try some children's zyrtec to see if that relieves that itching, that is just a band-aid until you determine the cause.

Good Luck!
K.

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K.M.

answers from Detroit on

R., I would get it checked out with your pediatrician. I don't think it would be mouth foot and hand desease but you never know. It might be an allergy to a food he eats before bed. Is there something hes eaten the same in the last 3 weeks? Or maybe evey other day or so? I am curious to know what happens please let me know. Take care

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F.W.

answers from Detroit on

It isn't hand,foot, and mouth, thank goodness! That is a miserable and painful virus. Sounds like some sort of an allergic reaction, though.

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N.W.

answers from Detroit on

Hand, Foot and Mouth is sores and a fever. Probably he does not have that.

Just becuase you haven't changed products, does not mean he has not developed an allergy to something. It sounds like some sort of allergic reaction. I would at least call at talk to your Dr.

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S.A.

answers from Kalamazoo on

This is how I experienced my first allergic reaction...mine to penicillin. I would think about his diet; has he eaten anything different or new the last few days?

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M.M.

answers from Lansing on

Try sarna lotion for sensitive skin. It is an anti itch lotion My dermatologist recommended it for me. I get extremely itchy legs. It works great.

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E.W.

answers from Detroit on

I know you got a lot of info already as to a possibly allergy. But I just wanted to offer another suggestion - allergy to NSAIDS? (aspirin, ibuprofin, etc) When my husband took a product with NSAIDS in it, his legs and feet itched like mad. Of course he took more aspirin to ease the discomfort, not knowing that's what was causing it in the first place. It was a vicious cycle.

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M.G.

answers from Detroit on

Sometimes my boys skin sensitivies change...I ended up switching to all clear detergent, but theirs would be more on the core of the body. Since it is in an isolated area I would personally go see or call your doctor. Is there tingling like a circulation problem?

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M.V.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Try putting on some Gold Bond Medicated lotion before bed and again if he wakes up. This worked for one of the kids I used to nanny for. Good luck!

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D.N.

answers from Detroit on

R.,

My 4yr old had the itchy feet thing for awhile (but not the hands). I took her to a dermatoligist & they said she had "sweaty feet syndrom" & gave her every cream under the sun...because none of them were working?? He then wanted to give her an oral med. which she took only once because she said it tasted so bad. Nothing was really helping her & I felt so sorry for her...every night she would wake up in such discomfort! I was treating her for something else with a "home remedy" which you just happen to use on the bottom of their feet and what do you know...it worked! I was using garlic & olive oil every night and her problem went away...when i figured it out it was really just the olive oil that worked. I would put it on the bottom of her feet and then put socks on her for the night and we have not had any problems since. I don't know if it will work for you but it doesn't hurt to try the natural stuff. All their fancy creams just made her worse??
Good Luck,
D. N.

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S.K.

answers from Detroit on

I realize this is dated but could potentially help somebody else. The FLU!? Has your child recently gotten over the flu?

Nothing helped our LO, this happened for about 2- 3 weeks in early spring, right after the flu and when Pollen was high. Our pediatritian suggested he was having an immune response as a result to his body fighting the flu. It was a few long weeks but went away as fast as it came.

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A.L.

answers from Detroit on

My son has a lot of outside allergies but during testing he was also discovered to have an allergy to dust mites aka bed bugs. They suggested a plastic cover for his mattress and pillow and washing his sheets and blanket once a week. He was also put on allergy medication for his outside allergies. I would have never thought that was a problem but it has helped. I had that reaction at the time when I was pregnant with him and they thought it was the antibiotic that I was taking to get rid of a urine infection, but I have taken that antibiotic snice with no reaction.

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A.O.

answers from Kalamazoo on

It could possibly be excema. If it was hand, foot, mouth disease he would have blisters all over. In his mouth, they would be all over his tongue, and cheeks. They are paiinful in the mouth and it is VERY contagious. Good luck with figuring it out.

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V.R.

answers from New York on

Hi R.,
My daughter will be 3 in January and is having the exact issue you've mentioned with your son who is about 8 yrs old now? No dryness, blisters, etc. She has eczema but the doc says it's controlled very well. You can't really tell she has it. Please tell me what has continued to work for your son. I always rub her feet and hands when she tells me it's bothering her. Then she falls back to sleep.

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M.K.

answers from Detroit on

Hi R.,
Obviously, the next inquiry should be posed to your pediatrician. Since no one else has mentioned this, if his skin does not appear to be irritated, chapped, etc., and you haven't introduced new foods or products which you think could cause an allergic reaction, question whether it is neurological or circulatory. Probably not the case with such a young person, but if other solutions don't work, definitely worth investigating.

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C.C.

answers from Detroit on

R.,

If it were hand, foot and mouth disease your little guy would have red blister type spots all over the palms of his hands, the soles of his feet and around his mouth. It's horrible! My children have unfortunately been through this one before.

It sounds like he's allergic to something. It could be a change in food or even laundry detergent. You can give him a little benadryl to relieve the itching until you're able to determine the cause. My son can pet our cat but washes his hands right afterwards because if he rubs his eyes they will swell up.

If you can't figure out what's causing the reaction I would suggest you take him to your pediatrician.

Good luck and hang in there!

C.

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M.P.

answers from Detroit on

I am not sure if it is hand and mouth. However, here are few things. Does he drink water? Half his body weight in ounces is the ideal amount. Also, Omega fish oils are also good for dry skin.

What it boils down to is that something is going on inside his body for him to have this reaction.

Do you use soaps, washing detergents, lotions, etc that have fragrances? If so he may be alergic to the fragrances in those products.

M.

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J.O.

answers from Grand Rapids on

My 6 y/o daughter has been having a similar issue with itching. My DR. suggested I give her Benedryl before bedtime. I have also been putting a hydrocortisone cream on the specific spots (tops of legs, small of back)- but very lightly. I have also been trying to "lube her up" after bath time with a lotion. She has not been complaining as much, but she was also very sick last week w/ viral phryngitis - which consisted of a high fever for over 5 days. Her itchiness was much worse last week, but I can relate as she was very upset by the itching and had a very difficult time sleeping due to it.

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L.W.

answers from Detroit on

my 7 year old would "itch all over" every night when she was in bed. come to find out she is highly sensitive (not allergic) to wheat, egg and cow's milk. i was stunned. i thought she might have a sensitivity to dairy, but when the results from the blood test came back, they showed that egg and wheat were even worse than dairy. ever since we TEMPORARILY (60-90 day program) took her off of all cows milk/gluten/eggs, she has not itched at all. in hindsight, we realize she had headaches and tummy discomfort too that have since disappeared. every person has different sensitivities to food, it's just a matter of getting a bloodtest to figure it out. since my daughter had actual symptoms to justify the test, we had no problem with insurance coverage.
if you are at all interested, her doctor is Dr. Park-Davis out in West Bloomfield. she is fantastic with children and is a regular MD who also practicesh alternative medicine.

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