Can a food or food additive cause generalized itching?

Question

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 my doctor about food allergy, but he said that food allergies can cause shock but not generalized itching, and if I was allergic to a particular food I would be able to tell.

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 generalized itching?

I'm considering trying an elimination diet to check for allergies. Any suggestions/links?

Other serious ideas are welcome, too.

Thank you for all the suggestions!

To answer the bloodwork question, my liver values were checked and are normal. I appreciate the suggestion, though, thank you.

Answer 1

hi there :)

in light of some health issues i've had of my own, recently i have done MUCH reading and study regarding the immune system and how what we eat supports good health. even just last week, i had an appointment with a naturopathic practitioner whose advice and guidance, i believe, is much better than any general practitioner's advice i've ever received! i agree with the person who suggested you see a naturopath--if you are, in fact, deficient in a vitamin or mineral, they can tell you right away. you'd be surprised what strange symptoms pop up with deficiencies. i was shocked to find out that i was pretty deficient--and i eat a very good diet! a naturopath can also tell you if candida is a problem or anything else that could be directly linked to your symptoms. they will help you treat the problem, not just the symptoms like conventional Western medicine usually does. *steps off soapbox and gets to the point* hehe ;)

i believe trying an elimination diet is the best thing you can do at this point, so long as you're not in serious pain or feeling really crummy. you said your tests all came back normal, so that is good. i wouldnt necessarily go so far as saying you have a food "allergy" though, but probably more of a food "intolerance." WHEAT and DAIRY are the two biggest culprits! in fact, my naturopath advised me to eliminate them both from my diet and so far so good! we eat so much wheat and dairy that over time, our immune system identifies substances in them as intruders and we start having all sorts of weird allergic reactions. (this is a really basic description--its actually pretty complicated!) i have crazy sneezing fits for no reason--its sporadic, all year round. ive not been able to identify it to a certain food, pet, pollen, chemical, or whatnot. its simply immune system overload!

dairy especially can cause skin issues, so if you dont want to eliminate both dairy and wheat, try dairy first for a month. if it doesnt go away, remove wheat as well. once your symptoms subside, keep it eliminated for at least 3 months--and during that time, be sure to do things to rebuild your immune system like taking a good multivitamin and eating plenty of fiber thru fruits and veggies. our immune system is directly affected by how healthy our "gut" (digestive system) is, so the fiber is important so you can absorb all the good stuff!

then after 3 months or longer, you can try to SLOWLY introduce either wheat or dairy back into your diet. note any changes and either proceed, or try it for another 3 months. of course, you can also choose to give up both permanently. this is mostly likely what i am going to do! (with the occasional exception--gotta enjoy life, too!)

sorry this was so wordy, but i could have gone on forever ;) hehe! i am learning so much about diet and how we can heal ourselves through proper nutrition that i just want everyone to know and to be able to achieve better health without the use of prescription drugs and other non-health-promoting methods.

i included a link below that is a great source to find out more about how wheat and dairy affect our health, plus also tons more info!

hope this helps and best of health to you!
~josey~

Answer 2

Yes, food allergies can definitely create your sensations. Sorry your preferred MD is not aware of other consequences of allergic reaction. Glad you know how it manifests in animals and have made the correlation.

Recently, I have determined an allergic reaction to the milk products I have been consuming had created the skin condition I've dealt with for over 7 years with no MD helping me figure it out (thanks Kaiser Permanente - not!). So, by eliminating the milks, my liver calmed down, and voila - no more itching and other unpleasant skin eruptions. No need to put topical steroids on to handle the itching.

You are correct an elimination diet can determine what you have become allergic to. Sounds like you've got some info on how to go about that and know it will take time.

If you've had lots of antibiotics prescribed in your life, there could be a Candida issue. A diet outline for resolving that is listed at the website below. I am sure there are other outlines available on the web but this one lists what a friend had to do over 20 years ago.

If you are willing to step away from Western medical practitioners, and have access to alternatives, you can seek Acupuncturists, Natuopaths and certified herbalists for their assistance in solving your health riddle.

Good luck with your detective work. Thanks for asking for input from strangers here on Yahoo. May you get relief shortly!

Maluhia - peace.

Answer 3

I have been dealing with night time generalized itching and a sensation of bugs crawling on my skin for almost two years now. All the doctors wanted to do was put me on anti-depressants or anti-anxiety. I took Buspar, then Prozac. The itching is not completely gone now but much better after my office manager suggested I stop eating "frozen lunches". I was eating those almost daily Mon-Fri. So then I stopped the Prozac - the sexual side effects suck! The itching returned, but it is not as severe and only occurs when I lie down at night to go to sleep. I hope this helps you. There are TONS of additives in the frozen meals. Who the hell knows which one of them is the culprit, right? I miss the convenience of them, but I don t miss the severe itching. Before I discovered the frozen food connection, I sometimes drank a glass of red wine in the evening, around 8 or so. This did calm my skin down somewhat.

Answer 4

I believe YES.

I also believe your body can start to be itchy, for no apparent reason, - it can become extra sensitive, if at any time, you have been exposed to a large dosage of some type of allergen. This happened to me several years ago, when I had a good portion of fried calamari for an appetizer. The next day, after a shower, I noticed that everwhere my bath towel rubbed left red welts on my body! I was diagnosed with dermatographism, which simply means the skin is so sensitive that you can lightly scratch it, and you will be able to "write" on your skin. I was on Allegra for about 5 years to control the itching, then I decided to get myself off drugs and was able to just shake it off.

I recommend you see a good Allergist. They should be able to help you.

Answer 5

An allergy can cause itching. But more likely, the food has triggered an immune response as part of an allergy making you allergic to many things, such as grass.

Answer 6

This sounds like "flushing" which can be very uncomfortable. This is usually an itching or prickling sensation often accompanied by a sensation of intense heat. Flushing is mostly felt in the face and arms. The most common causes of this are niacin which is often added to bread, and MSG which is a common flavor enhancer. The symptom may actually indicate a vitamin deficiency.

Answer 7

Try eliminating things one at a time that could be causing this. It is my understanding that you can have food allergies. It seems it needs to be a process of elimination. Good luck. Could you be having extremely dry skin. If so, try a good moisturizer.

Answer 8

You comment that your blood work was normal but you don't say what was done. Make sure that your liver was tested since generalized itching is a common symptom of liver problems.

Answer 9

yes, you could have an allergy - check this out - i onece broke out in a rash from my head to my waist and I couldn't figure out what was causing it - i had never had an allergic reaction to much of anything. then, one day, i noticed "With Essence of Juniper!" on the bottle of shampoo I was using. I threw it out and the rash went away. check all your soaps and cosmetics for botanical ingredients. a good detox product - 1 or 2 weeks' worth - is in order. good luck and I hope you get to feeling better. and get a second opinion.

Answer 10

Yes