Undiagnosed skin allergy

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by KaraG

I battled hives for 20 years, so I understand. Keep a food diary and see if you can find the triggers on your own. Find an online support group and read, read, read - you may find something there. I've seen diets that let you eat simply and identify trigger foods. Also, some are heat induced, cold induced or pressure induced. Do you have any other symptoms or are you taking any other meds? Any changes in your life in the month before they started? Dental work? Stress?

Find other ways to reduce the itching. I used ice cubes most of the time.

I am going through a lot of stress right now. I will try the ice cube treatment for the itching, good suggestion.

[Lyndarn]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

Dermatologist or allergist is better? I've been to three dermatologists for summer hives and rashes and provided treatments for the symptoms but not given an answer to what is causing it.

I did some skin prick allergy testing at an allergist years ago and can rule out anything airborne related to plants, pollen or animals.

So I'm guessing it's something I eat or drink in the summer only or some kind of contact dermatitis.

It typically is worst in July or August.

Any ideas?

You're best bet is to try and isolate the previous 24-48 hour exposures to contact of anything including foods, creams, ointments, animals/saliva is often the culprit to contact hives exactly where they licked you.

I worked years as an "Allergy Nurse" who did all these selective rule out items..so understand..it could be a particular food item brand that contains something..or an ointment or cream that contains something..or a medications that your have taken for a long time..stopped for a period of time..then restarted it again.. Bring in as many possibility items..and we can test for responses..so rule in or out things.. meanwhile..always keep antihistamines available then treat itchy hives topically...Do not scratch because that spreads the topical reactions to other skin areas ( If you know what I mean)!!

The above is the most common ways that people acquire such sensitive..Oneis not born with allergies..they are all Acquired due to exposures..and an immune system that over reacts.

I sure hope you can figure out what it or the many items that are affecting you OP..It's something Allergist have been working to help figure it all out for many many decades!! For all you know it's something like Dust Mites, or Moulds or a bush in your backyard that you contact..it's not always something you eat.

Figure out if its actual hives or local contact area's affected. Most often hives often ( when ingested) affect internal and hives generalize in area's close to central body..such as mouth, throat, face ..IF on arms , legs, feet,hands etc..It's mostly contact..

Just wanted to share my experience..and wish you well!

[Mr. Lee]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

I do take more pseudoephedrine and low dose aspirin during my allergy months due to sinus. I'll try your suggestions with the grape seed extract and probiotics to see if there is any improvement.

What do I do differently in July and August. Definitely out in the sun more. More walks in the woods and with that a small use of insect repellent. More consumption of fish, fresh fruit. A little more consumption of salty snacks, ice cream, gatorade.

Maybe something that blooms or breeds. Lots of gypsy moths and ladybugs near my home in these months.

I think you may have the answer to your problems, look within those items and try to cut them out and add them back in one at a time every week.

The grape seed and probiotics should hopefully help with the meds you take but it could very well be that you are allergic to the compound in the hard pills, like I am, or possibly the insect repellent, have you tried skin so soft instead, if not, then maybe consider trying that instead of what you are using.

added, if it is a year long problem but intermittent, then consider which of those items you have during the year, such as aspirin for headaches or pain.

[Jo48]

Originally Posted by jaminhealth

Many have skin issues with fluorides and MOST public waters are fluoridated. That's just the skin, hate to think what it's doing to our insides.

Yes, both chlorine and fluoride in water. They both have mercury I believe? Where we used to live on Long Island they did not put fluoride in the water supply so I only got hives in the Summer going in pools. We moved to Florida which has it in the water. Hives year round, which went away when we went back to LI to visit our kids.

Why in Florida but not in NY? I was watching a TV ad for a home water filtration company which said, "Ladies, it's not your Shampoo but your WATER." It was the water difference in the two places. Put two and two together. Fluoride in water. I put filters on the faucets, especially my shower. Hives gone.

When you go for the patch allergy tests, would they even check for a fluoride skin allergy? I would rather buy filters/not go in pools, than take steroids or cortisone. BTW, I did go to a dermatologist who said it was Atopic Dermatitis. She just said to change my soaps and detergents, which did no good. Maybe you just need to find the answer yourself through a process of elimination.

[jaminhealth]

Most of New York water is loaded with fluoride. This added CRAP comes from lead smelters and fertilizer plants. Bad Stuff and so many don't want to believe this.

If a person can do a whole house filtration that would be supreme.

Most filters do not filter out fluoride, gotta buy special ones.

[OhZone]

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