General Medicine

» Nimmywimmy - Understand the issue!

I have itchy hands and feet for many years and I can't figure out what it is. I take Atarax every three days and it calms the itching. I would like to get rid of Atarax because I was said that chemicals are very bad for health in the long term.

-- posted by Nimmywimmy

» Elaine Moore - Understand the issue!

In response to Understand the issue! posted by Nimmywimmy:
Hi,
Have you been to an allergist?
I had exercise-induced anaphylaxis, which would always start out as itchy hands and feet and then progress to giant hives, throat swelling, etc. After a few trips to the ER, I finally went to an allergist. The reactions happened in my aerobics class, and I suspected the carpeting or cleaners or maybe food. Without the allergist I would have never figured it out.

It turned out to be celery, with cooked celery being the worst for me. It happened once again after taking bee pollen in an effort to help season allergies, which backfired. The allergist also discovered about 20 foods I was allergic to and explained that they probably just caused a stuffy nose, occasional hive, or headache when I ate them, but were enough to keep my immune system stimulated, which contributed to Graves' disease in my case. An elimination or rotation diet could also help you figure out if food is the cause. Best, Elaine

» lm123 - Understand the issue!

In response to Understand the issue! posted by Nimmywimmy:

For your itchy palms and feet rub them with castor oil. everyday. I found, when my toes used to itch espectially at night to the point that I could not sleep, I would soak them, then rub castor oil,and put on a sock. This would allow me to sleep allnight. I don't have an itchy toe anymore.
This is safe,non-invasive, and cheap. YOu can get castor oil, in any pharmacy.
good luck.

-- posted by lm123

» Kim73 - Itchy Hands & Feet for 10+ Years

Hi Everyone,

I was reading through many of the posts I see here and thought I would give my 2 cents on what has worked for me. In my mid twenties, the itching in my palms and feet would gradually get worse and stay longer and longer. It would be for a couple of weeks here and there, then turned into months. I thought it was certain times of the year, maybe when it was dry from fall and winter and used cortisone cream on and off for a few years. I did the usual...change detergent, check foods, etc.etc. Finally it became so unbearable and became consisent and never went away. I went to an allergist and he ran a panel of tests on me - all came back negative for any allergies.

I've always been sensitive to the sun and would get hives sometimes welts from the sun - usually the first time I was in the sun that season. It would stop after that. Another strange thing was you could actually write on my skin, or scratch an area and watch it get red and welt up. People find it strange but it happens (not as much since I am on zyrtec).

My allergist diagnosed me with Dermagraphism. Every day I take 5mg of Zyrtec and that prevents the itching palms and feet. He said 1 in 200 people have it and you could grow out of it. Once in a while I skip a zyrtec to see if I can go without it, and then my itching comes back so I have to take it again. Sometimes the itching can be extremely bad and I take the average dose of 10mg. But if the 5mg works for me most of the time, then thats what I take daily. I have been taking zyrtec for 10 plus years.

I just thought I would share that with anyone who is puzzled by the symptoms. It took me years to find out what dermagraphism is, and not many people have heard of it. Doctors dont even know what it is!

Hope this helps
Kim

-- posted by Kim73