Skin

I went through this in a different way perhaps during winter. I was all of a sudden itching uncontrollably. I wasn't on medicine and nothing changed. I went through every laundry detergent, hair products, sheet material, make-up, etc. I went down to cleaning everything with water and vinegar. Turned out I was deficient in some vitamins. My skin felt allergic to every metal I had on. I couldn't put on most of my earrings, ever.

I even went to a walk in clinic swearing I must have had scabies or lice. I treated all my bedding for bed bugs as well. I was just at the end of my rope. I was bruised all over with red skin everywhere like hives or allergic reaction.

So maybe get some in depth blood work done?

http://www.livestrong.com/arti...t-causes-itchy-skin/

You may have something there Vanessa...vitamin deficiency could be the culprit...10 days post op or now when I am about 10 days post gastro...I might be low on something...although I am back on my multi vits (using a pill crusher)plus extra B complex, D, Calcium and chrome...I have to go to the GP because I am so exhausted that I cannot make it through the day without a nap...it all does sound like I am running on empty somewhere along the line...
Will check it out.
Thanks
Sharon

Sharon, don't you have a known collagen disorder? This sounds like the type of thing you could attribute to that, especially since it is autoimmune. All sorts of things can trigger autoimmune responses, including surgery or invasive procedures. I'd think that the stress alone from them could trigger it. I've developed giant hives from sun exposure or sweating, and big blisterd welts from the Bandaids they put on after lapro surgery (no real lapse in eating). It could be a vitamin deficiency, but I would tend to think it had more to do with autoimmunity, since deficiencies don't occur in a few days. It is more like months or years of deficiency.

Jan

That sounds reasonable Jan,
What you describe with the bandaids post op is identical to what I get every time that they put something on my skin post op (funny but the tape that I use nightly to hold my stoma cover on is usually fine...Transpor)...so it is the stress that triggers the autoimune response? I get major full body hives whenever I eat something that sets it off but this is new...any and everything that touched my skin over the last week has brought up welts...no unexpected stress (I am living at a 10 these days...) but nothing unusal.
What can I do about it? Is there anything or do I just tough it out?
Sharon

Yes. I have very sensitive skin. I'm allergic to dyes and perfumes in some brands of facial cleansers--I've literally had my entire face swell up from using something that I'm allergic to, so these days I stick to things I know don't bother me. I'm allergic to many adhesives, too, and I always got big red welts when my IVs needed to be taped down. In spring I often get very itchy skin. I've been told this is pollen, but then again, I don't seem to have the "stuffy/runny nose/sneezing" forms of allergies, though, which is funny. Shaving my legs often causes me itchy razor burn, unless I rub down my legs with witch hazel immediately afterward. Interestingly, about a year prior to getting UC, I also developed a sudden allergy to most metals, to the point that even the buttons and rivets on my jeans would cause welts and rashes. I had to paint clear nail polish over the buttons so I could wear them. Oddly, though, after my colon was removed I didn't have the same problem with the jean rivets. That's only a rare problem now. As for earrings and necklaces, I still can only wear gold or sterling silver. That being said, I find that I am at times far more sensitive than at other times; for instance, sometimes I can wear a pair of earrings or a necklace for a few hours, other times not at all. And I've had reactions before to things that I've never been able to identify.

There really isn't much you can do, other than try to eliminate the things that are causing you issues. There is topical cortisone, which often helps, witch hazel for the razor burn as I mentioned, and if it's a really bad reaction, then Benadryl. You could see a dermatologist or an allergist for shots but I'm told for contactdermatitis and similar allergies there isn't very much you can do other than avoid, avoid, avoid.

Yep. Story of my life. Basically it is treat and/or avoid. The problem is I usually don't know what to avoid. Lately I have been developing a weird purplish rash here and there on my legs, sometimes in where you'd expect a fungal infection, others are over a vein (looks like needle tracks almost). Been to the dermatologist, just eczema he says, scrapings negative for yeasties.

Plus, I am a pretty calm person, not much stress other than daily life. Work out the home, short hours. Kids are grown. Haven't been in the hospital for years. So, who knows?

Jan

Could it be a mast cell disorder of some sort? Mastocytosis or mast cell activation syndrome? I don't know if this fits but it might be worth exploring (MCDs are apparently correlated with EDS but again, I don't know too much about this).

I am on anti-hystamines 24/7 for the rest of my life, 2xs/day in the alergy season...so it isn't my usual alergic reaction thing...like Jan, I never know what is going to do it to me or when...at one point my doc told me that I was alergic to my own sweat!...any bodily fluids (my own) welt me out or give me a rash so I need to stay cool and dry..I gave up shaving my legs yrs ago (wax now, less rash during regrowth)..plus the folicular NH lymphoma made hair removal a real problem...(I have been doing regular lazar treatments on the really sensitive zones to avoid any regrowth)...this is just one more of those little thorns that get under my skin...
When they couldn't find a good vein in O.R. they gave in and used the jugular (yup, yikes!)with compression tape over it...Ended up with a 4inch square welt that lasted weeks.
Can't seem to eat out anymore either...reacting to everything from pizza to delivered business lunches at work...
Crap
Sharon

Yes, it's true that sometimes you don't know what to avoid. I recently had a bad reaction to a hair removal product that I'd previously been able to use without any issue. It's definitely a frustrating problem.

Jan, I also sometimes get red/purple rashes on my feet and ankles. I've attributed this to heat because it usually happens on hot summer days. Cortisone helps but beyond that I haven't yet come up with a good way to prevent it, other than stay indoors--though obviously that is not usually a feasible option.

Sharon, I'm thinking of trying laser hair removal for my legs. A couple of years ago I started waxing regularly to avoid the razor burn issue, and it was great for a while, but after a year or two of that, I developed a bad problem with ingrown hairs, so unfortunately waxing is not something I can do often in the long term. Since you have very sensitive skin too, have you ever had a reaction to the laser treatments?

Spooky,
I have been waxing for most of my hairy life and found that the real trick was to use one of those puff balls when I shower...they clear off the dead cells on the skin and no more ingrowns....but if you want the lazar route then it is great...I do it sporadically whenever I can afford a session (although the price has really come down a lot)...did the bikini and underarms (the zones where I had the most cysts and abscesses) and it seems to work well...it is not all clear but with a couple more sessions it should be fine...no adverse reactions, no bumps or rashes.
Sharon

Thanks Sharon. I think laser is probably where I'm headed, especially now that the costs are a lot more reasonable than they were even 5 years ago. Believe me, I've tried everything for the ingrown hair issue, from poofs to body scrubs and even a spa leg "rejuvenation" exfoliation. It was bad enough last summer that I didn't want to wear skirts at times. The only thing that really improves it is to stop waxing. I haven't waxed now since last summer, and there is a big improvement, though there are still a few stubborn ones that are quite deep. I'm not sure how to be rid of those, outside of digging them out with a pin--which I'm not planning to do for obvious reasons. *LOL* Unfortunately, I think with my skin/hair type I am very prone to them. I am fair skinned/dark hair. The hair issues probably all go hand-in-hand with my sensitive skin issues, too.

I'm sorry you all have these problems and Sharon I'm worried about how you can go anywhere or do anything right now. I first thought antihistamines, but you've got that covered. After my surgeries I had bad scars from when I was a kid that were 45 years ago turn bright red again. They looked like they just had healed where they were barely visible for years. None of my doctors had a clue what caused this to happen. They gradually faded again. This conversation makes me think of them. That's why they call it practicing medicine.

When do you get into a real doctor Sharon? I'm assuming you have to see the store front GP first.

P.S. I am jealous as I can't get laser hair removal because I have blonde hairs and you have to have pigment in them for it to work

TE,
I keep putting off the dr because it is a 3hr wait if I am lucky and my energy level is so low that it just is not possible...will try next week when work is over...I still have a couple more days work before I can just chill out a bit and relax...
The skin is calming down a bit today and hopefully the cycle has stopped for now...I need bloodwork, x-rays (something is brewing in there) and an ultrasound...plus to get to the specialist for the lymphoma...I am way too tired for the little that I do...full of energy in the morning but by 1pm I am so exhausted that I slip into a mini coma for 2hrs...nothing wakes me...I feel like I was drugged...then fine again for another few hrs...I need to find out why and what I can do about it or if this is my new normal.
Off to iron and then nap again.
Sharon

I hate it that it is so hard to get into the specialists that you need. I hope you will get in soon.