Posted on 09/29/2006 9:23:30 AM PDT by Froufrou
Help! Almost two years ago, hubs began having an itchy rash. The only thing that calms it is taking steroids, not good. It's been a tossup whether it's a dermatological or an allergy problem. He's seen two dermatologists who've biopsied and found nothing.
Also, full battery of allergy tests and is allergic to a lot, soy in particular. It's said that the rash is possibly a form of psoriasis that lasts 2-5 years. When it's full bore he scratches while asleep and wakes up bleeding.
Any help would be appreciated...thank you...
Often artifical fragrances are culprits, I can't use anything with any perfume except natural pure essential oils with no other stuff. Hard to find except in natural food stores. Not dish soap, any cleaners, clothes detergent, shampoo, soap, nothing. I have to read the fine print. If I use any household cleaners with perfumes (and some other ingredients) much of my skin turns red, bumpy, itchy and burning for days.
Also shampoo which contains sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (not sure of spelling), methyl paraben or or propyl paraben cause severe itching. Currently I'm using Kirk's Castile Soap for shampoo and rinsing with a quart of water and 1 T. white vinegar added.
I wasn't always like this, it got worse gradually.
This has nothing to do with mad cow. I suspect it could have something to do with the hormones fed to dairy cattle. That's where fast food beef comes from.
On the other hand, I just don't know. The sensitivity runs in the family. I just severely limit the amount.
I use them every day. They are a critical part of my 4 year (ongoing) recovery from a train wreck that my life had become.
( ... but I'm much better now! : ) )
Yea, and he lost his medical license for some reason but that doesn't bother me. I know a very sane Phd psychologist who also lost his license.
BTW don't be mislead by the term stress. It can come in both positive or negative events. A long awaited promotion for example is good news but it can induce stress. You can be happy as a lark and still have stress. Stress can do many a weird thing to a persons body also.
And, seemingly, you have nothing better to do that make hypocritical complaints about vanities.
This is a pretty far out question, but...Has he spent any time in central America/Northern So. America?
If so, there is a tiny (nearly microscopic spider that infests the epidermus that causes extreme itching and is unfamiliar to US docs unles they have spent some time studying tropical diseases. Had a friend who got it in So. Mexico about 30 years ago. They literally locked her up as insane until a doc who had been in the tropics diagnosed it.
Thanks for the link - I've heard of that brand but never tried it. I get mind from Starwest Botanicals and a new place I just found and ordered from, really good quality and NOT expensive (well, they have some less and some more):
http://www.essentialoils.org/products.htm
I get a lot of oils in 4, 8 and 16 oz so price is important as well as quality. I do health counseling and make my own formulas (herbal and EO) so I do use them up.
Train wreck - sound familiar! Lot of lessons to learn, aren't there!
What an interesting site. Thanks for recommending it.
Let me put on a fake doctor's uniform I got for Halloween... [rustling noise]
If the symptoms are like psoriasis, try cutting out all nut products, including stuff like peanut oil; if he's got some Mediterranean ancestry, cut out fava beans.
My first thought (as was Blam's?) was shingles, but a dermatologist would be expected to find that. If it were shingles, however, they develop in A) people who had chicken pox as children, and B) people who are exposed to those who have active shingles. :') Letter B is news to me, I'd never known that until recently.
Hmm... also, try witch hazel as an astringent, if you haven't, to relieve symptoms. It's one of those old-timey folk/quack remedies which works for stuff like athlete's foot.
Does the hub drink any herbal teas? Sensitivity to essential oils (particularly strong ones like Rue, which I doubt should be drunk anyway) can bring on such symptoms.
Could also be some of those supposed health food multi-level marketing supplements -- those containing gingko, for example, cause allergic reactions in some people.
UK Doctors Probe Lotion Link to Nut AllergiesScientists from St. Mary's Hospital in London and Bristol University in southwest England have discovered that one in 100 children have a peanut allergy, many more than previously thought. Nine out of 10 youngsters with the ailment have also suffered from eczema, a condition which makes skin dry and blistered.
Reuters
Jun 4 2001 10:51AM
Take a hike!
:'D
I really enjoyed your posts! [rustling noise as I don my nurses costume]
Hubs is allergic to all nuts except me! And cant elope, too. Believe it or not, I heard of witch hazel for ingrown facial hair for men.
I hope he's not got this after being exposed to me when I had shingles. It seems to me that was just a few months ahead of his outbreak. It did begin under his wedding ring and spread to the palms, so we're thinking maybe the shampoo's a problem. I've replace it with baby shampoo.
I appreciate your input. The company he works for sells product to places like Nigeria, so I suppose it's not out of the question.
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