Can a food or food additive cause generalized itching?!

Can a food or food additive cause generalized itching?

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.

3 months ago
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.

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~