Q. For about a year I have been extremely itchy on large portions of my body. The itch is constant and very uncomfortable. I’ve seen an allergist, who didn’t find anything except an allergy to yeast. For three weeks now, I’ve stayed away from all yeast products but to no avail.
I’ve been told by friends that there are more sophisticated ways to determine if I have allergies. I am desperate and looking for a solution.
–D.A.
A. Itching is one of the most common sensations we feel. And based on observations from nature, it’s true for other animals as well.
But what is itching (the medical term for which is “pruritis”)? The best definition I know–“a disagreeable sensation that causes the urge to scratch”–is pretty vague.
Though most itching is of little or no consequence and usually goes away on its own within seconds, sometimes an itch may be a sign of a major problem.
Paradoxically, one of the most common causes of itching is scratching. Scratching the skin too hard, with too sharp an object, including fingernails, can create damage to the skin. This starts a cascade of chemical reactions that result in the creation of histamines, which cause itching.
This is all the more problematic because scratching is often a result of the most common cause of itching–dry skin. And treating dry skin is a lot easier and more straightforward than treating skin damaged by scratching.
So the best approach to an itch that is intense and won’t go away is to try to find the underlying cause and treat it. But this is easier said than done, because itching can be caused by a long list of medical conditions, including: allergies; contact with certain chemicals, such as in poison ivy; infections; autoimmune diseases; cancers; and diseases of such organs as the liver, kidneys and endocrine glands. Medications also can cause allergic responses and itching.
In addition, some people with depression or stress and anxiety disorders will itch as well. And for a few people, itching can be so intense that it creates severe levels of stress and anxiety.
Because there are so many possible causes, it means that an even greater than normal amount of detective work is required. As with diagnosing the cause of any symptom, it’s important to answer key questions, such as:
When did it start?
Did you begin something new shortly before it started?
Where is it?
Did any other symptoms start about the same time?
Is there anything that makes it better (besides scratching)?
Is there anything that makes it worse?
If your itching is caused by a reaction to yeast, you’ll probably have to wait a lot longer than three weeks to see the results of eliminating it from your diet. If you decide yeast is the culprit, then treating it with a topical or oral drug is something to consider.
There are many types of allergy tests. I suggest you call the allergist and find out which, if any, additional tests would be helpful. And you might want to track very carefully whether there’s anything else you eat that makes your itching worse.
As you can see, I can’t provide an easy path to the cause of your problem. But until you find the culprit, a few simple steps may help.
Stop scratching, as hard as that may be. Treat the skin with moisturizers and humidify your house or apartment. Try using topical antihistamines where you itch, as well as over-the-counter oral antihistamines such as loratadine.
Even though you have been struggling to find answers for a year, it sounds to me as though you are going to have to “start from scratch” to get to the bottom of this one.
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Write to Allen Douma in care of Tribune Media Services, 435 N. Michigan, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60611; or contact him at DRFamily@aol.com. This column is not intended to take the place of consultation with a health-care provider.
