Non Dh Itching - What's Most Likely Culprit?

[BRUMI1968]

Darnit! I'm so itchy. It works like this. I have a couple spots of really dry skin (excema?) but mostly no markings at all, just crazy itching, mainly when fabric is pressed against my skin. It does not matter the fabric. So for example, I get most of the itching when I go to bed, lean back in a chair, wear tight clothes (long johns), etc. Also, my bony parts itch all the time - down my shins, along my spine, hip bones, etc. Especially hip bones where pants press against. Also, ears itch on the inside - can't scratch them. I know that one sounds like yeast or something. Scalp also itches, though is not flaky. Insides of arms are itchy, like where they bend comes up against the fabric of the shirt.

I have had this before, off and on. WHen I quit gluten it got better. But here it is again. Also, when I quit all grains, it got better...of course now I'm eating millet and corn and quinoa. ARG!

No new fabric softener or detergent. No new soap. Taking showers does seem to make it worse, but even if I cut back the showers, I don't get full relief. I don't usually use soap in the shower. The only soap I do use in the shower is pure olive oil. Lotion makes it feel a bit better, but not cured. Rubbing the back makes it itchier. Scratching it makes it itchier.

I don't eat very much in the way of store bought food so don't really think it could be hidden gluten. Literally I think the only store bought foods I eat are millet bread (Food For Life), corn tortillas (Food For Life), masa flour (masaca brand), and a couple raw things like walnut butter, some "breads" made out of seeds, etc.

Already don't eat: gluten, dairy, soy, processed sugar

Biggest suspects:

corn: corn tortillas, mostly either homemade or sprouted corn tortillas from Food For Life. Cooked in olive oil (can't do coconut oil anymore - gives me tummy ache.)

tapioca flour: in my millet bread, which I eat two slices per day probably from Food For Life. Also in Food For Life Rice wraps, which I only recently bought and tried. Itching was really bad day I ate that for breakfast.

yeast: only in the bread. last ingredient.

eggs: eat 2-4 per day probably. Usually poached, occasionally fried in olive oil.

tomatoes: I never had itching from potatoes, though they wreaked havoc on my intestines. I am not able to eat cooked tomatoes - they disturb my stomach or so remind me of vomiting pizza and spaghetti (gluten) in my childhood, that I can't stand to eat it. But raw tomatoes, so long as they are ripe, seem to do just fine in my digestive tract.

sugars: not too likely, but react very strongly to too much fruit or agave or maple syrup - mostly in the reproductive system (I can tell I'm getting out of balance with the sugar) or in tummy aches. Can't touch honey for the stomach aches. Also sweet stuff makes my teeth ache a bit.

I know everyone is different, but would love to hear what other folks are finding makes them itchy, or if they know if any of the above are more or less likely to cause itchiness.

Lastly, can a person just eliminate one thing from the diet, or do they have to eliminate them all and then add back. If the latter, why?

THanks.

[AliB]

If you are carb intolerant as opposed to just gluten, then you will eventually manifest intolerances to other carbs. any one of them could be an antagonist. Other things are possible too, due to gut permeability. Tomatoes, which are of the nightshade family are often implicated in allergies or allergic type responses.

You might have to do an elimination diet for a short while to see if you can pick up what it is that is bothering you.

[kitten37]

If you are carb intolerant as opposed to just gluten, then you will eventually manifest intolerances to other carbs. any one of them could be an antagonist. Other things are possible too, due to gut permeability. Tomatoes, which are of the nightshade family are often implicated in allergies or allergic type responses.

You might have to do an elimination diet for a short while to see if you can pick up what it is that is bothering you.

I have to agree. When all else fails elimination is your best bet. For some just cutting gluten won't be the cure all. Maye you are having reactions to things you may be able to eat later but need more time to repair. Maybe some things you will always be sensitive to.

Good luck elimination isn't easy but well worth it in the long run