Itchy skin, white bumps, swelling.

[Unregistered]

i also have a simliar condition. for the past couple weeks i've been very itchy. sometimes i dont see anything on my skin, but othertimes i notice a tiny white bump surrounded by red (because i scratched the area). I first noticed them on my thights, and now all over. It's interesting because there are more on my right hand (im right handed). maybe we're allergic to something? i find its worse at night.

i have the same this im up right now bc of it i wanna know what it is so my mom will believe me i've had it on my face and every thing

[Unregistered]

I searched dermatoanaphisim in wikipedia and it asked "do you mean dermatographism?" I clicked on what it said and it went to this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatographism
The symptoms are similar to what you describing. Just copy and paste (if the link isn't highlighted) or type "dermatographism" in the wikipedia box. I hope it helps!

[Unregistered]

Hi every one,i was surprise as i'm not just the only one got these types of palms red dots,itchy & after peeling of the skin.As i remember it started when i was only 15 yrs old.i just thought before that it was just from soap powder that i have been using when i was doing hand washing after that red dots appeared and it starting iching..well i am also have a sweaty palm & in my feet.I guess mostly of you guys have red dots,itchy palm got sweaty palm.I would say that they are so much related.
I leave in warm country(Southeast asia).Its summer here and its make my sweaty hands awful.One day when i use powder soap doing hand washing after that ive got red dots,& it starting iching i didnt get surprise coz it always coming back every year during summer.I can't say also that having like that kind of skin sickness is from anxiety & stress..coz ive read some comments here that 3 yrs old also have same type probs.
In my situation after skin peeling gone it will back to normal but i still have sweaty hands.ALL i did to make ichy feel better i boiled water and put some salt on it and let my hands soak ,after it feels better and red dots slowly disappered and itchy slowly gone..It so annoying & shy to my friend especially if someone like to shake ur hand,also those who can see my palm have red dots and some skin is peeling..By the way after i soak my palm & feet into warm water with salt i put e45 cream.Maybe it may best to do it everyday until u can't see anymore red dots and ur hands makes less sweaty!..i hope i can help a bit. But i am still searching what is the cause & why?what is the solution..I'm female 26 yrs of age.

[Infocompiler]

About hard white bumps on the skin- check out Keratosis pilaris. There are little hardened lumps of keratin on the hair folicle- harmless but sometimes resulting in ingrown hairs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratosis_pilaris
My mom had these on her arms and so do I. I suspect that she had undiagnosed hypothyroid problems (I suspect I do too). When I did a quick search online, it looks like others are asking about it. So just in case, check out thyroid symptoms to see if they fit for you.

About itchy skin all over that turns red with white bumps or raised patches:
I am sad to hear people have been dealing with this for months! I just started having these same symptoms a couple of days ago. I usually have an itchy back and my skin turns red when I scratch, but unusual itching started on my hands and arms. By the next day, it spread to my whole body (including my scalp). It seems to be triggered by touching my skin, rubbing by clothing, or air blowing on my skin. It acts like an entire-body mosquito bite. When I scratch an itchy spot, the redness and white raised bumps/patches appear, it stings/itches worse with a dull itchy ache (an achy, stretched sensation similar to edema/swelling in my feet felt while I was pregnant). It subsides within 5 minutes or less- although by that point, other random spots have already started to itch terribly. Also, my mouth and tongue were itchy and stinging when I ate. OTC CortAid anti-itch cream didn't have any effect when rubbed all over my skin.

I went to the doctor today and she recommended Claritin antihistamine with Zyrtec to help the Claritin absorb better. I hope it works, but I am doubtful that it will based on others' comments; I am guessing it's caused by something else because I have other symptoms/conditions.

In case anyone shares symptoms with me, here's a list of what I know:
- Recent Vitamin D deficiency diagnosis, had 2-3 weeks of treatment with 50,000 IU of Vitamin D2 once per week. (I had headaches and fatigue while taking this and discontinued this on doctor's advice, but it might still be in my system). My sister also has a Vitamin D deficiency (and autoimmune platelet disease).
- Recent Low White Blood Cell (WBC)- my doctor said it was only slightly low and I shouldn't worry about it (4.4, minimum range is 4.5)
- Chronic UTI infections which are increasingly common. My latest UTI had white blood cells but didn't grow in culture. I was referred by my doc to a urologist for Interstitial Cystitis; when I saw him today, he was dismissive. He said you can't have IC with no cultures. UTI's tend to accompany acne outbreaks, and generally appear the day after sex. I followed a Candida diet last year (no true grains, yeast/alcohol, or sugar) and had less UTI's and acne. Note- I have taken many antibiotics for these UTI infections.
- Some various symptoms that are hypothyroid-like: low body temperature that fluctuates, low blood pressure, feeling cold all the time, foggy thinking, difficulty remembering things, irritability, mild fatigue, mild muscle weakness and slow recovery, mild depression (can't enjoy good events much), moderate joint pain, back and shoulder pain, occasional acne that is like a cyst and heals slowly, slow wound healing, difficulty losing weight despite diet, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, white hair, and hair loss in outer third of eyebrows. My mom and sister also have thyroid type symptoms in varying levels (children are more prone to thyroid problems if their moms have them). My TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) was 3.0, in "normal" range according to my doctor, but a 2003 AACE statement says over 2.0 should be checked further).
- Symptoms of rosacea to include acne outbreaks and spidery red veins on my cheeks. (A previous doctor looked at my face and told me I had rosacea, but I wasn't tested or treated. My mom was diagnosed with Rosacea and I have British/Irish/Scottish ancestry)
- Possible malabsorption of fat- I get a stomachache if I eat fatty food like cream sauce (but not other dairy products milk, cream, cheese, or yogurt) or fast food like burgers and fries.

Here's what I think I might have (Took some tests today, will fight for more):
- Celiac Disease/gluten intolerance- causes vitamin deficiencies. Hard to test for (blood test is often used but stool is better). Famous for GI symptoms, but have none or neurological symptoms. Many sources say it appears with autoimmune disease. I suspect I'm probably also low in other nutrients (magnesium, A, K, zinc, and possibly boron and selenium- these help absorb Vit D- and B complex vitamins).
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis - an autoimmune disease which attacks the thyroid and can result in swings between hypo- and hyperthyroidism (throws off the TSH test- you have to test antibodies TPO and TgAb, and Free T3 and Free T4). Often brought on by hormonal changes like childbirth. I think I may also have accompanying adrenal/cortisol problems.
- Hormone imbalance - I think I may have too much estrogen ("estrogen dominance") which can be brought on by birth control pills or xenoestrogens from plastics, etc. Note- my doctor looked at me like I was crazy when I mentioned this.
- Systemic Candida Albicans yeast infection- may be linked to chronic UTIs; rosacea/acne; cravings for sugar, carbs, and alcohol; may cause itchy skin with no rash. Some sites link say celiac disease, thyroid problems, low immune function, or antibiotic use can make a yeast-friendly environment. Note- when I mentioned this to my doctor, she said she wasn't saying it might not be a problem, but "traditional doctors" don't really deal with it.
- Oxalate sensitivity - oxalate crystals are irritants made by plants to protect them from bugs- if you put uncooked high oxalate foods in your mouth they burn and sting like nettles (or maybe like this itch?). They are high in many healthy foods like almonds, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, green leafy vegetables, berries, and so on... as well as potatoes, chocolate, tea, and coffee. I came across a site that links it to celiac disease, vulvar pain syndrome which has UTI-like symptoms, candida yeast infection, and thyroid symptoms. Apparently there is an intestinal bacteria that eats oxalates that can be killed by antibiotics. From what the oxalate sites say, it builds up in your tissues and then "dumps" periodically, causing all kinds of discomfort and havoc with your intestine's control of nutrient absorption. It also binds with calcium to form kidney stones. If I'm sensitive to oxalates and this itch is a dump via the skin, it could also help explain chronic UTI's, vitamin deficiencies, neurological problems, and possible candida issues. Note- My doctor hadn't heard of it, and the urologist had only heard of it in the context of calcium oxalate crystals in kidney stones.
These all seem to be interrelated like a web... That's why I listed them all.

Here's what I'm planning to do for now:
- Take the antihistimine/zyrtec to see if it works.
- Change to Vitamin D3, and add magnesium, calcium citrate, selenium, zinc, boron, vitamin A, vitamin K2, and a B vitamin complex.
- Start a gluten free, low oxalate diet and add foods slowly.
- Follow up on my thyroid and thyroid antibody, hormone, and celiac test results when they come in
- Do more tests if needed: find a way to test for Candida and oxylates; get a saliva cortisol/estrogen/progesterone/DHEA/testosterone test and a celiac stool test; check for other nutrient deficiencies, especially magnesium (blood cell test), calcium, and B vitamins.

I'm not a doctor. I'm just reporting what's going on with me and some stuff that I've found so far, in the hopes that it helps you with your own search for answers. You are the one who knows your body best!

[jacky0403]

i also have a simliar condition. for the past couple weeks i've been very itchy. sometimes i dont see anything on my skin, but othertimes i notice a tiny white bump surrounded by red (because i scratched the area). I first noticed them on my thights, and now all over. It's interesting because there are more on my right hand (im right handed). maybe we're allergic to something? i find its worse at night.

Similar condition,kindly co-operate by giving specific remedies

[Infocompiler]

Update:
I tried the Claritin and Zyrtec and they reduced the itchiness until it was almost unnoticeable. However, the Zyrtec causes me shooting stomach pains, so I stopped taking it. Claritin by itself works less well for me, but still upsets my stomach so I don't like taking it.

A friend recommended using coconut oil as a moisturizer. It's partially solid so I melt it in my hands before applying it to my skin. It reduces the itching to a manageable level - not as much as Claritin, but enough to get by.

My lab tests came back with a TSH of 4.390 (range 0.4-4.0) and a cortisol level of 19.8 (range 6.2-19.4). Since they're both high, I've been referred to an endocrinologist.
Also, these items were low but in range: estrogen, progesterone to estrogen ratio, testosterone, free T4. My free T3 and DHEA were normal. TPO and celiac antibodies were negative (but they can be unreliable, so I'm not sure whether to trust them).

I've been on a gluten-free, casein-free, low oxalate diet for a week now. It hasn't affected my itching skin yet (lost a couple of pounds, though).
I read on a celiac site that others have experienced relief from the itching/dermatographia about a month after starting a gluten-free diet. Here's hoping it will work for me too!

[Infocompiler]

Hi guys,

I wanted to share with you that a gluten-free, casein-free, low oxalate diet worked for me after 3-4 weeks. I still tend to react to high sugar fruit, alcohol, and corn... but in general my itchiness is manageable.

Also... check out Postural Orthostatic Tachychardia Syndrom and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome to see if it applies to you. They have dermatographia too.

[Infocompiler]

Hi guys,

I wanted to share with you that a gluten-free, casein-free, low oxalate diet worked for me after 3-4 weeks. I still tend to react to high sugar fruit, alcohol, and corn... but in general my itchiness is manageable.

Also... check out Postural Orthostatic Tachychardia Syndrom and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome to see if it applies to you. They have dermatographia too.

[Unregistered]

I battled with the same rash and itchiness on my arms and hands for over a year and half now. the only thing that has made any progress, for me, was to change my diet. basically, a low-carb, high-protein, no yeast diet with little to no caffeine. my body was excreting poisons through this rash and I've discovered that the diet has started reversing the symptoms that were literally, at one point, taking over my entire body.
The rash was spreading and getting worse because I was eating too much processed foods, sugars and yeast(alcohol) and was becoming sensitive to them.
I think I've had some major toxicity problems, along with possible candidiasis and/or parasite, but I'm finally getting my life back.
Seriously, pm me w/any questions. You should give the diet a try anyway because the american diet is the worst in the world. we eat too much **** and have too many health conditions that are linked to this as well as overprescription of antibiotics and steriods.
You will know if this works for you within a week. Not saying you'll be cured in a week, but your symptoms and rash should diminish. I've been on it for a little over a year now and can tell I've got probably another year or two until I can say I'm cured (which, to me, is being able to drink a beer and have a slice of pizza again). It's only healthy anyway, you might enjoy losing some extra lbs. and eating fresh healthy greens and meats.
this is my first post. I just found this site and wish I could have had a forum to discuss my pain with last year this time. It was crazy! I hope that I can help anyone here that may be going through what I did. I went to the Doctors and dermatologists, which I have no respect for expect for removing moles and warts, and took my health into my own hands because I knew I wasn't getting any progress. these doctors want to treat the symptoms and not find the root of the cause. that's why they prescribe topical creams and steriodst.
sorry to rant but, seriously, this rash is not an external allergy. It's internal sensitivity manifesting itself as a rash, which is your body trying to filter it out.
hope to help and get some additional answers here too.

I've been getting these itchy bumps under my skin on my arm for the past few months, on and off again. I've ignored it but after reading all of your posts, I realize theres something I can do. Bob this was extremely helpful, I eat mostly processed foods.. chicken nuggets..frozen pizzas, coffee, soda.. I'm 20 years old this is all easy food to me. I think changing my diet may be a step in the right direction. Thanks for sharing.

[Tye]

Hi I have similar symptoms to you although they just claim most of it is acne. So I have that to oh just isn't life wonderful!

How are you now, I see your post is old but would be good if you replied.


I have also tried the no candida diet, I tried it for about 3 months and it really didn't work. I became even more tired than I already was and certainly didnt help with my hives and skin problems.

Im going mad trying to get a diagnosis and the dermo was no help whats so ever!

Can you think of anything else I can try? x