My doctor doesn't believe in food allergies

[crayon]

I have incredibly sore and itchy hands that betnovate barely keeps under control. I am breast feeding and hate using it, but have to sometimes as they are split, red and raw and will become infected if I am not careful.

I asked to be referred for allergy tests and was told that it was very very unlikely it could be food related and in patches like it is on one hand. Now I know that DS2's eczema is food allergy related, and I know some foods I am allergic to as I immediately get such itchy eyes and mouth it is unbearable.

Is food allergy causing skin problems that rare?

I'm thinking of changing Drs anyhow as I have various issues with her.

Many thanks

[Marmite]

DS has egg allergy, he deveolps urticaria but it is all over his body, from head to foot.

[binkleandflip]

I think it's widely accepted that people can have allergies to all sorts of things. I think the view of some doctors is that some patients are too quick to decide themselves that they have say a food intolerance which is causing them ill health and that it's becoming a bit of a trend to have an intolerance to something.

[crayon]

I should also have said that it wasn't just food tests I wanted but other allergy tests. I had some of these years ago and was proved to be allergic to quite a lot of things, but I just can't pinpoint what is causing the problem on my hand.

[christywhisty]

I used to get eczema on my hands and it was hormone related. It used to start at the same time every month, with incredibly itchy blisters all over my fingers, this would last for a week or so then calm down. This has stopped now thank goodness. It took me a while to realise that it was associated with my monthly cycle.

As Binkleandflip unfortunately allergies have almost become a sort of fad, with all sorts of people jumping on the bandwagon selling quack allergy tests such as kinesiology, vega or hair testing.People with genuine allergies are not taken seriously becasue of it.

[crayon]

Thanks Christywisty. I wonder if it is hormone related actually as it started after I miscarried a couple of years ago, through ttc, pregnancy and now breastfeeding.

[tatt]

Possibly ask them to refer you to a dermatologist. They can't deny skin problems exist and the dermatologist will probably test for allergies.

[onlyjoking9329]

if it is just on your hands do you use rubber gloves?

[Desiderata]

I think most GPs are sceptical about food intolerance.

I would suggest you go down an alternative or private route.

[LazyLine]

My mum gets sore hands like this and she narrowed it down to green washing up liquid!

[DominiConnor]

Did he actually say he doesn't believe in food allergies ?That level of incompetence warrants an official complaint, many people including my DP can be killed by various nuts and pulses.

But to be fair, many people say "allergy", for any sort of problem related to food.

I must say (with no medical quals), that if someone presented with something on a hand, my first thought would be environmental, like cleaning chemicals etc.

[crayon]

Tatt - I did ask to be referred to a dermatologist but she simply put me on a stronger steroid, arguing that she couldn't refer me until she had tried all options open to her. It seems to me to be daft to keep treating the symptoms without finding the cause though.

Onlyjoking/LazyLine - I use non-rubber gloves - so don't come into contact with washing up liquid.

DominiConnor - she said it would be extremely unlikely to find food causing a skin condition. I wear non-rubber gloves to keep my hands from chemicals/cleaners etc & try to wash in aqueous cream when I can.

Thanks all

[twoisplenty]

my dd has eczema and it is definitely made worse by eating some foods. I researched the subject and found that some foods make eczema really unbearably itchy such as tomatoes, oranges/lemons, cheese, chocolate. Oranges for example is a cleansing food, and it cleanses the body by pushing toxins out through the skin. So no good for eczema then.

ALSO!! Aqueous cream contains a chemical which is definitely proved to cause skin irriation in around 50% of users. I use calendolon ointment (made by Weleda) to soothe my dd skin, as it doesn't contain any nasties, only lovely ingredients - Nelson make calendolon also, but it contains all sorts of chemicals.

I find doctors really frustrating, because they only ever want to dish out lotions to mask the real problem. I know eczema can have many causes, but even so, they could try to find the cause.

Really hope this helps . Finally, if you eat dairy at all, it is worth researching this because from what I have read, it is definitely something to avoid.

[crayon]

Twoisplenty - chocolate? . Please no! I don't drink, don't smoke, often don't sleep, please don't take away my chocolate!! I didn't know about the oranges, though it makes sense as until very recently DS2 was unable to have citrus fruit along with various other foods. I too am convinced that it is food related (in him and me) and have kept a food diary for ages, but the Dr still turns her nose up when I mention it!

I did know about the aqueous cream nasties thank you - I only use to wash in and then rinse off well. I think the report I saw said it was OK to do this.

I must give up the dairy products, you are right. We have a big family party tomorrow, but when all the puds are gone, I'll try without for a few days.

[tatt]

you don't have to give up chocolate, only milk chocolate. Sainsburys do a very nice dark chocolate - look for it in the free from area. Their jaffa cakes are milk free too for another chocolate hit

You have tried probiotics, haven't you? It's more likely to benefit your baby than you.

Looking for something you could give your doctor I found the bmj article below. It says food alergy isn't usually important so your gp may be basing their response on this. It does mention other treatments you could discuss.

www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/332/7541/584?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT =&fulltext=probiotics&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=10&resourcetype=HWCIT

[crayon]

Thanks Tatt :-)

[vonsudenfed]

I've got identical eczema to yours, and have had it on and off for some time, so have tried all sorts of things - there's another thread on this somewhere and I'll try to dig it out in a minute.

But, to answer your question, food definitely played a part in mine; when I switched to only organic dairy, it really calmed down. But what does it for you may be just a question of trial and error - I know someone else who gave up caffeine and his cleared up completely.

I also think stress has a big part to play in it - when I'm stressed, I'm much more sensitive to things that might set ut off.

Other things that have really helped me are homeopathy, and also canestan HC if it gets infected. And Aveeno cream is good for keeping it down when you're not in the middle of a flare up.

I do think your doctor is being an arse, but to be honest, I'm not sure that going to a dermatologist would be that much help. I don't think that conventional medicine is much use for eczema - all they do is give you more steroids and damp down the symptoms. Working with your diet and stress and so on is about the only way I can make mine go away for any length of time.

[pooka]

I had this - started when pregnant with ds. (had a little after having dd, my eldest). At the time I put it down to using gloves to empty litter tray. But it continued after ds was born and at one point was HORRIFC - all over hands, very cyclical i.e. blisters would appear, then burst and itch, then gaping holes, then heal, then blisters ad infinitum. Also had itchy skin on legs and arms.
What I have done is wash hands after doing any cleaning and so on. Used creams of all varieties, wrapped hands in cream/clingfilm and so on. Stopped washing hair in bath (as you end up sitting in the shampoo suds.
Took an iron supplement as dematologist said iron levels were low.
Also, gradually as my cycle has returned to normal and I suppose my hormone levels are more balanced (ds now nearly 2) the problem has almost completely disappeared, though I would say my skin is more sensitive now than pre-children.

[vonsudenfed]

{{http://mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=29&threadid=342298#6977236 here]]

I forgot the fatty acids too, they really help me, if I take tons and allow a few weeks for them to kick in.

And I just posted this on that thread by mistake!

[vonsudenfed]

aaaargh

[crayon]

Thanks vonsudenfed and Pooka.