How do you get 'minor' allergies diagnosed?

[OodPi]

I've had itchy hands since last year, I get blisters (mainly between the fingers) and I itch. This is practically every day but worse at night/in heat. My right foot is now the same.

My GP wrote to my dermatologist to ask about testing but he's said if its still there in 6 months ( from May).

I haven't been able to identify a cause although the only time it's cleared properly was when I stayed in hospital with ds for2 weeks.

So any suggestions? I've already ruled out washing type things & GP said its a contact one which rules out foods/medications

Do you do the washing up by hand? Sometimes just not drying your hands properly can make them sensitive to things that have previously okay - eg, washing up liquid and then it takes a very long time to settle again. I've found that wearing rubber gloves aggravates it too as your hands get very hot.

Do you use E45? If you do. I'd recommend changing to Dipbrobase ointment.

Your feet might be athletes foot.

I'm sorry if these suggestions aren't relevant.

Do you get little bubbles on your hands and feet? There is something called pompholyx eczema which looks like blisters on hands and feet. If it is this, you need strong steroid cream to get rid of it.

Yes to the bubbles! I have benovate cream that's steroids.

No to the washing up. Think it's something at home though as after the hospital first night it was back and I hadn't done anything different to hospital ( as in just look after ds)

That sounds/looks spot on!

Not liking the recurring element though. Dh just commented on the stress factor as we thought it was stress related except for the fact it went when ds was v ill in hospital.

My mum had this when working. She is allergic to "sulfurs" it comes in many forms but the main culprit was working with plastics daily. Now she is retired it has gone.

Most of the time it is an allergy to metals especially nickel: buttons, back dyes...
It is not necessarily by contact, it can be something you eat or smell too.

Very difficult to find though, and once it is here difficult to get rid of. strong steroids...

I wondered the same thing as dd2 (9) has had itchy skin since January. There is no rhyme nor reason to it appearing. It appears on her face, arms & legs mainly. Oh and feet! Just a red rash which itches. I now give her an antihistamine every day to keep it at bay.

I must take her to the gp, but can't think it warrants any major investigation.

It does warrant investigations, if it goes bad your hands and feet can swell, it can be infected if/when the blisters pop... My mum even had an anaphylactic shock after a while, so it can be the start of a more serious allergy.

The test id a prick one not a blood one.

Schilke your DD sounds different the blisters are really obvious to see.

OodPi do you use dye at home? or marigolds to do the washing? condoms?

Contact dermatitis will/can cause the tiny bubbles you describe and does take ages to get better.

Poor you - I'd push for testing too. It's so miserable and awkward - and would be even worse if it got infected as sometimes happens as LeMouse says.

Any possibility of a latex allergy? Again, sorry if irrelevant.

A supplement of magnesium and zinc and Gamma Linoleic Acid might help slightly. (It definitely won't harm you).

I wasn't suggesting op's blisters didn't warrant investigation, I meant my dd's rash!

Betnavate comes in different strengths. Apparently pompholyx eczema can need very high strength steroids to get under control.

I read something yesterday about how 5p and 10p coins are now being made out of a metal that contains more nickel than previously. As lots of people are allergic to nickel this has been causing a great deal of problems. I think the new coins went into production some time last year. Do you think this could be the problem?

Here

I've heard about the nickel coins causing problems. My mums friend worked in ashop and has retired early to avoid them!
I sometimes wear disposable gloves for gardening which are sometimes latex but not had problems in the past. I've had a rough pregnancy/recovery so possibly something had taken advantage of my system being low? All my other allergies have come in pregnancy.
I'm already taking antihistamines every day (recommended by GP to take double dose if I have a reaction).

I have magnesium in a calcium supplement I'm taking, will that be enough?

The past has no incidence, this is a threshold reaction. You are fine until a point and then you tip over. Some allergies and people have a very low threshold, and some need years to build up.
My mum became "allergic" in her 40s after years of working with latex and plastics, if she had worked somewhere else she would probably never have reached her threshold.

latex/sulfur is an obvious one, metals, phenols (perfumes, washing powders, cigarette smoke...), gluten can have a skin reaction too... Probably best to get it tested, unless it doesn't bother you much but it might get worse in time if you are regularly in contact with something which an allergen for you.

Thanks.

Patrick Holford recommends 300mg of magnesium daily
15mg of zinc
1000mg of vit C twice daily
300mg of GLA
and 500iu of vit E

That's to help with contact dermatitis.

I have dishydrotic dermatitis which sounds a lot like what you have. It's triggered by washing up liquid bit I also get flare ups every so often. I use steroid cream and try not to pick at it. Stress could be a trigger for you.

I got the same when I was stressed- studying for my finals at uni - I identified a lemon washing-up liquid as the cause. Now I find if I wear my wedding ring I get it on the inside of that finger.