MSG allergy, itchy arm?

[Tingtong2mut]

Have had a weird allergy maybe last 8 years. My right elbow and forearm at different times can get excruciatingly itchy. A burning under the skin itch that scratching fixes for about 10 seconds, then you are tearing at it again. It never seems to get raised or even red even after me scratching very hard. Yes stop scratching it but it is impossible, it is that bad. Enough to literally drive you mad. Like I said only ever on my right elbow and forearm. Discussed it with doctors, pharmacists and they all put it down to "one of those things". A one a day allergy tablet helps but sometimes is that severe even that doesn't do a lot. Steroidal creams etc seem to make it worse. AT one stage a doctor thought it may be fungal but went through all the treatment for that and didn't help. I don't get it all the time, just randomly. Doesn't seem to be because of the heat as I can get it in cooler times too. I thought it may have been a change of season thing. I don't eat a lot of Asian food these days but use chicken powder sometimes, and sometimes make a stir fry or fried rice and use a small amount (teaspoon) of MSG. Other times I will eat soup or Thai food and I think nearly all restaurants / prepared Thai food here would contain MSG.

 

I have done a bit of cooking last 2 weeks where I have used MSG or chicken powder (contains MSG) and have noticed this itchy arm thing maybe coinciding with me eating MSG. Anyone else experienced anything like this? I know it can cause shortness of breath or problems with asthmatics but wasn't aware it could cause skin irritations. Any advice appreciated  

[ukrules]

Have you moved around much in the last 8 years?

 

Did it continue to happen when you were away from home for more than a few days?

 

I'd be looking at any items of furniture which you're exposed to, you never know what's lurking inside the fabric, or on the surface in the case of leather.

 

It is a bit weird that this has happened for so long.

 

 

 

[northsouthdevide]

Do you use the same washing powder, fabric conditioner, shower gell? 

If it's an as lergy, you'll have to go through all these type of things to try and find the culprit 

[TSF]

I'm ok with small amounts of MSG but every now and then when I'm eating out (and I suspect they have added a tad too much MSG) I feel a burning in the palms of my hands and soles of my feet, I can get red blotches on my chest and neck for a couple of hours, and a feeling of shortness of breath. It doesn't happen often and I've never had allergy tests, Thais suggest its a reaction to MSG and that seems about right to me.

[Tingtong2mut]

11 hours ago, northsouthdevide said:

Do you use the same washing powder, fabric conditioner, shower gell? 

If it's an as lergy, you'll have to go through all these type of things to try and find the culprit 

Ive had this for a while now and yes Ive been through all that. Suspected soap and particularly washing powder for a while but through trial and error I have discounted all the obvious things. If my symptoms are from MSG they are not typical but just the last few weeks a lot seems to be pointing towards MSG

Edited May 20, 2020 by Tingtong2mut

[ChakaKhan]

Itchy Peach Basket--Bargirl allergy?     Tingtong2mut!   555 You tink too mutt!

[Speedo1968]

The links below give some useful information along with pictures regarding skin conditions and specific allergic responses to MSG.

 

Perhaps someone can recommend a dermatologist.

 

https://www.healthline.com/health/rashes#causes

 

https://www.jolieeskin.com/blogs/news/16129812-msg-sensitivity-symptoms