r/MCAS•
Optimistictumbler

Itch pattern - upper body neuropathic pruritus - associated with MCAS?

We know I have MCAS based on years of not being able to use anything fragranced without feeling extremely ill, and the same when I eat soy.

I've had significant neuropathic itching that feels "zappy"/tingly under the skin, since May 24th. It begins at night most often, starts at my chest, spreads up the front of my neck and down both arms and hands, and my entire head/face/scalp/ears, even my eyes and eyelids, like it's inside my eyes even. The rest of me will itch some too, my feet are worse than the rest of me now but not worse than the upper body.

I'm wondering if the itch from MCAS can be centered pretty much only in the upper body?

My IGE taken about a week before this started was 8 and the cutoff is 200, so I don't think it's allergy? But I thought I would ask. I don't get redness, swelling, flushing, hives or anything.

Triggers:
Heat/exertion/shower, so basically vasodilation.
Night. Peak 2-4 am. Resolves by 11 am.

Dispersion pattern:
1st chest or collarbones
Then neck
Shoulders
Insides of wrists
Arms and hands
Head, face, scalp (it's really really bad on both cheeks down to the jawline)
Then all over very mild
Feet worse than all over but not as bad as upper body.

What helps:
Cold fabric/hands + pressure

The feeling is reminiscent of how it felt when I had a massive IV penicillin allergy, but that involved a crazy rash on most of my body and my face never itched with that like this does, that sort of hurt more than it itched, and this is a little different, it's more 50/50 itch/hurt.

Posted Jun 7, 2026, 4:40 AM UTC

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