Itchy with strawbs

[Chooklady]

I've been picking my strawbs this morning and noticed that my hands have been really itchy afterwards, it has happened two or three times now. Anyone else get this too??

[KittyColdNose]

Are you ok eating them? Could be the hairs on the plant causing it.

[WendyC]

Interesting one. I used to get itchy but not now! I don't know what has made a difference. It could be that now I have hayfever and take medication for that it has reduced my allergic response to the leaves. Or it could be I have different varieties of strawberries which are less hairy. Or I've just become immune. Runner bean leaves used to make me itch too but not been picking any yet this year to see if they still do. I've never had a problem eating strawberries. Seemed to be worse when picking in strong sunshine.

[marchogaeth]

Keep a close eye on your symptoms would be my advice and maybe talk to your doctor. My daughter went from itchy to full blown allergy (anaphalaxis) in about three weeks. She couldn't even handle a bag that someone had put pick and mix into without having a minor reaction. Suddenly, after about four months it all went away and she is back eating strawberries. Doctors say could have been triggered by a response in her immune system to a virus.

Your hayfever drug probably does make the difference Wendy as she took Piriton as a first step before the epi-pen.

(The Vine doesn't do medical advice.)

[poly]

If it's not an allergy to strawbs, I wonder if it could be chiggers? Trombiculidae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Chooklady]

I'm fine eating them, it's the leaves giving me a short lived itch with a few raised spots