Try rubbing some of that on your skin... see if you get a histamine reaction from it.

Hives are definitely an allergic response.

There were one or two hives, but mostly itching and then skin redness where I scratched, which is a sure sign of an increase in histamine. I'll order the cream and try it, but it won't get to me until the end of the month or early February. I was thinking of this one - what do you think of the ingredients, which includes a form of alcohol, as you can see?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...f_rd_i=desktop

Here's a link to their site and the product: http://www.vitasciences.com/MaxasorbD3Cream

Also, if this doesn't work, what do you think about taking high doses once a week, say 10000 for starters, along with an anti-histamine?

Thank you for your help.

Allergic reactions are very unpredictable. They can
Escalate into serious situations.

I'd go to an allergist to see if you could pin it down as to
What is causing your hives. Don't increase doses yet
Because if it is the cholecalciferol you would increase
The allergic response.

I understand. It's not easy to get such an appointment here and it may take months, certainly a few weeks. I can do that.

But do you think that I'm allergic to D3/cholecalciferol itself? I'm not ruling that out for sure, but considering my allergic reactions or responses to the two forms, lanolin and lichen, were different, I thought it more likely that my allergies is to lichen and lanolin, so the sources not the chemical cholecalciferol. But, of course, there's no way to know for sure, and there are other explanations that could bring me back to it actually being the cholecalciferol.

BTW, here are the D3 cream ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Juice, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycerin, Palm Stearic Acid, Emulsifying Wax, Cetyl Myristoleate, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3), Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), Phenoxyethanol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid

That is alot of stuff for someone with allergies (undiagnosed). I can't really say for you, sorry.

If you could find a very cheap liquigel D3, and cut it open, and rub that into your skin to see if you react, that may tell you something.
Then you could try it orally, to see if you get reactions GI wise.

This NOW product only has 2 ingredients!
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/now-f...0-iu-240-sgels

Thanks for your help, MrsD.

It is, indeed. But I don't have generalized allergies that are stumping me here, nor allergies to supplement ingredients, since I take the same ingredients in other supplements. It's either the source of the D3 or for some perverse reason to D3 itself, whatever that might mean.

But I appreciate your point. I'm going to let my body cool down for a few days, then I'll likely try rubbing in some of that softgel D3. Is that the one you use? I take it my skin can absorb that?

My body is reacting still. My histamine level must be high right now and the inflammation seems to have increased. I had breakfast today and the things I usually eat caused some itching and redness on the skin. I need to let my body cool down. I didn't have this reaction to the lanolin based D3, not even close. It must be lichen. I wonder if at the heart of my SFN and my health woes is some sort of bacterial, fungal, etc. infection. As soon as things cool down, I'll likely try what you suggest. I'll rub it into my hands or something like that. They have a 1000 IU capsule, so that might be better, smaller dose. Here's a question: if I rub int a 1000 IU capsule, do you think I'll absorb 1000 IU? Well, I suppose it's not too important. I also the Pure Encapsulations D3 (lanolin based), which has nothing but a cellulose capsule, so I might try that too. But I think what you suggest, bypassing the GI tract, and doing so with something that's very simple, is the best idea. Thank you. :)

No, I don't use that brand... I am finishing up a Swanson's generic D3. It has 250 capsules so lasted about a year for me.

I have used Puritan's before that.

I would not expect the NOW to be well absorbed thru the skin.
But for testing allergic potential...it should work. If it does not give you hives, then I'd try it orally. I rather like how simple it is with few additives etc. I might get this NOW brand myself soon! ;)

Thanks, Mrs.D. Much appreciated. I'll report back when I've tried it. It might take me a few weeks though, since I need to let things cool down, before I try it. My body is not at a baseline state yet, and needs to calm down first. I lament that I can't take D now though, since it was making me feel so much better.

It does look pretty simple, doesn't it? The Pure Encapsulations is even more simple, basically nothing added that isn't essential, but it's not as cheap.

Oh, I forgot to mention that last night I looked into UVB lamps and will consider that, if I can't use supplements of any sort. I might post something seeking advice about that, if it comes to that. As I see it, it's much cheaper than moving somewhere new. When spring/summer does come around here, I can tell you that I'm going to be out there everyday.