Suzanne: My problem started in December walking around a shopping centre. My hands got incredibly itchy and they swelled three times the size. I didn’t think anything of it but we went for a walk on our holiday, the same thing happened. It is now the fifth time it happened.

Prof Harry: Is it only the hands?

Suzanne: Yes.

Prof Harry: It sounds very likely, I would say almost certainly, that you have got an allergy. But because it is only in the hands we would obviously look for something which comes into contact with your hands. For example your nail polish, it may be your hand cream, it may be the soap, though usually you also use that on your body.

Suzanne: But I haven’t changed anything in the last four months.

Prof Harry: I hear you but an allergy is very unpredictable. A person could have been using a perfume or a soap or a hand cream not only for months, but for years and then all of a sudden, for reasons that we don’t understand, it flares up. You should go along and see your GP. If you can try and see him when you have an attack that is the first prize.