I don't think it's an allergy as much as a physical irritant from the teeny tiny bristles. I have the same problem with very young summer squash which have tiny irritating itchy bristles.

I get a red itchy rash all over the arms where they make contact while picking them and carrying them in. I don't take anything. I just live with it for now.

My mother is allergic to the skin of the mango, but otherwise can eat the fruit. Her lips swell 3x if it touches her lips. So, I don't see why one can't be allergic to the skin of other fruit.

Hey Lilacs,
I start to itch after picking some things in the garden, too, but I've found hydrocortisone cream (available at a reasonable price at the grocery store) is helpful. I have kind of a continuing problem with my hands for which I used to see the doctor, but with a supply of over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream, I can keep it (mostly) under control.

Aren't the peaches wonderful? I froze 12 quarts of mine. Just blanched them in boiling water to remove the skins more easily, sliced them and put "fruit fresh" on them, and put them into freezer bags. Now we can have peach "upside-down" cake through the winter! Yeah! Dee

Where do you get Fruit Fresh? The local Safeway doesn't have a whole lot. Would Walgreen's carry it?

I found out that the tomato press I bought for all of the paste tomatoes I don't have, also works on peaches. So maybe I'll make peach puree and freeze that in small batches.

I bought mine from King Soopers, but, you know, I read in the Rocky Mountain News last week that some people just throw a little sugar in to preserve the color, so maybe that is an easier option. Peach puree sounds like a good idea, but don't forget to bring your green tomatoes in and ripen them in a brown paper bag in a dark place before that first frost. (People on this site have suggested other like strategies elsewhere, I believe.) It really does work!

I heard you can crush 1500mg of vitamin C in 3 Tablespoons of water and pour over your peaches. I think Fruit Fresh is ascorbic (Vitamin C), citric acid, and sugar.

I'm going to just try the vit c and see how well it works. I'm betting it's cheaper than buying fruit fresh.

I think it's not just handling the peaches. When I pick them up and carry them inside, I think the little bristles/hairs fall off and land on me, and that's what irritates my skin.

I have no trouble eating them, even skin on, but then I wash them with Fit before I do.

Tang is mostly citric acid. I wonder if that would do. Although it kind of defeats the purpose of having a home-grown organic peach if I bathe it in something as artificial as Tang.

And I have plenty of Vitamin C. And that would be much better for me, anyway.

Peach fuzz can itch like rock wool insulation if your picking all day without long sleeves. It has little barbs that drive into your skin and scratching it with the hands you were just picking with will make it far worse . Use a scratching stick if you need to, works safer than fingernails. Cold pack or hydrocortisone is the best remedy I've found so far.

Blooming- Mango skin contains the same ingredient as poison oak, urushiol oil, I learned not to put the skin in my mouth but was fine when I ate the rest.

Peach fuzz itches me too, I run cold water over my arms and it helps some.

First time picking peaches tonight and I feel like an itchy pin cushion!!! Benadryl is not helping... took a hot shower... not helping... creams.... not helping.. HELP!!