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It is an allergy to your rats. There are different levels of severity for allergies. You probably have a slight rodent allergy, which is why you get itchy, but don't have a constant runny nose or watery eyes. Allergies can also be aquired, so you may not have always had this allergy. You can try handling your rats with gloves on and long sleeves to avoid scratches. Also wash your hands and arms after handling them. You can apply hydrocortizone cream to the scratches to reduce the itchiness.

Well, It could be just normal skin irritation.

The scratches are small- the pain caused by them may just feel like an itch..the bumps could be small infections from the crap and urine on the rat nails.

Clip their nails once in a while. and put some itch creme or lotion on when you're itchy

or..

It could be the beginning of the new Plague, and you are the catalyst for the end of the world. You should maybe destroy the rats. Field mice have caused the hanta virus, and rats started the black plague.

Your water is in basic terms too warm and you're drying your skin out and/or you're employing cleansing soap which you would be allergic to or this is including to the project. . . I do the comparable element for all time. Watch the physique gels you utilize as ALOT of them have alcohol in them which provides to the project. Use Ivory cleansing soap,Caress, Dove, foundation cleansing soap or an Oatmeal cleansing soap. do not use Deordorant soaps as they're drying to the floor. cut back down the temperature of your water,the dimensions of your showers,exchange your soaps or bathe gels and so on and issues would desire to get better.

Could it be that the nails are carrying something that you are having a reaction to? like a bacteria being carried under their nails. It could be something from the rat's cage. How often do you change thier cage material?