Conditions
Urticaria
Urticaria goes by several names, including hives, nettle rash and welts. It is an itchy red rash composed of weals that affects the skin. These can vary greatly in size, from just a few millimetres to a handspan. Generally, an outbreak of urticaria will be over within 24 hours and when the weals fade the skin returns to normal. The condition can be either acute or chronic, the latter label being given when an outbreak strikes daily for six weeks. An estimated 1 in 5 people will be affected by acute urticaria at some point in their lives, though it is more common amongst children. Chronic urticaria will only affect about 1 in 1000.
With acute urticaria, allergens, irritants, infections, medicines or physical factors like heat or exercise can spark the condition. An allergen could be a certain food or material the body reacts to, whilst an irritant may be something like a nettle sting. Any of these factors may trigger the release of histamine in the skin, which is what causes the swollen itchy weals. Nonetheless, sometimes no cause can be identified. Chronic urticaria is linked to other conditions, such as autoimmunity problems. For example, if the immune system attacks the cells that contain histamine this will be released, causing urticaria. Other conditions have been linked to chronic urticaria, including thyroid disease and viral hepatitis.
Depending on what a doctor believes the cause of urticaria to be, you may be referred to an allergy clinic. In some cases urticaria clears of its own accord, however antihistamines are a common treatment for the condition. Corticosteroid tablets are also sometimes prescribed and menthol cream can be used to relieve itching. A change in diet is sometimes recommended to sufferers of chronic urticaria.
More complicated forms of urticaria exist, such as urticaria vasculitis, which leaves a bruise and requires a dermatologist’s expertise. Angioedema may also occur, causing swelling with a burning sensation, usually around the eyelids and lips. This will normally clear in a few days but call your GP if symptoms persist or cause difficulty with breathing.
NHS Choices:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Nettle-rash/Pages/Introduction.aspx
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hi my sister is suffering really bad with hives, its got to a point where there are all over her body and sometimes in her eyes, any advice
Hi there! I'm a sufferer of chronic idiopathic urticaria, and mine is caused from an autoimmune disease! My outburst has lasted over a year now and for the first two months i was back and forward to the doctors with different medications and creams. I've found creams don't tend to work in calming it down and it is exceptionally trial and error in order to find working antihistamines. Sometimes the doctor can prescribe you with other medicines for different conditions with the correct H1 and H2 blockers. Furthermore, i've been referred to dermatology who have put me on UV (Ultraviolet B) treatment, maybe talk to your doctor about trying this? I know how hard it is, after a year its ridiculously painful but i hope this helps, it really is trial and error. After 20 medications i still haven't found the right one for me but i hope your conditions improves!
i would say see your doctor asap to find out what it is and get treated good luck
I also suffer from chronic idiopathic urticaria! I have only recently been diagnosed! A remember having an outbreak a few years ago an that went away after a few weeks! The outbreak I have now has lasted for around 8 weeks now and I have visited my GP twice and he has given me telfast 180mg once a day and eumovate cream but it doesn't seem to be clearing up any and its quite stressful I also suffer IBS and as I am getting stressed my IBS is flaring up too! My whole body is itchy and my scalp is there anything else I van do?
Whenever I go on holiday to hot places I end up with a rash after a couple of days in the sun. I often get it on my feet and hands and it is really itchy and also on arms,ches. To date I have never had it on my face. I wear factor 50 sun cream and don't burn - tan well. I have always thought it to be an allergy to sun cream and have tried many but eventually the same thing happens. I have tried antihistimines but they don't work. The rash goes as soon as I get home. My 15 yr old daughter seems to be developing the same thing. Do you think this could be cholinergic urticaria? Could you confirm the combination of tablets to try re antihistimine H2 receptors. Zantac and hayfever tablets?
I suffer really bad with this condition ive had it now for 7years its now affectin my lips they just swell 4no reason lookin like i av had collogen ive had loads of test i.e hormones. allergies etc i ad 2stop takin tablets 4this condition wen i woz pregnant neva bothered me even a year after havin my baby still neva bothered me but then bang out of the blue it started been on fexofenadine 180mg im now on citrozenadine 10mg but i also av a underactive thyroyid im on 300mg per day.
My condition is getting so bad now that it is physically embarrasing to get a job or socialize that much. Triggers of my condition are mainly consisted of: 1)Stress related 2)heat exposure 3)pain (sharp sudden pains mainly) The rash develops as it looks like Uricaria, however it is accompanied by very bad burning and itching and after about half hour the raised areas disappear. Most of the time it can come on at the most inconvenient of times and so i am too embarrased about finding a job. Please help as i have suffered with this for years and I am very worried that I will never be able to get a job without getting extremely embarrased :(
My wife is itching from head to toe, it raises while itching,stops about a hour or so later. She has been to the doctor many times,it drives her mad, lower region is getting affected as well now, as well as her face . Can anyone help her PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've recently developed symptoms of Urticaria and I too have a very under-active thyroid, I currently take 250mg of Levothyroxine each day. It started occuring after each shower and now I get when I exercise or just get too warm which is quite often!! Should I be going to the GP and getting my thyroid levels checked or asking for something for the rash, I am generally quite active so don't understand why it's suddenly started?
I am pretty sure I suffer from Urticaria, on one of your shows a gentleman had a similar condition for which you recommended, histamine depletion through exercise and sweeting plus two type of medication. Could you confirm the medication recommended and whether or not this is a prescription or over the counter medication? Dennis
Hi im sure i have this too and went to the GP i have a streroid cream (did nothing) and piriton (antihistamine) as well as dermol to replce my shower gel. Dennis what was suggested was antacids and antihistamines. i will try them but have been to the gp 4 times now and had varying strngths of lamsil cream and other stuff and nothing has toched it. exercise really brings out pronounced red itchy areas in me. would diet have an effect does anyone know?
Thanks Ben for your reply EXERCISE I am currently trying the idea of depleting the histamine through heavy exercise and sweating. Exercise and sweating does bring out a pronounced rash, but the theory is that it will eventually deplete the histamine level in the body. For this to work I assume I must be careful with my diet not to simply replenish the histamine in my body? I intend to try this for a few weeks, then if little improvement, combine it with the anti-histamine and antacid tablets. I suppose I just don’t like the idea of being on tablets all my life. DIET I am also trying to be really strict with my diet regarding histamine levels in food, but to be honest it is difficult. The advice on the internet regarding histamine levels in foods is not clear and often contradictory. As someone who has always enjoyed food I find it quite difficult to find a satisfying diet. Has anybody found a good food guide on Histamine? Most seem to tell you what you can’t eat! with little emphasis on what you can eat. I guess it’s almost impossible to avoid histamine completely so a guide which tells you the relative levels would be more useful. WASHING One GP advised not to use any soap or shampoo only water, which I tried, but can’t say I noticed any difference. Some advice on the internet suggests that you can reduce the histamine on fruits by washing. So (grasping at straws) I wash thoroughly, particularly after exercise in the assumption that it will wash of any surface histamine which will react with the my skin.
Hi My litle boy, he is 3 and a half, has Chronic idapathic urtacaria. It started when he had a few bad episodes of gingivitus. He has certazine for it but it doesnt seem to shift the hives. He has really bad stomach spasms which seem to be in conjunction with a hive break out. He started with this at approx 8 months old. He is restless at night. I was told that he has to have the ontihistamine for 12 months then he should grow out of it, but as yet he hasnt ( over 12 months now) I am going to go back to the gps and ask to be refered back up to the hospital as he is complaining about his stomach alot. I have never come across this before so any help/advise would be very much appreciated as i want him to be comfortable. I have also noticed that the hives ( blister) are getting larger although he is not having as many? Thank you for reading x
I've suffered from Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria for two years. It started after I had been for a cycle. Small red itchy patches appeared on my legs and within a couple of weeks my entire body was covered in a burning, incredibly itchy rash and my entire face was swollen. This is a terrible illness, quality of life is severely affected. As someone previously said.....urticaria/angioedeme on the.hands and feet is incredibly painful making walking and basic tasks near impossible. The good news is........there are drugs out there to help. I take telfast 180mg four times a day, montelukast 10mg twice a day and four sedatives for nerve pain and sleep!!!! I attend an anaphylaxis clinic, so go back to your gp and asked to be referred there if your lips or mouth swells up.
Hi Trudi, go back to your GP and asked to be re-referred. Ordinary painkillers won't make any difference. I take Amytriptyline - this is an anti-depressant (I take it for my Urticaria/Angioedema)when prescribed in low doses (up to 40mg)it helps with nerve pain and it will also help you to sleep. There is no known cure for this illness but there are lots of tablets out there to ease it. I also take Asthma medication (montelukast) for the treatment of urticaria so although the tablets you were given by the specialist weren't directly for the treatment for urticaria they will have an effect on the bodies production of histamine. Please don't give up and suffer in silence.
I also have urticaria I have had it for 10 years and it does not get any better, I have big wealds under my hair and mainly on my legs which also swell sometimes they are on the bottom of my feet which makes it painful to walk , my legs feel very hot when it is at its worse and my whole body aches , I take Benodryl 3 times a day and paracetomol . I dont tell anyone how I feel I just get on with it, 2 years ago my docs sent me to a specialist who gave me some tablets , which turned out to be for a totally different problem/good job I asked the phamacist what they were for so have not gone back .. any help form anyone would be great
Hi Trudi, go back to your GP and asked to be re-referred. Ordinary painkillers won't make any difference. I take Amytriptyline - this is an anti-depressant (I take it for my Urticaria/Angioedema)when prescribed in low doses (up to 40mg)it helps with nerve pain and it will also help you to sleep. There is no known cure for this illness but there are lots of tablets out there to ease it. I also take Asthma medication (montelukast) for the treatment of urticaria so although the tablets you were given by the specialist weren't directly for the treatment for urticaria they will have an effect on the bodies production of histamine. Please don't give up and suffer in silence.
my 12 yr old son suffers from these type hives as described usally after hes been playing rugby but they seem worse when its cold outside hes really embarassed about them as its all over his body and hes been picked on over them the gp thought it was an allergy to grass originally do you think it could be urticaria if so what can he take other than anti histamine as that only works for a short period ?
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