Have itchy, red, or skin-colored, raised rashes on the skin appeared, disappeared, and then reappeared? It’s most likely urticaria. Urticaria skin disease affects about 20% of the masses in the course of their lives. Thankfully, urticaria is treatable with the help of a skin doctor and even preventable if its cause and symptoms are known.
This post talks about what urticaria is and its causes, signs, types, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
What is Urticaria?
Urticaria, a medical term for hives or nettle rash, is a skin disease that shows up on the skin as itchy skin welts- red, bumps with clear, well-defined edges. The rashes can develop all of a sudden on a specific area of the skin or be far-flung over a wide area, similar to insect bites. The itching associated with the condition can range in severity and worsen with stress, heating up of the body/skin, intake of alcoholic beverages, and scratching of the skin.
Causes of Urticaria
Urticaria causes can be any one of the following:
- Stress
- Sunlight
- An allergic reaction
- Overreaction to extreme temperatures or sweat
- Pressure on the skin, including friction from wearing tight clothes or scratching.
Urticaria usually develops as a reaction to an allergy when the immune system releases histamine and other chemicals after mistakenly recognizing any substance as a threat to the body. It can even be due to the secretion of IgE antibodies as a result of trigger-less, impaired functioning of the immune system.
There are multiple triggers of urticaria found in the environment, including:
- Lack of sleep
- Stress or anxiety
- Microbial infections
- Skin friction due to tight clothing
- Poor functioning immune system
- Sunlight, wind, change in temperature/weather
- Chemicals in synthetic materials like rubber
- Dust mites, insect bites, and flying animal stings
- Certain cosmetics with skin-irritating ingredients
- Contrast media used in radiology imaging tests like CT scans or MRI
- Fruit resins like latex including mango and banana resin and plant rubber
- Certain medications like insulin, NSAIDs, antibiotics, ACE inhibitors, and others
- Some underlying illnesses such as tonsillitis, thyroid disease, lupus, pharyngitis, COVID-19, and some cancer types
- Food allergens like nuts, wheat flour, soy, seafood, milk, eggs, and food coloring/preservatives.
Symptoms of Urticaria
The signs of urticaria include:
- Itching, irritation, and burning sensation
- Certain medications like insulin, NSAIDs, antibiotics, ACE inhibitors, and others
- Wheals getting bigger, connecting, and spreading to most areas of the body
- Red or flesh-colored welts (raised/swollen skin) with clear, distinct edges (called wheals)
- Wheals of different sizes (0.5 to 10 cm) and shapes flare up and then disappear within a few minutes or hours, lasting a maximum of up to 2 days.
The urticaria symptoms and their extent are variable depending on the allergy source and how one responds to an allergen exposure. In severe cases of acute urticaria, the rashes widely spread, and the affected person experiences dizziness, fever, joint pain, and certain respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal issues. There could also be anaphylaxis leading to a swollen face, eyes, and lips.
Types of Urticaria
Based on the time for which the signs of urticaria persist, there are two types of urticaria:
- Acute Urticaria– This type can last up to 6 weeks. In most cases, the symptoms resolve in a week. However, in less than 40% of the cases, urticaria can turn chronic.
- Chronic Urticaria– This type lasts for more than 6 weeks. In most cases, the symptoms persist for more than one year. The itchy welts flare ups two times a week, either induced by clearly defined triggers or being a spontaneous, idiopathic occurrence.
If the itchy, welts pop up due to skin exposure to triggers like extreme temperature, stress, or allergen, it is called inducible urticaria. When wheals or angioedema appears due to exposure of the skin to physical stimuli like vibration, pressure, temperature, friction, or water, the condition is called physical urticaria.
Treatment for Urticaria
Urticaria treatment may not be needed as the condition can typically resolve naturally. Dermatologists only help in managing urticaria symptoms and help the rashes to quickly clear from the skin.
The options usually considered for the treatment of urticaria are:
- Antihistamines– for relieving itching, swelling, and other signs of allergy
- Allergen immunotherapy– suppression of the secretion of Ig E antibodies (in chronic urticaria patients)
- Anti-inflammatory medications like corticosteroids– for reducing skin inflammation and itching (in case of severe urticaria or angioedema)
- Immunosuppressant– for fast healing of skin rashes (in case antihistamines are not working)
- Biologics– to suppress Ig E antibody production without inhibiting immune system function (in chronic urticaria patients).
When to See an Urticaria Specialist?
Consulting a doctor for urticaria is beneficial if:
- The signs of urticaria last for more than 6 weeks
- Itchy, welts appear due to an allergy
- Most of the skin of the body is affected.
A urticaria specialist in Hyderabad can help identify the cause of urticaria and provide effective, severe urticaria treatment, also guiding on how to manage urticaria flare-ups.
Managing Urticaria: Tips and Lifestyle Changes
Mild urticaria symptoms can be relieved with over-the-counter antihistamines, topical steroids, and taking a cold shower or applying ice packs. For managing urticaria symptoms, here are the key lifestyle changes for urticaria:
- Have a low histamine diet and drink adequate water daily
- Consider using air filters at home and controlling dust mites
- Manage stress by incorporating relaxation techniques into daily routines
- Immediately consult a dermatologist if experiencing new or worsening symptoms or have new triggers
- Keep track of symptoms to identify and avoid urticaria triggers and know when they appear and disappear
- Practice proper skin care. This includes wearing loose-fitting clothing, protecting the skin with sunscreen, applying cold compresses on the wheals, washing the skin with gentle, non-scented soap, regularly moisturizing the skin, and avoiding scratching the skin.
Urticaria Treatment in Hyderabad
Urticaria features itchy skin welts that can be short-lived or chronic, affecting one’s daily life. Understanding urticaria signs and causes/triggers is necessary to figure out effective urticaria treatment. If urticaria is left untreated, the condition can turn serious and cause complications for which a dermatologist’s attention is needed. Therefore, anyone having urticaria can get in touch with a dermatologist at Celestee Skin, Hair and Laser Clinic for accurate diagnosis and treatment as well as personal guidance on lifestyle changes, including diet modifications and changes in skincare routine.
FAQs on Urticaria Treatment
How is Urticaria Diagnosed?
A thorough skin examination by a dermatologist is usually enough to diagnose urticaria. However, sometimes the dermatologist may ask the patient to undergo an allergy test, routine blood work (to check for infection or illness), or a skin biopsy to eliminate other possibilities.
Can Urticaria Be Prevented?
Yes. Urticaria is preventable by avoiding potential triggers like extreme temperatures, certain allergens, and medications; managing stress; getting proper sleep; and wearing comfortable clothing.
What Treatments Are Available for Urticaria?
Urticaria is treatable with medications like antihistamines and corticosteroids.
What are the Common Symptoms of Urticaria?
Urticaria usually shows up on the skin suddenly as a red, itchy, raised rash/welt of variable shape and size. The rash can flare up and subside in cycles and turn pale/white when pressed.
Urticaria is a common skin issue, and if left untreated, it can cause severe distress in affected individuals. Celestee Skin, Hair, and Laser Clinic is a leading urticaria treatment clinic in Hyderabad. One can visit the clinic to get the best urticaria treatment!
