Urticaria is the medical term for hives or nettle skin rash. It is an itchy skin condition that shows up and disappears quickly, lasting for variable periods, with or without coexisting erythematous flares. This condition is also known as wheals or welts. About 20% of humans worldwide suffer from urticaria at some point in their lifetime. Urticaria requires treatment from an expert dermatologist or skin specialist, and one can get expert help from a dermatologist in Hyderabad at Celestee Skin, Laser and Hair Clinic.
Based on the duration of urticaria, there are two kinds of urticaria-
Furthermore, depending on whether triggers are causing the symptoms or not, chronic urticaria is divided into two kinds- Chronic spontaneous urticaria and Chronic inducible urticaria.
Chronic inducible urticaria can be of different kinds, depending on what is triggering its symptoms. The kinds include cold urticaria, heat urticaria, vibratory urticaria, contact urticaria, delayed pressure urticaria, solar urticaria, and dermographism.
Looking for effective hives or urticaria treatment in Hyderabad? Get in touch with a urticaria doctor at Celestee Skin, Laser and Hair Clinic. The dermatologists perform all the necessary tests for urticaria detection and provide certain treatment plans that are effective in its management.
There is no clear cause identified for the occurrence of urticaria. However, it has been found that urticaria can happen, as a reaction to some allergens, some triggers, or underlying health issues.
Acute urticaria is seen in one in 5 people at some point in their lifetime. Chronic spontaneous urticaria affects about 0.5 to 2% of humans, most of which are women. Chronic inducible urticaria is more common in people who have a genetic predisposition to the condition or autoimmune associations. Meet a urticaria doctor in Hyderabad at Celestee Skin, Laser and Hair Clinic for more details!
No, urticaria itself isn’t spreadable. But, its cause like an infection can be contagious.
Clinical features of urticaria are as follows:
Before urticaria occurs, an individual may feel unwell due to a bacterial or viral infection. In some cases, an individual with chronic urticaria may be suffering from a chronic medical condition like mastocytosis, erythematosus, or rheumatoid arthritis.
One can suspect vasculitis with hives, if the skin rash has started appearing bruised, lasts longer than usual (more than 2-3 days) and is causing great discomfort.
Urticaria can affect any part of the skin such as the skin of the face, legs, arms, and trunk.
During diagnosis, reviewing the patient's medical history and intake of medications as well as lifestyle and diet is important. A thorough physical examination by a skin allergy specialist in Hyderabad is also a must.
In the case of acute urticaria, diagnostic tests are typically not helpful and not needed, as the condition quickly resolves. If an allergic reaction is suspected, then a dermatologist may order allergy testing like a skin prick test, CAP fluoroimmunoassay, and RAST (radioallergosorbent tests).
On the flip side, chronic urticaria requires specific tests to identify the underlying cause. For instance, the patient’s blood, urine, or stool sample may be needed to identify an infection or underlying illnesses that could be an explanation for urticaria symptoms. An inducible urticaria can be confirmed and diagnosed by introducing physical triggers like an ice cube application on the skin to check for cold urticaria.
Dermatologist for hives treatment in Hyderabad at Celestee Skin, Laser and Hair Clinic recommends avoiding allergens and physical triggers, if identified.
For acute urticaria, oral antihistamines are recommended. Antihistamines help reduce histamine caused by an allergic reaction and relieve the resulting inflammation and itching. Patients are requested to take them regularly for relief.
In some cases, stronger antihistamines via injections or topical use may be prescribed. Other recommended treatments include soothing creams to reduce itch, topical steroids, and antiseptic creams to avoid secondary infection.
For chronic urticaria, antihistamines can help resolve rash, stop itch, and avoid further flare-ups. If they fail to work adequately, other treatments can be tried like the use of other histamine blockers, immunosuppressive agents, hydroxychl-oroquine, leukot-riene inhibitors, and phototherapy.
To treat chronic spontaneous urticaria, an injectable drug, may be prescribed. It works to block IgE, an immunoglobulin that takes part in allergic reactions.
Urticaria symptoms can be controlled at home by wearing loose-fitting, breathable fabric clothing; avoiding triggers; choosing skin products that suit the skin type; and using cool compresses or soothing lotion to reduce itchiness.
Preventive measures include keeping a note of physical triggers and avoiding them; avoiding stress; being careful about the choice of skin products; and informing doctors about current diet and medications so that triggers can be identified.
For detailed advice and to get rid of this skin issue, consult hives/urticaria specialists in Hyderabad at Celestee Skin, Laser and Hair Clinic.
