The Most Common Forms of Urticairia And Their Home Remedies?

Urticaria is not a very common disease.  There are many different suggestions about how many people actually suffer from urticaria, but the most realistic one seems to be nearly 5%.

Urticaria has many subtypes, some of them are very common like heat induced urticaria, autoimmune urticaria and then there are some very rarely found types e.g. exercise induced urticaria or solar urticaria.

Treating the rare forms usually need the expertise of a professional, while the more common forms are less hazardous and can be helped with the following home remedies.

The most common form, is heat induced urticaria and the best home remedy is applying cool compression or an ice pack.

Stress urticaria can be recurrent and the only home remedy is to stay happy.

Then comes the autoimmune urticaria, taking over the counter anti histamines can help. To reduce itching of the urticaria wheals, apply calamine lotion, vitamin E oil or Aloe Vera gel twice a day,  andexpose the affected area to fresh air.

Next week I will post five extremely important tips when you are managing any type of urticaria, do not forget to read them.

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How to avoid getting affected by heat induced Urticaria?

A few days back I blogged about cold induced Urticaria . Some people think they are safe when it comes to higher temperatures. Unfortunately, you are not safe from urticaria when it comes to heat.  There is a type called heat induced urticaria that can be caused when skin is exposed to heat above 43 degrees Celsius.

In most cases with heat urticaria, the exposed area of the skin becomes burned, stinging, turning red and swollen. It can cause immense itching and a burning sensation. Cooling down the affected area and exposing it to fresh air can help a great deal.

To learn the symptoms, causes and cures of heat induced urticaria, read here to read my complete article.

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Heat induced urticaria presents within five minutes after the skin has been exposed to heat above 109 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, the exposed area burns, stings, turns red, and swells. Just as cold induced urticaria is caused by exposure to cold, heat induced urticaria is triggered by heat. It is a subcategory of cholinergic urticaria and occurs in both men and women; however, it seems to be more common in men than in women.

Individuals prone to this type of urticaria must avoid extreme temperatures. If the individual has developed the symptoms, try to cool down the affected area with an ice pack or cool compresses. However, if the symptoms do not go away, a doctor should be consulted.

Heat Urticaria

Heat urticaria is one of the most uncommon forms of urticaria. It is an extremely rare condition in which hives develop 2 to 5 minutes after contact with a warm stimulus or environments with very high temperatures. These hives do not last very long and mostly resolve within 1 hour after the outbreak. This specific condition is also known as localized heat urticaria, which completely distinguishes it from generalized heat urticaria or cholinergic urticaria.

The method with which doctors diagnose heat urticaria may seem strange. Warm water from a test tube is applied to the patient’s forearm. If the patient is prone to heat urticaria, hives should develop within a few minutes.

The condition occurs when mast cells release histamines into the skin in response to extreme heat. Therefore, antihistamines may be helpful to treat this problem. In some cases, patients have been treated with desensitization methods, utilizing hot baths; however, this kind of therapy must be initiated under medical supervision.

This article will describe how you can benefit from exercise induced urticaria treatment. It is advisable that you consult your doctor before opting for any type of urticaria treatment. There is a common misconception about exercise-induced urticaria; therefore let us first discuss this.

Exercise Urticaria

Many people think that exercise induced urticaria or exercise urticaria is some kind of exercise allergy. It is a form of urticaria that can occur during strenuous physical exercise. The patient may experience itching, swelling, or hives on the legs, arms, torso, or neck during or after exercise. Usually, perspiration is considered to be the physical stimulus; however, the actual cause is a sudden increase in body temperature. It may appear on the skin within a few minutes and may remain for 30 minutes. In extreme cases,  the person may feel as if they are suffocating and may faint.

Exercise Urticaria Treatment

As soon as the symptoms appear, you should stop exercising. If the symptoms do not go away in 5 to 10 minutes, or if you have other symptoms not defined here, it is advisable to call your doctor right away.

Medication can be used for exercise induced urticaria treatment. These medications usually include antihistamines. In most cases, the symptoms will disappear after taking medicine. However, your doctor can help you identify reasons that trigger your allergic reaction and prescribe medicine accordingly. For some people with sensitive skin, it may be necessary to avoid certain types of exercise, while others do not need to stop exercising after treatment.

In extreme cases, the syndrome may progress to anaphylaxis. If this occurs, then intramuscular epinephrine or emergency self-injectable epinephrine (Adrenaclick, EpiPen, and Twinject) can be used for immediate relief.

Some amazing facts about Delayed Pressure Urticaria and Pressure Urticaria Treatment?

Sometimes very small things result in a great nuisance. What about sitting if you were in your office minding your own business, and that caused delayed pressure urticaria? Though it is not a very common problem, people who suffer from it know how painful it can be.

It occurs as a result of pressure on your skin. It is called delayed pressure urticaria as it usually takes 3 to 12 hours to appear after the  pressure has been applied. If you have this disease or want to know about it just out of curiosity, click here for a complete guide on delayed pressure urticaria and pressure urticaria treatment.

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Delayed pressure urticaria, caused by extreme pressure applied to the skin, can be characterized by swelling and pain on the affected area. Pressure urticaria treatment should be initiated immediately after the swelling appears or the pain will persist and may be accompanied by low fever, chills, fatigue, joint and muscle aches, and/or headaches. Delayed pressure urticaria usually takes 3 to 12 hours to come into sight after local pressure has been applied. It is one of the more common types of physical urticaria.

Pressure Urticaria

Pressure urticaria occurs after the skin has been under extreme pressure. For example, it can appear on the individual’s feet after standing or on the buttocks after sitting for an extended period. Pressure urticaria is typically deep into the skin and not visible to the eye. It usually lasts 8 to 72 hours and the patient may suffer pain, itchiness, or burning.

Besides Aspirin, other factors can trigger pressure urticaria, including pressure from using mechanical tools, such as a screwdriver or hammer, carrying a heavy weight, such as a bag or suitcase, using very tight tampons, and enthusiastic sexual intercourse.

Delayed Pressure Urticaria Treatment

Patients should avoid the activities that can trigger pressure urticaria, especially when the disease is severe. Wearing very tight clothes should also be avoided. You should consult a dermatologist to find out the causes of delayed pressure urticaria. Following, are some medical treatments that can be beneficial for  patients of delayed pressure urticaria.

The patient may consume systemic corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); however, they produce variable responses in different cases.

Some patients have experienced relief from pressure urticaria after taking chloroquine. Other possible remedies include colchicine, dapsone, sulfasalazine, and montelukast.

This article will help you a great deal if you are looking for Cholinergic Urticaria Treatment. However, if the problem gets worse, no matter which urticaria treatment you are using, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

What is Cholinergic Urticaria?

Before explaining the details of cholinergic urticaria treatment, let us understand some aspects of this disease. Cholinergic urticaria is a skin rash brought on by a hypersensitive reaction to body heat. It is a subcategory of physical urticaria.

Cholinergic Urticaria Hives

Cholinergic urticaria is also referred to as cholinergic urticaria hives, chronic heat hives, or simply heat hives.

Cholinergic Urticaria Symptoms

Cholinergic urticaria symptoms follow any stimulus to perspiration, such as running or exercising, heat from  direct sunlight, high temperature saunas, spicy foods, which may cause an increase in body temperature, very hot showers, or sometimes extreme stress. In some cases, people only have symptoms during the winter season where their body temperature rises when it is unacclimatized to heat.

Chronic Cholinergic Urticaria

Chronic cholinergic urticaria is a subset of urticaria. It is caused when the body becomes oversensitive to heat or the perspiration process. When an individual with hypersensitive skin exercises, experiences a rise in body temperature, takes a hot shower, eats spicy foods, etc, he is at risk of having a urticaria reaction.

Dermographism Cholinergic Urticaria

The literal meaning of dermographism is “writing on the skin.” In most cases, dermographism cholinergic urticaria does not cause itching. A red line appears in the beginning, which is very firm. This is then followed by an axon-reflex flare with broadening erythema. Afterwards, a linear wheal is formed on the affected area, which is also termed as triple response of Lewis.

Treatment for Cholinergic Urticaria

• Eating foods rich in vitamin E, vitamin C, or zinc may help prevent cholinergic urticaria 

• Calamine lotion can be applied on the affected area to relieve itch 

• Drinks like passionflower tea, peppermint tea, valerian, catnip, and chamomile may provide relief

• Applying vitamin E oil or aloe vera gel can help soothe skin

• Drinking nettle tea may help ease  breathing

How could I get Contact Urticaria or Contact Urticaria Syndrome?

What if I tell you there are many things which you should not touch, especially if you are prone to urticaria? If you do touch them you could suffer  from contact urticaria.  Don’t panic, it is just a skin disease which you can learn about and avoid or treat it easily.

An instant but momentary localized swelling and redness, occurs on the skin after direct contact with an offending stimulus. There are many reports of contact urticaria syndrome caused by a variety of compounds, such as foods, preservatives, fragrances, plant, animal products, and metals. Learn more about Contact Urticaria and Contact Urticaria Syndrome here.

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Contact urticaria is an instant, but momentary, localized swelling and redness, which occurs on the skin after direct contact with an offending stimulus. Contact urticaria syndrome is caused by a variety of compounds, such as foods, preservatives, fragrances, plant and animal products, and metals. It is a subcategory of physical urticaria.

Contact urticaria should be distinguished from other allergic contact dermatitis where dermatitis reactions develop a long time (hours or even days) after contact with the offending stimulus.

The contact can be immunologic and nonimmunologic. Causes of nonimmunologic contact urticaria include balsam of Peru, benzoic acid, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamic aldehyde, sorbic acid, and dimethylsulfoxide. Causes of immunologic contact urticaria include natural rubber latex, raw meat and fish, semen, many antibiotics, some metals (e.g. platinum, nickel), acrylic monomers, short-chain alcohols, benzoic, and other miscellaneous chemicals.

Since the exposure to contact urticaria patients is usually similar to other contact stimulus, watchfulness is required to make certain that the patient is properly investigated and diagnosed with contact urticaria syndrome.

Contact urticaria can be characterized by itching, local burning sensation, and tingling; red swellings or wheals may also occur, especially on the hands. The color of the wheals shows the severity, which can range from slight redness or spots with minimal swelling to fiery redness with tense swelling and wheals. Rash caused by contact urticaria usually resolves by itself within 24 hours of onset.

The worst thing about contact urticaria is that symptoms may occur in organs other than the skin due to unknown triggers. They are more likely to occur in patients with immunological contact urticaria. Features of extracutaneous reactions that can be caused by contact urticaria syndrome include wheezing, runny nose, watery eyes, lip swelling, hoarse throat, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, and severe anaphylactic shock, which can be life threatening.

What are the different Chronic Urticaria Causes?

As I wrote in one of my previous blogs, chronic diseases tend to be more annoying due to their persistent nature.  Today I am going to tell you what causes chronic urticaria. Chronic urticaria is also called Ordinary urticaria. It is defined as the presence of  wheals which last for more than six weeks.

Chronic urticaria causes have many known and unknown factors. Some of the known factors are Drugs, Allergens,Food allergens and Synthetic Products. If you know the causes that can trigger chronic urticaria you have a better chance of avoiding it. Read here for my detailed article on chronic urticaria causes.

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Chronic urticaria, also called Ordinary urticaria, is defined as the presence of passing wheals, which lasts for more than six weeks. Chronic urticaria causes include allergic, non-allergic, genetic, and immunological factors. Chronic urticaria can be triggered by various factors, such as drugs, extreme pressure, temperature extremes, friction, intensive exercise, and sunlight. In most patients, chronic urticaria causes are unknown. Up to 40% of chronic urticaria cases have an autoimmune cause. Extreme emotional conditions, such as stress, may directly or indirectly provoke a  tendency to develop urticaria.

Urticaria Causes

What causes urticaria is a very difficult question to answer, as there are known and unknown causes for this skin condition. Following, are the major urticaria causes:

Idiopathic Causes: Though there are many known causes for urticaria, there are many unknown causes as well, which are called idiopathic causes. Most people have idiopathic causes for urticaria, which is why it is on the top of my list.
Drugs: Manmade drugs are considered to be the major cause of urticaria. These drugs include different antibiotics (Penicillin), hormonal preparations, anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, indomethacin), vaccinations, NSAIDs, foreign sera, and contraceptive pills, etc. Morphine-induced urticaria has been reported in some patients. The urticaria patients who use cocaine or those who inject heroin may suffer from Bronchospasm.
Allergens and Food allergens: Different allergens can cause urticaria; however, the individual’s hypersensitivity plays a major role in this.  Many artificially flavored foods and some natural foods, such as wheat, milk, eggs, cheese, cereals, peas, oranges, fish,  and chicken can also cause urticaria.
Synthetic Products: Urticaria may also be induced in response to the excess usage of synthetic products, such as deodorants, colognes, talcum powders, and other cosmetic products.
Other Causes: Other causes of urticaria include infections and infestations, emotional factors, alcohol, and environmental factors.

What Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria Angioedema really is?

No matter what type they are chronic diseases can be a real pain in the neck. Itchiness and swelling make this pain worse in the case of chronic idiopathic urticaria angioedema. The reason is that it persists for a long time without any known reason.

Urticaria angioedema is characterized by the rapid swelling of the subcutaneous tissue, dermis, mucosa and submucosal tissues and can be throbbing.

If you have been suffering from urticaria angioedema for more than six weeks and there are no obvious causes, you have chronic idiopathic urticaria angioedema. Want to know more about this disease? Read my comprehensive article about chronic idiopathic urticaria angioedema.

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Chronic idiopathic urticaria angioedema is a type of angioedema that occurs in response to unknown causes and persists for more than six weeks. The swelling can be very annoying and may accompany itching and burning, as with other types of chronic urticaria. Many people face problems, as they are unable to open their eyes due to excessive swelling and others may feel difficulty in breathing if the airway is being blocked because of the swelling caused by chronic idiopathic urticaria angioedema.

Urticaria Angioedema

Urticaria angioedema, also known as Quincke’s edema, is the rapid swelling of the subcutaneous tissue, mucosa, and submucosal tissues.

In extreme cases, it may also cause suffocation as the airway can be blocked due to immense swelling. Therefore, if it progresses rapidly, it should be treated as a medical emergency. If urticaria angioedema has occurred in response to an allergy, epinephrine can be extremely useful. However, if the patient has hereditary urticaria angioedema, treatment with epinephrine has not been very helpful.

Autoimmune Urticaria Angioedema

Urticaria angioedema has two major types: hereditary urticaria angioedema and autoimmune urticaria angioedema. The first is a hereditary disease whereas autoimmune urticaria angioedema is caused when certain parts of body fail to recognize its own constituent parts as self, which allows an immune response against its own cells and tissues. There is a certain type of cells called mast cells, which act as a defense system in humans. However, in certain circumstances, these cells become disturbed and release a fluid called histamine. This fluid can damage the surrounding membranes and cause itching and rashes. This process is called autoimmune, and when the result is urticaria, it is called autoimmune urticaria.

Autoimmune Chronic Urticaria Angioedema

Autoimmune urticaria angioedema, when persisting for more than 48 days continuously is a chronic condition called autoimmune chronic urticaria angioedema. The patient may suffer from burning and itchiness.

Water can be dangerous when you have Aquagenic Urticaria?

You know how important water is for human beings but sometimes it can be hazardous. Do you think I am joking?

Then you do not know about aquagenic Urticaria which is an extremely rare diagnosed form of physical urticaria. It appears in response to any type of water (including normal water, sweat, tears etc) at both cold temperatures and hot temperatures. It is also sometimes also referred to as water urticaria and aquagenous urticaria.

No doubt it is very annoying  because avoiding water completely is not really possible for humans.  However, you can do certain things to minimize the damage done by aquagenic urticaria, mentioned in my detailed article here.

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Aquagenic Urticaria is an extremely rare form of physical urticaria. It appears in response to any type of water (including normal water, sweat, tears, etc) at both cold temperatures and hot temperatures. It is also sometimes referred to as water urticaria and aquagenous urticaria.

Like many other forms of urticaria, some people describe it as an allergy; however, it is not due to histamine releasing, which makes it unique. Aquagenic Urticaria causes an extremely painful reaction to the body of the patient when in contact with water.

Aquagenic Urticaria usually causes the skin to itch and burn after being exposed to water. Hives may also develop on the patient’s skin, which are itchy, raised bumps. The patient may feel pain, which usually lasts between 10 minutes to two hours. Taking a shower may result in soreness and dry eyes. Usually, contact with hot water tends to expedite the formation of hives. The patient may feel out of breath or experience swelling in the throat while drinking water.

The symptoms reappear if the skin comes in contact with any form of water. The patient’s own or someone else’s perspiration can cause a reaction; therefore, it is advisable to stay in a cool environment in the summer to avoid sweating as much as possible. Tears on the patient’s cheeks can also cause pain.

If you are suffering from aquagenic urticaria, try your best to stay out of the rain and carry an umbrella when you go out to ensure that you won’t get wet. Cleansing the body can produce pain so severe that patients may take very short showers to reduce the severity of the pain.

Although there is no proven treatment for Aquagenic Urticaria, dermatologists recommend staying out of water of any kind as much as possible. The patient should take short showers, stay cool, and avoid rain to help relieve suffering. Certain antihistamines, Zostrix, and other types of medications can be consumed to help ease the burning sensation. Want to get rid ofAquagenic Urticaria? Click Here.

The Four Most Important Points To Consider When Managing Urticaria?

Today’s post has four simple tips for managing urticaria, no matter if it is autoimmune urticaria, physical urticaria or any other type.

1: Sort out the causes and triggers, and avoid them as much as you can. For example if you are suffering from heat induced urticaria, avoid hot temperature.
2: Avoid offending stimuli, allergens or foods that can cause allergies like  eggs, nuts, wheat, dairy products etc. Remember, different people can be allergic to different foods. Food elimination technique can be helpful i.e. avoiding one type of food at one time and noting the results and then repeating with other types. This can be time consuming though!
3: Do not rub or unnecessarily touch the rashes, this can cause the rashes to blister and increase itching.
4: Consult a qualified doctor for timely diagnosis and treatment and choose medicines which do not have side effects e.g. herbal products.

You can read about urticaria and related conditions in my post next week.

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What really causes Autoimmune Urticaria?

Sometimes our immune system can become a blind dog in the meat market and goes against itself. This is what happens in autoimmune urticaria.

This weird skin problem shows itself with swelling, redness and itching. It is caused by different autoimmune disorders. These autoimmune disorders are characterized as the malfunctioning of the immune system. It causes it to attack itself. Mast cells, which are widespread in our skin, are supposed to protect us against diseases. However, under certain conditions they freak out and release a fluid called histamine, into the skin causing urticaria.

If you are interested in learning about the causes, symptoms and treatments of autoimmune urticaria, read here to read my detailed article about this annoying disease.

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Autoimmune urticaria is a skin problem found in patients who develop an idiopathic urticaria due to an autoimmune trigger, such as different antibodies. Swelling, redness, and itching caused by autoimmune disorders is called autoimmune urticaria. These autoimmune disorders are characterized as the malfunction of the immune system, which causes it to attack itself. Most of the cases (nearly 50%) of chronic idiopathic urticaria are the result of an autoimmune trigger. Such patients develop autoantibodies directed at the receptor FceRI, which is located on skin mast cells.

Mast cells are widespread in human skin and have the primary task to defend the body against diseases. However, when they are disturbed by allergic or non-allergic causes, they release histamines, which cause urticaria. This process is called autoimmune urticaria.

Autoimmune Chronic Urticaria

Chronic stimulation of the receptor FceRI leads to autoimmune chronic urticaria, which tends to last for a longer period of time than usual; for example, more than six weeks. It is a rare condition; however, it can be extremely problematic for the patient due to itchiness.

Autoimmune Urticaria Symptoms

Autoimmune urticaria can be characterized by many different symptoms, including raised, blanched wheals, anaphylactic reaction, pruritis, angioedema, and rapid onset.

Autoimmune Urticaria Treatment

Here are some valuable treatments for autoimmune urticaria; however, if the problem persists or becomes more severe you must consult an allergist immediately.

• Start with the treatment of underlying disorders.

• Avoid any physical or drug trigger.

• If the patient is suffering from thyroid disease, it needs to be cured first.

• Some systemic antihistamines, including hydroxyzine, doxepin, and cimetidine may be helpful. The patient may take them alone or in combination with each other or with nonsedating antihistamines, such as loratidine, cetirizine, or fexofenadine.

• If the patient also has yeast, tinea, or bacterial infections of the skin, mucosa, or sinuses, they must be treated first.

• For self-administration, patient should be given EpiPen.

How to treat Aquagenous Urticaria or Water Urticaria?

Do you know your body contains 55% to 78% of water? Can you live without water? Of course not! It is a major constituent of your body and an important factor for you to survive. However, you will be surprised to know that coming into contact with water can also cause urticaria. Its called  aquagenous urticaria or water urticaria! Luckily, it is an extremely rare disease so you don’t need to stop talking showers!

Water urticaria usually causes the skin to itch and burn after being exposed to water. Hives, which are itchy, raised bumps, may also develop on the patient’s skin. If you want to learn more about aquagenous urticaria, read here.

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Aquagenous urticaria, an extremely rare form of physical urticaria, appears in response to water at both cold temperatures and hot temperatures. It is also sometimes referred to as water urticaria and aquagenic urticaria.

Like many other forms of urticaria, some people describe it as an allergy; however, it is not due to histamine releasing, which makes it unique. Aquagenous urticaria causes an extremely painful reaction to the body of the patient when in contact with water.

Water urticaria usually causes the skin to itch and burn after being exposed to water. Hives may also develop on the patient’s skin, which are itchy, raised bumps. The patient may feel pain, which usually lasts between 10 minutes to two hours. Taking a shower may result in soreness and dry eyes. Usually, contact with hot water tends to expedite the formation of hives. The patient may feel out of breath or experience swelling in the throat while drinking water.

The symptoms reappear if the skin comes in contact with any form of water. The patient’s own or someone else’s perspiration can cause a reaction; therefore, it is advisable to stay in a cool environment in the summer to avoid sweating as much as possible. Tears on the patient’s cheeks can also cause pain.

If you are suffering from aquagenic urticaria, try your best to stay out of the rain and carry an umbrella when you go out to ensure that you won’t get wet. Cleansing the body can produce pain so severe that patients may take very short showers to reduce the severity of the pain.

Although there is no proven treatment for aquagenic urticaria, dermatologists recommend staying out of water of any kind as much as possible. The patient should take short showers, stay cool, and avoid rain to help relieve suffering. Certain antihistamines, Zostrix, and other types of medications can be consumed to help ease the burning sensation.