What is Allergic Urticaria?

Though there are many urticaria causes by non-allergic reasons, the most common ones occur in response to allergic triggers.

Allergic urticaria or urtcaria allergy is a skin severe condition, characterized by the presence of welts that itch intensely. It is caused by an allergic reaction, an infection, or a nervous condition.

Histamine and other pro-inflammatory substances are released from  mast cells, which are released in the skin and tissues in response to the binding of allergen-bound antibodies to high affinity cell surface receptors. Do you have more interest in this topic READ ON!

Allergic urticaria is a severe skin condition characterized by the presence of welts that itch intensely. It is caused by an allergic reaction, an infection, or a nervous condition. It is also known as urticaria allergy. Sometimes, it has very similar symptoms to Urticaria Pigmentosa Mastocytosis.

Mast cells play an important role in the allergic reaction that causes allergic urticaria. These cells are widespread in human skin. Histamine and other pro-inflammatory substances are released from these mast cells into the skin and tissues in response to the binding of allergen-bound IgE antibodies to high affinity cell surface receptors. Besides mast cells, basophils and certain other inflammatory cells are also believed to release histamines and other mediators and are thought to play an important role, especially in allergic urticarial diseases.

Allergic Urticaria Treatment

Urticaria allergy treatment can be a challenge even for a physician. The following suggestions can help patients find relief from the itchiness and swelling.

• All allergic urticaria patients should avoid certain drugs, such as aspirin, codeine, opiates, procaine, alcohol, and polymyxin B. Patients should also avoid hot baths and vigorous rubbing after bathing. These drugs and activities can release histamines, which can aggravate the situation and cause extreme itching and flushing. 

• Different foods containing tartrazine or meats preserved with benzoates can trigger allergy. Therefore, you should not consume such food items or confectionery.

• Keep the affected area cool with a fan or an ice pack.

• Oppressive treatment of allergic urticaria is carried out by administering antihistaminic drugs, such as Chloropheneramine (Avil) triprolidine hydrochloride, Actidil and Cyproheptadine hydrochloride (Periactin). Consume according to the doctor’s prescription or the dose frequency should be adjusted to provide adequate coverage for 24 hours.

• The drugs mentioned above may cause varying degrees of drowsiness; therefore driving, operating machines, and performing other jobs that require mental vigilance should be avoided as long as the effect persists. 

• If your urticaria allergy is not responsive to oral antihistamines, then you may have to be treated with injections of adrenaline or steroids, especially if you are having trouble breathing due to swelling in the airway.

What causes Adrenergic Urticaria?

Another weird type of urticaria is adrenergic urticaria.

This is a skin disease which is characterized by the eruption of small red papules with a pale or white halo of vasoconstriction. These appear within 10 to 15 min after an extreme emotional upset for instance a divorce or a bereavement of someone very close.

This is a very rare but different subtype of physical urticaria. It is the most easily identifiable type of urticaria due to its unique symptoms. Some people refer to it as a new form of stress induced urticaria.

Let us learn more about adrenergic urticaria, its causes, symptoms and cures in my article.

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Adrenergic urticaria is a skin disease characterized by the eruption of small, red papules with a pale or white halo of vasoconstriction, appearing within 10 to 15 minutes after an extreme emotional upset. It is a very rare but different subtype of physical urticaria. It is the most easily identifiable type of urticaria due to the unique symptoms. Some people refer to it as a new form of stress induced urticaria. These papules are different from those seen in papular urticaria (which is caused by insect bites), and their treatment is also somewhat different from papular urticaria treatment.

Adrenergic urticaria can occur by a positive response to intradermal adrenaline and noradrenaline injections. However, the actual pathogenesis of adrenergic urticaria is still unknown.

The rashes are usually associated with a burning sensation and pruritus over the palms and soles, lasting for minutes and disappearing impulsively. Patients usually report daily attacks, occurring mainly in the afternoon, following emotional stress and the intake of food items such as coffee, spices, ginger, and aubergine. The episodes respond instantly but only partially to antihistamine therapy.

However, antihistamine medication does not control the underlying causes of histamine release and the rashes may recur when the antihistamine therapy is stopped. Therefore, you feel better only when you take antihistamine for the time being, and the condition may reappear. For a proper and permanent treatment, the underlying causes should be cured. To avoid any complications, it is advisable to consult a doctor for treating adrenergic urticaria, especially if the symptoms persist for more than a few hours.

Though not very common yet, in some cases, adrenergic urticaria can outbreak in response to intradermal adrenaline and noradrenaline injections. However, the genuine causes of adrenergic urticaria are still unidentified.

Have ever you heard of Viral Hives?

This is not a very common problem but if it happens to you, you will never forget it.

Hives is a skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy wheals or bumps, usually caused by certain allergic reactions. However, there are many non-allergic causes as well.

Viral hives is caused by a viral infection. Some vial infections i.e. acute viral infection can cause acute hives i.e. these types of viral hives do not last more than a few hours. If the hives rash persists for more than six weeks and appears more than twice a week, they are chronic hives.

This is a vast topic and writing everything here is not possible, but you can read here for more on viral hives.

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Hives is a skin rash characterized by pale red, itchy wheals or bumps, usually caused by certain allergic reactions; however, there are many non-allergic causes as well. Viral hives is caused by a viral infection. Some viral infections, such as an acute viral infection can cause acute hives. This type of viral hives does not last more than a few hours. If the hives rash persists for more than six weeks and appears more than twice a week, it is chronic hives. Chronic hives usually have an idiopathic or unknown cause.

Some cases of hives also have an autoimmune cause; that is, they are caused by the patient’s own defense mechanism. There is a small number of hives cases that are caused by other factors, which  include friction, pressure, temperature extremes, exercise, and sunlight.

Hepatitis has a close relationship to hives due to different viral infections. Acute hives is frequently observed in the prodromic stage of hepatitis A as well as hepatitis B and sometimes in hepatitis C as well.  Hives is considered one of the pre-icteric symptoms of viral hepatitis and is related to immune-complex deposits. Therefore, hives can also be associated with some other common disorders, such as arthritis and headache. However, there are many patients with viral hepatitis who do not show any signs of acute or any other form of hives.

The case of chronic hives is different and quite confusing. There is no convincing evidence in which the hepatitis virus causes chronic hives. A recent controlled study revealed that there is no link between chronic hives and hepatitis C. In the case of hepatitis B, not much data is available, and there is still a need for additional research. Systematic hepatitis virus investigations in patients suffering from chronic hives are usually quite expensive. Hepatitis B or C can occasionally induce hives vasculitis, but this is probably related more to vasculitis than to true hives.

Viral Hives in Children

Up to 25% of children suffer from hives at some time during their childhood. Among those who suffer from this skin problem, 80% develop hives in response to a viral infection. In children, the human immunodeficiency virus, cold, mononucleosis, and hepatitis A, B, and C can cause viral hives.

You can find many medicines and antihistamines to treat viral hives. However, there are certain home remedies that reduce suffering, such as applying ice or cold compresses. Applying aloe vera gel or vitamin E oil on the affected area also reduces itching.

What is the Cause of Swelling Hives?

Hives bring many symptoms with them including itching, pain and swelling.

Hives swelling is one of the most common and obvious symptoms of hives. The affected area of the skin swells up, causing itchiness and pain.

Hives swelling depends on the severity of the problem. It can be very little in some cases, while in some cases it may be enough to not allow a patient to open his eyes. In some severe cases, it can block the airway and cause suffocation.

It is a serious matter, and you should learn more about the causes and cures of swelling hives, read here to read a comprehensive guide.

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Hives swelling is one of the most common and obvious symptoms of the outbreak of hives. The affected area of the skin becomes swollen, causing itchiness and pain. Hives swellingdepends on the severity of the condition from which you are suffering. If you are suffering from chronic hives then the swelling may be persistent; however, in most cases, the swelling does not last more than 8 to 12 hours. Patients should avoid the triggers, as in the case of allergic hives treatment, that cause or aggravate the situation. With some types of hives, if the affected area is cooled with a fan or ice, the swelling reduces.

In most cases, the swelling is not life threatening; however, if it occurs in the upper area of the airway it can create suffocation and this can be fatal. In this case, the patient should seek medical treatment immediately.  In some severe cases,  patients are unable to open their eyes due to immense swelling around the eyes.

If your swelling does not go away even after you have tried home remedies, it is highly advisable to consult a qualified doctor. However, herbal medicines have been used for nearly all kinds of skin treatments since the early ages and are still popular, as they have no side effects.

You can do certain things to reduce the swelling. The most common remedy involves taking certain antihistamines. Cooling the affected area with an ice pack or cool compresses also reduces the swelling.

Hives and Swelling

There is a close relationship between hives and swelling. Though hives is usually accompanied by swelling, not every patient may experience swelling. However, angioedema causes severe swelling, usually in the face. Hives and swelling that last more than six weeks are chronic, and patients may need to seek medical attention for this condition.

Nobody wants to Get Red Itchy Hives or Red Bumps Hives?

It is a fact that every individual wants to avoid these annoyances as much as possible. In the case of skin problems e.g. hives, people are more careful as it has a two fold inconvenience i.e. pain as well as embarrassment.

Certain factors can trigger a skin problem which many people refer to as red itchy hives, as the rashes are red in color and itchy in nature.

Some call them red bumps hives due to the red color of the rashes and their raised silhouette. They can be any subtype of hives i.e. physical hives, chronic hives or hives food allergies.

If you are troubled by red itchy hives, read here to read my article in order to cope with your problem in the most viable manner.

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Certain factors can trigger a skin problem, which many people refer to as red itchy hives, as the rashes are red in color and itchy in nature. Furthermore, some would call it red bumps hives due to the red color of the rashes and their raised silhouette. They can be any subtype of hives, i.e. physical hives, chronic hives, or hives food allergies, etc.

If you are troubled by red itchy hives, you need to read this article in order to cope with your problem in the most viable manner.

Red Hives

Hives, medically known as urticaria is a medical condition in which you develop a group of rashes all over your body. These rashes are mostly red in color, and that is why they are sometimes called red hives. Sometimes, you can even see red blotches, which is due to the release of a certain chemical called histamine. Histamine is released when you come in contact with an allergen or any other triggering factor. Depending upon the seriousness of the allergic condition, these patches and rings occur in different sizes.

Red Hives on Body

The hives rashes or red hives can appear anywhere on your skin, including your belly, neck, arms, and face. Their size varies greatly, from the size of a pinhead to large enough to cover major portions of your skin. They can be characterized by the presence of red wheals, which are usually raised and itchy in nature. Most of the time, these rashes vanish within a few hours after the outbreak; however, some types remain much longer.

Normally, red hives on the body are relatively harmless.  While they may cause itchiness for a while, they can be easily cured with certain home remedies. However, if they persist longer and are accompanied by other problems, i.e. suffocation or a change in heart rate or blood pressure, it is necessary to obtain medical treatment.

Today I would like to tell you about  medical hives.  One of the biggest online clinical knowledge bases is called eMedicine. Emedicine is searchable by different keywords , for example hives emedicine, cold induced hives, hives food and allergies .

Many people suffering from hives, especially chronic hives feel a bit hopeless. However, you shouldk now that there are medical hives remedies available in the market to ease the suffering caused by itching.

Want to know more about medical hives and hives emedicine?

This article will explain certain medical hives details and tell you about one of the biggest online clinical knowledgebases, eMedicine. Emedicine is searchable by different keywords, i.e. hives emedicine, cold induced hives, and hives food allergies, etc.

Many people suffering from hives, especially chronic hives, become hopeless. However, you should know that certain medical hives remedies are available to ease the suffering caused by itching. The most commonly used drugs are antihistamines. They counter the effects of the release of histamines. Our skin has many mast cells. These cells, when disturbed by certain factors, release into the skin fluid called histamine, which causes hives, itchiness, and pain. You can use certain over-the-counter antihistamines to relieve the suffering; however, it is better to use a drug prescribed by an urticaria doctor.

You can also find the solution to your problem on eMedicine. This online clinical knowledgebase was founded in 1996 by two medical doctors: Scott Plantz and Richard Lavely. Since its inception, it has experienced a considerable growth in term of data and visitors. You can search for information about your specific problem using keywords, i.e. cold induced hives, heat hives, hives treatment, etc.

The knowledgebase is comprised of  over 6,800 articles, each of which is associated with one of 62 different clinical subspecialty textbooks. In the first month of 2006, the website was browsed by 1.5 million readers every day, from 120 different countries. Since then, website traffic has increased dramatically.

When you are suffering from any disease, including hives, it is advisable to consult a specialist. Though there is a lot of valid and helpful information on the web, you need to take many other things into account before opting for any treatment. Your doctor may be the source of the best treatment.

The Most Common Forms of Hives and Their Home Remedies?

Hives can be very annoying because of their burning and itching, so today’s post will be telling you about some simple home remedies for the more common types of hives. According to surveys, nearly 5% of the population suffer from hives once in their life. The most common types of hives are heat hives, physical hives, autoimmune hives etc.

Arguably, the most frequently observed form of hives are heat induced hives and the best home remedy is cooling down the affected area of the skin with cool compression or an ice pack.

Hives and stress can be a chronic and recurring problem, and the best tip is to lead a happy stress-free life. Avoiding alcohol or keeping its intake to a minimum also helps.

In the case of autoimmune hives, taking over the counter antihistamines can counter the effect of histamine release.

To manage itchy hives, the patient can apply calamine lotion, vitamin E oil or Aloe Vera gel on the affected area twice a day.

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

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Some Valuable Tips for Managing Hives?

Hives can be a permanent headache because of their persisting nature. Proper diagnosis and treatment can solve this problem but at times the itching and pain can be over the top. Here are some tips that can be helpful in such a condition.

Hives has countless types including physical hives, contact hives, hives due to allergies and the list goes on. If you know the specific type you are suffering from, you will have a better chance of dealing with them.

If it is cold hives, avoid cold showers and temperature but if it is hot hives, expose the affected are to fresh air and take a mildly cold shower.

Food elimination techniques can be time consuming, but really helpful in avoiding the allergen foods.

Last but not the least,  proper treatment will be developed some time in the future.

This series of blogs has provided you with invaluable information about hives and their treatment, but if you are interested in reading about dermographism, read my next post which is due in two days.

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All About Physical Hives

Although physical hives is a more common type of hives, people have many misconceptions  about it.

It is a relatively common type of hives which occur from physical stimulus instead of occurring spontaneously. In physical hives, the skin of the patient usually becomes raised and inflamed with wheals, especially when stroked harshly, scratched ferociously or even slapped with force.

Physical hives can be classified by these names i.e. thermal, mechanical and cholinergic.

Do you want to read more about physical hives? Read to this detailed guide containing the causes, symptoms and cures for your problem.

Physical hives symbolize a unique subtype of the hives that are roused by an exogenous physical stimulus instead of occurring spontaneously. In physical hives, the skin of the patient usually becomes raised and inflamed, especially when stroked, scratched, rubbed, or slapped. The physical hives can be classified by  different sources, such as thermal, mechanical, and cholinergic. Hives and stress or stress hives is one of the most common types of physical hives.

It is believed that nearly 30% of the cases of chronic hives have a physical cause. Though physical hives is not a life threatening disease, it can cause great distress and itchiness. This is not a contagious disease and it is not transferred from one person to another. In many cases, rashes vanish within a few hours after appearing, and in some cases, they may remain much longer or reappear on the same or on a different area of the skin after a while.

Physical hives can be caused by many factors; however, all of these factors are physical triggers. It is usually triggered by extreme stress, very tight or rough clothing, wristwatches, sunglasses, highly energetic kissing, extreme weather (both hot and cold), or anything that causes stress to the skin of the patient. In most cases, it is just a minor irritation; however, a few cases have also been reported where symptoms were severe enough to impact a patient’s life as a whole. If hives affect the quality of your life, it is time for you to consult a qualified doctor.

Physical Urticaria Physical Hives

Physical hives are mostly triggered by scratching the skin or by rough clothing, wristwatches, sunglasses, highly energetic kissing, and extreme weather, etc. It is also referred to as Dermatographism. Physical hives is a term used interchangeably with physical urticaria; therefore, physical urticaria and physical hives mean the same thing.

More about Painful Hives and Hives Bruises?

If you have experienced a hives bruise at any stage of you life, you know how painful hives can be.

The itchiness, swelling and burning sensation adds to the suffering of the patient of painful hives. You not only suffer from pain but also feel embarrassed by the look of the bruises. In severe cases, the pain can be accompanied by other symptoms including suffocation, low blood pressure and asthma. If this is the case with you,you do need to consult a doctor.

If you want to cope with these skin problems, you simply need to learn more about them. Read here for further details about painful hives and hives bruise.

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People who have experienced hives bruise know how painful hives can be. The itchiness, swelling, and burning sensation add to the suffering of patients with painful hives. You not only suffer from the extreme pain, but you may also be embarrassed by the hideous looking bruises.

Luckily, hives bruises can be cured; however, you need to choose the appropriate treatment from various options, i.e. chronic hives treatment, physical hives treatment, hives in children treatment, etc, according to your specific problem. These treatments are safe and are similar in nature; however, it is advisable to  consult a qualified doctor before treating this skin problem on your own.

The details of the phenomenon that causes hives describe why it is painful. There is a certain type of cells widespread in our skin called mast cells, which contain certain important chemicals. One of these chemicals is called histamine. If mast cells are disturbed by any factor, allergic or non-allergic, they can release the histamine into the adjacent areas of the skin. This release causes hives bruise and pain. Antihistamines can be used to counter its effect and reduce itchiness and swelling.

In most cases, a hives bruise vanishes within a few hours after its outbreak. This kind of hives is known as acute hives. However, if your rashes do not go away, i.e. if they remain more than six weeks and appear at least twice a week you may have chronic hives. This form of the condition needs more attention, as it can cause constant symptoms.

If you have developed painful hives or a hives bruise, you need determine the causes or triggers and avoid them as much as possible. While antihistamines can help the patient, it is important to remember that they do not treat the underlying cause. However, to reduce itching and pain you can cool the affected area or apply aloe vera gel or calamine lotion to the skin.

How to Cope with Hives in Children?

Before going into  details of medical hives let me assure you that it is not a problem without a solution.

It is a fact that most of the people suffering from hives, especially chronic hives, feel hopeless because it may seem a never ending cycle.

However, you should know that certain medical hive remedies are available in the market to ease the sufferings caused by the itching.

This article will describe certain medical hive details and hive in children.

Before explaining the details of medical hive, let me assure you the problem is not without a solution. Many individuals suffering from hives, especially chronic hives, become hopeless, as it may seem to be a never-ending cycle. However, you should know that certain medical hive remedies are available  to ease the suffering caused by itching. If your child is suffering from hives, you can select a hives in children treatment according to the specific problem.

The most commonly used drug is an antihistamine. It counters the effect of the release of histamine. Our skin has many mast cells. These cells, when disturbed by certain factors, release into the skin fluid called histamine, which causes hives, itchiness, and pain. You can use certain over-the-counter antihistamines to relieve the suffering; however, it is better to use a drug prescribed by an urticaria doctor.

The growth of hive in children can be an isolated event without any systemic reaction or it can be a prelude to the development of an anaphylactic reaction. It is usually triggered by factors including allergies, insect bites, viral infections, skin contact, and some non-allergic triggers. However, in nearly 50% of the cases, the trigger is unidentified. The symptoms of hives are the same in children and adults.

Usually, hives do not last very long in children and disappear within a few hours of the outbreak. However, it is possible that the child may develop chronic hives, sometimes in response to an underlying disease. Chronic hives last more than six weeks and appear more than twice a week.

What does Idiopathic Hives really mean?

To make this complex skin problem easily understandable, let me describe it by name idiopathic hives. Hives is a skin disease characterized by the presence of red or pale white wheals, that cause itching, on any part of the skin. Idiopathic means without any known reason.

If you or any of your family members have a skin rash with colorful and itchy wheals on any part of skin it might be idiopathic hives. It is an annoying, painful and demoralizing condition. You can try certain home remedies, but if they do not work you should consult a doctor.

To read a comprehensive guide about idiopathic hives, read here.

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For a better understanding of this complex skin problem, let me describe idiopathic hives. Hives is a skin disease characterized by the presence of red or pale, white wheals that cause itching on any part of the skin; idiopathic means without any known reason. Therefore, if you are experiencing a hives rash without any understandable reason, it might be idiopathic hives. It is an annoying, painful, and demoralizing condition. Read this article in its entirety to learn how to find relief.

First, you should know whether the idiopathic hives you are suffering from is chronic – if it lasts more than six weeks then it is chronic. Small, round wheals may appear, which may change shape or size with the passage of time. The wheals usually occur in batches, they itch, and they often appear on the face or the extremities. They may disappear from one place and appear on another area of your body.

It is not easy to treat idiopathic hives, as the cause is unknown. However, you can do a few things to minimize its effects. Applying calamine lotion or aloe vera gel on affected areas can provide temporary relief. Using antihistamines, including telfast, diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine, cetirizine, and other H1 receptor antagonists can also help the patient.

Chronic Idiopathic Hives

Chronic is a synonym for never-ending, and if your idiopathic hives remain for at least six weeks, it is chronic. Chronic idiopathic hives treatment should first be oriented towards palliation of symptoms. In the early stages, a 2%-solution of Ephedrine as a local spray is very useful. Antihistamines with a low potential for sedation, i.e. H1, are the most important initial treatment. Combinations of diverse antihistamines may be helpful in suppressing symptomatology.