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.