Hives their cause and treatment, can you control it coming on?
For the past few months I’ve been very stressed, when I get up in the morning my hands, feet, and trunk start to errupt in welts….I can feel it coming on when I’m thinking about things that frighten me…from what I’ve read the histimines are doing something in my body …..do you have some ideas how to cope with this problem. I’m so tired of itching and feeling this way? Thanks in advance
Tagged with: histimines • thanks in advance • thinking about things • welts
Filed under: Natural Remedies For Hives
What are hives (urticaria)?
Hives (medically known as urticaria) are red, itchy, raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes and sizes. They range in size from a few millimeters to several inches in diameter. Hives can be round, or they can form rings or large patches. Wheals (welts), red lesions with a red “flare” at the borders, are one manifestation of hives. Hives can occur anywhere on the body, such as the trunk, arms, and legs.
One hallmark of hives is their tendency to change size rapidly and to move around, disappearing in one place and reappearing in other places, often in a matter of hours. An outbreak that looks impressive, even alarming, first thing in the morning can be completely gone by noon, only to be back in full force later in the day. Very few, if any other skin diseases occur and then resolve so rapidly. Therefore, even if you have no evidence of hives to show the doctor when you get to the office for examination, he or she can often establish the diagnosis based upon the history of your symptoms. Sometimes it is helpful to bring along a photograph of what your rash looked like at its worst.
Swelling deeper in the skin that may accompany hives is called angioedema. This may be seen on the hands and feet as well as on mucous membranes (with swelling of the lips or eyes.)
What causes hives?
Hives are produced by histamine and other compounds released from cells called mast cells, which are a normal part of skin. Histamine causes fluid to leak from the local blood vessels leading to swelling in the skin.
Hives are very common. Although they can be annoying, they usually resolve on their own over a period of weeks, and are rarely medically serious. Some hives are caused by allergies to such things as foods and medications, but the large majority of cases are not allergic, and no specific cause for them is ever found. Although this is frustrating to patients, such common maneuvers as changing diet, soap, detergent, and makeup are usually not helpful in preventing hives and for the most part are not necessary.
In rare cases (some hereditary, others caused by bee stings or drug allergy), urticaria and angioedema are accompanied by shock and difficulty breathing. This is called anaphylaxis. Ordinary hives may be widespread and disturbing to look at, but the vast majority of cases do not lead to life-threatening complications.
What are the different kinds of hives?
Almost all hives fall into two categories: ordinary urticaria (ordinary hives) and physical urticaria (physical hives).
Ordinary urticaria (ordinary hives)
Symptoms of ordinary hives
Ordinary hives flare up suddenly and usually for no specific reason. Welts appear, often in several places. They flare, itch, swell, and go away in a matter of minutes to hours, only to appear elsewhere. This sequence may go on from days to weeks. Most hive episodes last less than six weeks. Although that cutoff point is arbitrary, hives that last more than six weeks are often called “chronic.”
Causes of ordinary hives
Many cases of ordinary hives are “idiopathic,” meaning no cause is known. Others may be triggered by viral infections. A few may be caused by medications, usually when they have been taken for the first time a few weeks before. (It is uncommon for drugs taken continuously for long periods to cause hives or other reactions.)
Despite the reputation hives have for being “allergic,” when there is no obvious connection between something new that a person has been exposed to and the onset of hives, allergy testing is not usually helpful.
Chronic hives
Chronic hives is less common than acute hives. In patients with chronic hives, hives can last from months to years. Allergy testing and laboratory tests are hardly ever useful in such cases.
Physical urticaria (physical hives)
The term physical urticaria refers to hives produced by direct physical stimulation of the skin. By far the most common form is “dermographia,” which literally means “skin writing.” This is an exaggerated form of what happens to anyone when their skin is scratched or rubbed: a red welt appears at the line of the scratch. In dermographia, raised, itchy red welts with adjacent flares appear wherever the skin is scratched or where belts and other articles of clothing rub against the skin, causing mast cells to leak histamine.
Another common form of physically-induced hives is called cholinergic urticaria. This produces hundreds of small wheals 2-3 mm in diameter, surrounded by a flare. These occur within 15 minutes of physical exertion, or a hot bath or shower. This form of hives happens more often in young people.
Other forms of physical hives are much less common. Triggers for these include cold, water, and sun.
What is the treatment for hives?
The goal of treating most cases of ordinary urticaria is to relieve symptoms while the condition goes away by itself. The most commonly used oral treatments are antihistamines, which help oppose the effects of the histamine leaked by mast cells. The main side-effect of antihistamines is drowsiness.
Many antihistamines are available without prescription, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), taken in doses of 25 milligrams and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), taken in a dose of 4 milligrams. These can be taken up to three times a day, but because these medications can cause drowsiness they are often taken at bedtime. Those who take them should be especially careful and be sure they are fully alert before driving or participating in other activities requiring mental concentration. Loratadine (Claritin, 10 milligrams) is another preparation that is also available over-the-counter and is less likely to cause drowsiness.
Antihistamines that need a prescription include hydroxyzine and cyproheptadine. Sometimes physicians combine these with other types of antihistamines, such as ranitidine and cimetidine. This antihistamine list is not exhaustive. Physicians individualize treatment plans to suit specific patients, and modify them depending on the clinical response.
Oral steroids (prednisone, Medrol) can help severe cases of hives in the short-term, but their usefulness is limited by the fact that many cases of hives last too long for steroid use to be continued safely.
Topical therapies for hives include creams and lotions which help numb nerve endings and reduce itching. Some ingredients which can accomplish this are camphor, menthol, diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and pramoxine. Many of these topical preparations require no prescription. Cortisone-containing creams (steroids), even strong ones needing a prescription, are not very helpful in controlling the itch of hives.
Conclusion
To know exactly what kind of hives you have, or to learn more about research into the immune basis of hives or about rarer forms of this condition, you should consult your physician. It is important, however, to keep in mind that most cases of this common disorder represent either ordinary urticaria or physical urticaria, which are annoying - but not serious or allergic, and almost always temporary.
Urticaria refers to a group of disorders in which red patches and weals occur in the skin. The release of chemicals from mast cells in the skin causes small blood vessels to leak and results in tissue swelling. The weals can be a few millimetres or several centimetres in diameter, coloured white or red, often surrounded by a red flare, and frequently itchy. Each weal may last a few minutes or several hours, and may change shape. Weals may be round, or form rings, a map-like pattern or giant patches.
The surface weals may be accompanied by deeper swelling of eyelids, lips, hands and elsewhere. The swelling is called angioedema. Angioedema may occur with or without urticarial weals (10%).
©Dr R Suhonen
©Dr Shahbaz A Janjua: Angioedema
Angioedema
Urticaria
Generalised urticaria
Generalized urticaria (hives) is often classified according to how long it has been present.
Acute urticaria is of recent onset (hours, days or a few weeks).
Chronic urticaria has persisted for several months or years.
Urticaria may not be present all the time. Some find it more noticeable at certain times of day, or when they are warm or emotionally upset.
Acute urticaria is sometimes due to allergy. Allergy depends on previous exposure to the material, and the development of an immune reaction to it. An immunoglobulin called IgE is involved, which attaches itself to a receptor on the mast cell and causes it to release its chemical mediators.
The cause of an allergy may be:
Medicine: most often an antibiotic, but many other drugs have been reported.
Food: tiny amounts of fish, eggs, nuts and kiwifruit (many others have been reported less often).
Bee or wasp stings.
While most allergies involve ingestion,injection or inhalation of the allergen, sometimes allergic urticaria can result from skin or mucosal contact with an allergen e.g. rubber latex.
Most allergies are mild, but very allergic individuals may develop serious anaphylactic shock within a few minutes of exposure. The most frequent causes are antibiotic injections, bee stings or ingestion of peanuts. Anaphylaxis results in urticaria, a tight chest, wheezing, faintness and collapse. Medical attention must be sought urgently. A subcutaneous adrenaline (epinephrine) injection will usually be given. Those prone to anaphylaxis should carry an emergency supply (an EpiPen).
Most cases of urticaria are NOT due to allergy. Histamine and other vasoactive chemicals can be released into the skin for many reasons. In these cases urticaria can occur the first time that a person is exposed to the material.
Non-allergic causes of acute urticaria include:
Infection, including sinusitis, helicobacter (a cause of stomach ulcers), dental abscess and candida (thrush).
Serum sickness, due to blood transfusion, viral infection or medicines (e.g. Ceclor™); urticaria is accompanied by fever, swollen lymph glands, painful joints and nausea.
Non-allergic reactions to medicines (especially morphine, codeine, quinine, aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Non-allergic recurrent angioedema, also provoked by medicines (particularly ACE inhibitors such as captopril, quinapril, enalapril and others).
Non-allergic food reactions, from salicylates in fruit, azo dye food colouring agents, benzoate preservatives and other food additives, or from histamine due to bacterial decomposition e.g. scombroid fish poisoning.
Chronic urticaria is often due to autoimmune disease (allergy to one’s self), and may be associated with other autoimmune conditions such as thyroid disease. Circulating ‘anti-idiotypic’ antibodies cause excessive release of chemicals from mast cells.
Recurrent angioedema without urticaria may be due to C1 esterase deficiency (the protein C1 INH is missing or abnormal); there is often a family history of similar problems.
Physical Urticaria
Physical urticaria refers to urticaria caused by external physical influences. The weals take about 5 minutes to develop, and last 15 to 30 minutes. Some people suffer from a mixture of different types of physical urticaria and generalized urticaria. The cause is unknown.
Dermographism means ‘skin writing’. Stroking the skin causes it to weal in the line of the stroke. This is very itchy, but scratching causes more wealing. Dermographism usually starts quite suddenly. Weals come up where clothes or furniture touch, especially when the affected person is hot or upset. A warm shower followed by rubbing with a towel can result in itchy weals all over.
Cholinergic urticaria results from sweating. In severe cases, hundreds of tiny red itchy spots develop after running, when warm, or when concentrating.
Cold urticaria affects skin warming up after a reduction in temperature, especially in winter. Weals can be widespread and may cause fainting attacks. Affected individuals should not expose large areas of the skin to the cold or wind. They should never swim alone.
Contact urticaria may be allergic or non-allergic in origin. Allergy to chemicals in white flour, cosmetics, and textiles, or to proteins in latex rubber, saliva, meat, fish and vegetables may cause contact urticaria. Non-allergic examples include the stinging reaction of certain plants (e.g. nettles), animals (hairy caterpillar) and medicines.
Localised heat urticaria, aquagenic urticaria (water contact), solar urticaria (sunlight), vibratory and delayed pressure urticaria are less common.
Treatment of urticaria
Treatment depends on which type or types of urticaria you have.
Oral antihistamines control wealing and itching for the majority of patients with urticaria. They do not affect the underlying cause of the rash. Antihistamines may need to be taken intermittently or continuously until the underlying tendency to urticaria disappears.
Non-sedating antihistamines (loratidine, fexofenadine, terfenadine, cetirazine, and astemizole) are less likely to cause drowsiness than the less expensive conventional antihistamines. They may be unsuitable in pregnancy. Terfenadine and astemizole may increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms. They should be avoided if you have heart disease or you are also taking erythromycin, ketoconazole and some other medications. Fexofenadine, loratidine, desloratidine and cetirazine are safe.
If the first antihistamine you try is not effective, consult your doctor. You may need to increase the dose, or use a different drug. Sometimes a combination of antihistamines works better than a single type alone. Adding H2 blockers such as cimetidine & ranitidine can also reduce urticaria but these medications are more often prescribed to reduce stomach acidity.
Urticaria that fails to clear with antihistamines may be helped by:
Oral steroids (prednisone) are useful for severe acute urticaria but unsuitable long term because of serious adverse effects.
Ultraviolet radiation treatment (narrowband UVB or PUVA).
Antibiotics and antifungal agents, used to clear an assumed underlying infection or for non-specific anti-inflammatory action.
Immunosuppressive medications (ciclosporin, plasmapheresis).
Antifibrinolytic agents (tranexamic acid, androgenetic steroids such as danazol).
Tricyclic medications such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline and doxepin (which have antihistaminic and neuropathic properties).
General measures
Do not take the medications your doctor has told you to avoid.
Avoid aspirin and codeine. It is usually safe to take paracetamol and the newer Cox-II inhibitor anti-inflammatories.
Reduce your intake of acidic fruits.
Some urticaria is aggravated by salicylates, amines, tartrazine (numbered 102 in the list of ingredients on the container), benzoates (210-220) and other food chemicals. Whether or not these need to be avoided can be determined by appropriate food challenge tests.
Avoid alcohol (it causes the surface blood vessels to dilate).
Try not to overheat.
Cool the affected area with a fan, cold flannel, ice pack or soothing moisturising lotion.
Related information
On DermNet:
Angioedema
Contact urticaria
Cholinergic urticaria
Cold urticaria
Dermographism
Other websites:
AllAllergy.Net Allergy and intolerance information resource.
Grossbart.com Research-based approaches from a Harvard Med School Psychologist.
emedicine dermatology, the on-line textbook has several chapters on urticaria.
Books:
See the DermNet NZ bookstore
DermNet does not provide an on-line consultation service.
If you have any concerns with your skin or its treatment, see a dermatologist for advice.
Created 1997. Last updated 22 Apr 2006. © 2006 NZDS. Disclaimer.
yea
Slow and steady is the way..get tested for allergic response to foods and environment ..some of these you can control by slowly
eliminating or minimizing your reaction to,, best to find out what your foremost sensitivities are and conquer those… sometimes the place you live ..outside environment ,,work ,..even drugs and penicillin cause rashes… get a referral from your doctor start there..this can be hereditary
i get this too. i take antihistamines. the seem to work.