Do you have complete information on urticaria? Well, it is worth a look here before you obtain treatment for this disease. Hives are medically termed as urticaria. These are often itchy and red areas on the skin that are a bit raised and come in varied shapes and sizes. Another form of hives is the wheals or welts, or red lesions with a flare at the borders. They have a tendency to change their size fast, sometimes disappear at one place and again reappear at another place.
Hives occur due to production of histamine and other compounds that are release from mast cells. Histamine makes fluid leak from local blood vessels, bringing about a swelling in the skin. Hives, though annoying is not medically serious.
Types of Hives:
Hives commonly fall into two categories: Ordinary urticaria and physical urticaria.
- Ordinary hives are those that flare up suddenly on the skin without any specific reason. Wheals and welts appear in many spots. They come and go instantly, and reappear elsewhere. If this condition last for more than six weeks, then it is termed as “chronic urticaria.” Most of the cases are “idiopathic hives” where there is no known cause. Some other hives may be triggered due to viral infections. Sometimes hives are also caused due to medications that are taken for the first time. Chronic hives could last for months and even years. Allergy and laboratory tests do not help in this case.
- Physical urticaria occurs due to direct stimulation of the skin. The most common form in this category is the “dermographia” which implies skin writing. When the skin is rubbed or scratched, a red welt shows at the line of the scratch. When pieces of clothing or belts rub against your skin, the mast cells break histamine to cause physical hives. Another form is the cholinergic urticaria and produces numerous small itchy bumps.
What is nettle rash?
Nettle rash is also termed as urticaria. It comprises of very itchy red wheals or swellings on the skin that resemble those that result from contact with stinging nettle. These may vary in size and shape and last for as long as 24 hours. They can be very itchy and occur repeatedly. No apparent cause is obvious in a nettle rash.
Nettle rash may be caused due to -
- Allergy from a particular kind of food that you may be allergic to.
- Having a contact with fungal spores.
- Medicines being used for the first time.
- Insect bites
- Bacterial and viral infections.
- Physical stimuli like experiencing warmth or cold, sunlight and water, pressure or even sweating.
- Certain substances like preservatives, nickel, perfumes or colouring.
It pays to have a detailed information for treating the skin disorder called urticaria. In doing so, you will save a lot of your time and money instead of having to rely on the doctor’s advice alone.
