In a layman’s language, urticaria can be termed as a medical condition which is also known as nettle rash or hives. It is characterized by intense itching with rashes all over your body. From its very origin, urticaria can be either allergic or non-allergic. It comes as a red circular welts or wheals or very irregularly shaped eruptions and could occur anywhere on your body.
Urticaria is a skin condition that is generally raised above skin level and followed by intense itching and warmth. Urticaria can be either acute or chronic and can recur in months or even years. These eruptions remain on skin surface for a considerable period for seconds to hours together. They can appear and disappear without even a trace on the skin.
Features:
Urticaria occurs on any part of the skin, leaving alone palm and soles of your feet. Some have it for a while, and others have it many times during the day. When it lasts for less than six weeks, it is termed as acute urticaria and if the duration is six weeks or more then it is known as chronic urticaria. The condition when urticaria, coupled with swelling beneath skin tissues deep down is known as angioedema.
Causes of urticaria:
Urticaria is caused by the release of a chemical called histamine from specialized cells known as mast cells. At this point of time, the antibodies and antigens combine together to activate the process of immunological reaction. This is when histamine is generated and causes vessel dilation swelling, itching, pain and rash. Urticaria is treated by injection of antihistamines that help oppose the leakage of histamines from mast cells.
Usually the cold or dermographic urticaria occurs simultaneously with a chronic, idiopathic, cholinergic and certain other physical urticaria. It is very important to note that urticaria may not always be allergic in nature. Chronic urticaria may happen due to allergic or non-allergic reasons. Allergic reasons may be food items and medicines, and non-allergic reasons could be stress, emotions, exercise, relating to auto immunity and temperature related.
Prevention tips and treatment of urticaria:
Urticaria is not generally serious in nature and seldom pose a medical emergency. But their appearance on the skin can be annoying and irritating. Hives occur mainly due to allergy. Many other factors induce occurrence of hives and it is not always easy to find that exact cause. Some precautionary measures are given here for reckoning:
- Steer clear of that substance that you are allergic to.
- Do not wear tight fitting clothes and avoid having hot showers or baths.
- Certain hives treatment therapies advise use of creams and lotions that numb the nerve endings thus reduce itching.
The most suitable way to get relief is to get some general information on urticaria and relieve the patient of the underlying symptoms while the condition smoothens on its own.
