Urticaria occurs in 15-20% of the population. Characteristic of the disease syndrome, which is urticaria, the sowing of wheals on the skin of various shapes and sizes, has many varieties, causes, but also a different clinical picture.
Due to the expansion of the blood vessels, fluid leaks from the small vessels into the vessels of the dermis. The wheals are porcelain white or pale pink, flat, surrounded by redness, accompanied by itching.
When does hives become chronic?
We can talk about chronic urticaria when it lasts more than 6 weeks, mostly affects adults. The acute variant lasts much shorter, it is also found in children. It occurs a few hours after eating the allergenic food, often accompanied by diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.
Mental factors are to blame, e.g. drugs containing acetylsalicylic acid, helminthiasis, internal infectious foci, which include diseased teeth and sinuses. Allergic urticaria is associated with immunological causes.
“The roots of urticaria
Dermatographism is a special type of urticaria. Skin changes occur when scratching or pressing the skin, they last from several minutes to several hours. Blisters are often caused by the pressure of underwear or a purse strap. Urticaria caused by a mechanical factor recurs over several years, most often it is triggered by mental shock or an infectious disease.
Contact urticaria it is caused by contact with an animal, plant or food allergen, medication or insect bite. Appears a dozen or so minutes after contact, disappears after a few hours.
Physical form it is a reaction to sunlight, heat, cold.
Cholinergic form it arises as a result of increased psychogenic sweating under the armpits, on the arms, chest and back, e.g. in connection with stress, schizophrenia.
Urticaria vasculitis is chronic. Skin changes persist for more than 72 hours, accompanied by pain in the abdomen, bones and joints, and sometimes kidney changes.
It happens that urticaria is accompanied serum sickness after administration to the patient, e.g., anti-tetanus serum, penicillin. Fever, shortness of breath, proteinuria, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, arthralgia may occur.
Treatment of urticaria
The health and life of the patient is at risk due to the possibility of anaphylactic shock co-occurring with urticaria, which may stop the heart or angioedema. It is important to test for allergies and for physical, mechanical and cholinergic factors. They must be performed in the presence of a specialist due to the risk of a drop in blood pressure, shortness of breath and laryngeal edema.
Urticaria can be lubricated with aloe pulp, chamomile infusion, marigold cream. It is worth drinking nettle and marshmallow twice a day. Cucumber slices will soothe itching, and argan oil will help you get rid of the discomfort completely. Bathing with a few tablespoons of baking soda and wiping the skin with a cotton pad with a 2:1 solution of vinegar and water will also help.