Hi there,
I was recently diagnosed with a few skin issues and may answer some of yours.
First off - if you scratch yourself and it stays as a long red line that is called Dermotographism or Dermographism. Please read up on it as it can result in addition to your hives; sometimes they go hand in hand.
Secondly - there are many types of urticara - some are more severe than others. Some are allergy triggered - some are not.
Mine is showing itself as Acute Physical Urticaria. The physical part is because I have Dermographism and mine is directly related to Direct Pressure Urticaria. Mine is not allergy related. If I walk, sit, lay on certain surface, wear jeans/bra to long, tight fitting clothing or general manual labor I get the "flare and wheal" eruption.Some people get this eruption simply by laying down - hence why their symptoms are worse in the AM.
In addition to those two I also have Angioedema - there is a small difference between Angioedema versus Urticaria/hives. Angioedema is swelling occuring beneath the skin instead of on the surface.
All together, you may never find a reason. Ive been blood tested 5 times for various things (CBC, ANA, ENA, ANTI-CCP, RF, ESR, C1 esterase, C3, C4 etc...) and ALL are coming back normal. I see an allergist and rheumatologist soon. I just recently seen my dermotologist for a skin biopsy to test for something bigger: Urticarial Vasculitis because my mothers side has a history of Autoimmune diseases and my fathers has a history of Angioedema/Urticaria.
Hope this helps - happy reading! There are MANY types of Urticaria ALL related to DIFFERENT triggers.
Hello,
First would tell you not to scare about, hives medically known as Urticaria, is an outbreak of swollen, pale red bumps or plaques (wheals) on the skin that appear suddenly -- either as a result of the body's adverse reaction to certain allergens, or for unknown reasons .i.e body’s immune response.
Hives usually cause itching, but may also burn or sting. They can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, lips, tongue, throat, or ears. Hives vary in size (from a pencil eraser to a dinner plate), and may join together to form larger areas known as plaques. They can last for hours, or up to one day before fading.
Hives and angioedema form when, in response to histamine, blood plasma leaks out of small blood vessels in the skin. Histamine is a chemical released from specialized cells along the skin's blood vessels. Allergic reactions, chemicals in foods, insect stings, sunlight exposure, or medicines can all cause histamine release. Sometimes it's impossible to find out exactly why hives have formed. The most common foods that cause hives are nuts, chocolate, fish, tomatoes, eggs, fresh berries, and milk. Certain food additives and preservatives may also be to blame.
Hives caused by direct physical stimulation of the skin -- for example, cold, heat, sun exposure, vibration, pressure, sweating, and exercise is called physical urticaria. The hives usually occur right where the skin was stimulated and rarely appear elsewhere. Most of the hives appear within one hour after exposure.
Skin tests(RAST) may be performed to determine the substance that you are allergic to. Routine blood tests are done to determine if a system-wide illness is present.
Apply cool compresses or wet cloths to the affected areas. Try to work and sleep in a cool room. Wear loose-fitting lightweight clothes. you can continue using antihistaminics like benadryl or zyrtec as it doesn’t have any infertility side effect except drowsiness or dizziness for some time.you can use weak steroid as well(e.g hydrocortisone as dermacort) or OPC-3, which is a powerful antioxidant and can reduce allergies by about 80-90%.
Hope it helps. Take care and pls do keep me posted.