Skin irritation

Over the past three months on and off I have been having this burning sensation in my skin throughout my body.  I would turn red in certain areas and immediately my body would began to itch and swell with welt.  I thought it was the hardening of the water so I brought a filter for the shower. But that didn't stop the problem. I would have those same syptoms (symptoms) when I am dry and just sitting around at work. So I start to monitor what I was eating.  I thought for a minute it was coffee, pop and or fruit ( caffine or acid). I would be sitting at work and all of a sudden my hands and legs and sometime my hair or neck/upper back begans to burning, itch and immediately turn red. so I thought maybe it's something at work but I had been off work for a month.  But it doesn't stop here No because I would wake-up in the middle of the night and began to feel that burning and itching sensation.  I applied itching cream which was a temporary relief.  I thought it might had been my soap, detergent, and lotion so I changed them. Condition still remain.  I am taking Benadryl faithful 2 to 3 times a day 1 to 2 capules, temporarily relief. Can you help me identify my condition?  I remember when I was younger I would breakout in hives from my own sweat, however I do not recall how I over came that condition.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Your symptoms are suggestive of hives. Hives (medically known as urticaria) are red, itchy, raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes and sizes. They have a tendency to change size rapidly and to move around, disappearing in one place and reappearing in other places, often in a matter of hours.

Many cases of hives are "idiopathic," meaning no cause is known. Others may be triggered by viral infections or medications. The mainstay of treatment of hives is antihistamine which may be necessary for prolonged periods (in excess of 6 weeks). Double conventional doses of these non-sedating antihistamines such as Cetirizine, Loratadine, Acrivastine and Fexofenadine may be needed to get symptom relief. Sedating antihistamines such as Chlorphenamine or Hydroxyzine are used at night to get urticaria control. Short courses of oral cortisone or steroids are taken for short periods (one to three days) to settle more severe symptoms.
You may take Vitamin C along with the prescribed treatment. Vitamin C is a general anti-allergy supplement. It helps stabilize mast cells so they are less likely to release histamine.

If the symptoms persist, then you can consult an immunologist. He may start with immunosuppressive drugs.

If the hives don’t go after 6 wks of treatment also, then it can be a case of chronic urticaria which needs further evaluation as it may be due to auto antibodies.


Hope it helps.If you have any additional queries,then pls post us.
Take care and regards.