itching problem

I have been experiencing an itching  problem since last few months. Most of the time it happens in evening time on my upper part of body, like on back, stomach area, chest but more on my back close to neck area. It occurs for 5 to  10 min but very intensive. And after itching over their leaves red bums for a while. Its happens only for few minutes after then nothing. Due this problem i'm having an black sptted skin on my back close to neck area. It doesn't happen everyday. Please help me out...thank you  

[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.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.Also it is important to confirm whether you are allergic to some allergens which is causing you repeated hives.

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.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,

Are there other symproms present? Itching with associated rash may be due to infestations with parasites (such as scabies, mites, or lice), insect bites, hives, dermatitis ( atopic dermatitis/ allergic dermatitis/ contact dermatitis) and even dry skin. On the other hand, systemic diseases that can cause itching include liver disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, and cancer. Some types of medications may also cause itching. I recommend that you have this  evaluated further by your doctor for proper management. A complete medical history and physical examination are important to reach a diagnosis. Ttreatment will depend on the underlying cause. Over-the-counter antihistamine may also help. Try to avoid scratching to prevent secondary infection.

Take care and keep us posted.