unidentified dermatitis

[JEEP]

I have been breakin out in hives for over a year now.  It started on the nape of my neck as tiny white bumps, it has now turned into red hives that itch and now has spread to my trunk and upper legs and arms.  A biopsy was done of one of the hives and it came back unidentified.  i have been taking fexofenadine and use triamcinolonne acetonide cream but nothing seems to help.  I cant sleep or sit still.  I scratch until i bleed and then the hives turn into little scabs all over my body.  I need some help its driving me crazy

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

As the hives have been there for such a long time (1 year),then it can be chronic hives.Mostly it is idiopathic i.e no cause is there,but sometimes it is essential to rule out the presence of serious illnesses of which recurring hives can be a symptom. Examples are autoimmune diseases,hepatitis, hyperthyroidism, lymphomas, collagen vascular diseases, and cancers of the rectum, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Chronic infections such as chronic sinusitis can be associated with urticaria.

I feel that you should find out the cause of your chronic urticaria by ruling out the various conditions causing it.Till that time, non-sedating antihistamines such as Cetirizine, Loratadine 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.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.

[willy851]

I know a guy who had a similar situation. He went to four different dermatologists. They all said eczema. He finally went to a real dermatologist, which took eight months to get an appointment, the doctor took one look and said you have an infection. The rash covered his whole body. He looked like a walking rash. He was tortured for two years. The doctor gave him a prescription, three weeks later he just had scars.
I told him he should sue all the other doctors. They shouldn't be allowed to practice medicine.
I went to five dermatologists before I went to the university of Penn.
I suffered for over a year. Took two days of the right prescription.
If you can get an appointment, they probably suc_