This is a common allergic reaction.
Cases of contacting an allergist, unfortunately, have become far from uncommon. There are many reasons for this, from weak immunity, a hereditary factor to a widespread tendency to self-medicate. One of the most common reasons for visiting a doctor is precisely the appearance of urticaria. What are the reasons for the development of this condition and with what characteristic symptoms the skin lesion occurs, reports with reference to.
Urticaria is a condition characterized by the appearance of blisters on the skin (urticaria). A feature of the development of the disease is skin edema resulting from increased permeability and vasodilatation with the accumulation of intercellular fluid. This is what causes the characteristic blisters.
The main manifestation of the disease corresponds to the name, the lesions resemble the appearance of the skin after exposure to nettle.
Depending on the duration of urticaria, there are acute (up to 6 weeks) and chronic (more than 6 months) forms.
Taking into account the cause of the occurrence, they distinguish between the induced form of the disease and the idiopathic one. The induced form, in turn, is divided into cold, solar, vibrational, etc.
What factors influence the development of urticaria?
In most cases, urticaria is a reaction to exposure to a specific allergen, although the presence of a cause in the form of a specific disease is no exception.
The most common causes of hives include:
- inflammatory processes in the body;
- liver disorders;
- food allergy;
- mechanical impact (long-term pressure, vibration);
- genetic factor;
- autoimmune pathologies;
- taking certain medications;
- reaction to an insect bite, etc.
What symptoms indicate the development of urticaria?
First of all, the patient notices the appearance of blisters that itch and can sometimes hurt or burn. Outwardly, the formations are light pink in color (with a red border) and protrude above the surface of the skin. They appear quickly (within 24 hours after contact with an irritant) and also suddenly and disappear without leaving marks on the skin. Sometimes the bubbles can merge with each other while exposing large areas of the skin.
Regarding the localization of urticaria, then most often the bubbles are localized in open areas of the body, that is, those that experience direct contact with the trigger.
Note that chronic urticaria, in contrast to acute urticaria, can occur both on an ongoing basis and periodically with mandatory separate remissions.
A dangerous complication of urticaria is Quincke's edema, when swelling of the dermis through the urticaria occurs in the deep layers, which is life-threatening due to the high risks of respiratory arrest.
Diagnostics and treatment tactics
When carrying out diagnostics, it is important to establish the cause of the appearance of urticaria by conducting a detailed collection of anamnesis, the duration of the rash and the nature of the course of the disease. Additional auxiliary diagnostic methods are:
- laboratory blood tests;
- application skin tests;
- provocative tests (for example, using a wet coating for suspected aquagenic urticaria);
- if indicated, a skin biopsy is possible.
Treatment will primarily consist in stopping the action of the provoking factor, be it a specific allergen or a physical factor. It is also additionally important to eliminate the influence of factors that specifically cause the appearance of urticaria or cause its exacerbation.
Medication therapy will include the administration of antihistamines. Depending on the type of urticaria, changes may be made during therapy.
If the disease has a long course and a pronounced acute picture, allergen-specific immunotherapy is included in the treatment.
Since urticaria is the most common type of allergic dermatosis, it is important to be aware of a possible increased immune response to a specific allergen. Because sometimes the consequences of allergies can be life-threatening. Seek advice from an allergist and dermatologist in time.