Urticaria: photos, types, symptoms and treatment. Symptoms and treatment of urticaria - photo, allergy, test, classification Urticaria skin disease how it looks than what to treat

are interrelated parameters, since for different forms of pathology, the correction measures may differ. Therefore, the diagnosis of the disease plays a decisive role in the appointment of effective treatment.

Hives (photo): symptoms in adults

Urticaria is an inflammatory lesion of the skin, which manifests itself in the form of a rash on the skin, pink in color. What are the symptoms can be considered the brightest? The pathology is characterized by swelling of the papillary layer of the skin, intense itching. The term "urticaria" arose because the external manifestations of the condition are similar to a burn of the skin with nettles. in the form of urticaria occurs no less frequently than of a similar origin.

Also, urticaria has another name, namely - polyetiological dermatosis... This term reflects the fact that disease occurs for a variety of reasons.

Photo manifestations of urticaria allows you to assess what does it look like with this pathology. The main causes of the disease reflect video, symptoms they appear in the form of skin lesions.

The first signs of hives - the appearance of pink rashes that gradually spread.

When detecting pathology, it is important to answer the question: " Does the hives itch or not? " Every allergist can assure the patient that the answer is unequivocal affirmative.

Stages of the pathological process

You need to know that with an allergic type of urticaria (the most common form), the following stages are distinguished:

Immunological. The beginning of the stage involves contact with the allergen. As it progresses, antibodies are produced and accumulated.
Pathochemical. It assumes the formation (with the initial ingress of the allergen) or the secretion of ready-made (with recurrence) antibodies and mediators.
Pathophysiological. It includes the response of body tissues to synthesized allergic mediators. After an increase in their concentration in the blood, the main clinical signs of urticaria appear.

Causes of urticaria in adults

The progression of external signs of urticaria is explained by an increase in local vascular permeability, due to which edema develops in a short time. An important factor of opportunity emergence this pathology is a hereditary predisposition to allergies.

There are several main reasons (triggers) appearances urticaria in adult patients:

Intolerance to certain medications, which most often include antibiotic drugs, non-narcotic analgesics, gamma globulins, serum.
Reaction to food allergens, which include: egg white, seafood, citrus fruits, berries, mushrooms.
Bites of some insects, most often bees, mosquitoes, wasps, fleas.
The action of some physical factors: solar radiation, low temperatures, touching metal or wood surfaces.
The action of toxic substances.
Helminthiasis.
Disorders in the endocrine system.
Reaction to household chemicals.
Reactions to airborne allergens: pollen, pet dander, dust.
Blood transfusion or organ transplant.
Oncological pathologies.

Depending on the provoking cause, the symptoms of urticaria may be different, which can be noted on Photo.

Types of urticaria in adults

There are several principles for classifying urticaria. The division according to pathogenetic characteristics makes it possible to distinguish the allergic and pseudo-allergic type of the disease. Allergic urticaria is characterized by an immune mechanism of development, its progression is associated with contact with allergens.

According to the characteristics of the clinical course, three forms of the pathological process are distinguished:

Sharp... It is characterized by a general deterioration in well-being, blisters on the skin, an increase in body temperature. One of the private forms of acute urticaria is angioedema.

Chronic recurrent. It can last both months and years, develops as a continuation of the acute form of urticaria. Periods of exacerbation and remission are characteristic.

Persistent papular chronic... The rash (photo) is constantly localized on the skin, gradually spreading. Characteristic not only rashes on the body, but also , and .

According to the main provoking factors, the following types of urticaria are distinguished:

Cold... Provoked by exposure to low temperatures. Reflex cold pathology develops with direct skin contact with cold objects.

Sunny... Possible due to the action of solar radiation.

Thermal. Caused by heat.

Dermographic. It develops after minor scratches on the skin.

All these forms can be combined into the concept “ physical urticaria”.

Also one of the forms of urticaria is contact which develops upon direct contact with an irritant, most often an allergen.

Aquagenic urticaria progresses on contact with water.

If the causes of the pathological process remain unclear, then this condition is called “ idiopathic urticaria”.

The variety of clinical forms of urticaria creates certain difficulties in the diagnosis of this disease. To identify pathology, it is necessary to contact not only a dermatologist, but also an allergist, to establish the possible allergic nature of the disease.

How to treat urticaria in an adult: a list of drugs

When the appearance on the skin symptoms of urticaria in patients, the main question arises - how to recover quickly? Only the attending physician can give the correct answer to this question after a full diagnosis and determination of the factor that provoked the pathology.

Urticaria treatment regimen involves the use of etiotropic therapy and symptomatic funds... Choosing a specific complex treatment methods depends on the form of the pathological process.

Etiotropic treatment involves the elimination of the provoking factor. It is important to exclude possible contacts with allergens of any nature. It is necessary to adjust the diet, to carry out a thorough cleaning of the premises. If the urticaria was caused by taking certain medications, then their use becomes unacceptable for life.

The following medications are used as a means of systemic therapy in adult patients:

Antihistamines medicines. These include dipheninghydramine, cetirizine, loratadine and other drugs.
Systemic glucocorticosteroid drugs in the case of a generalized form of pathology ( dexamethasone, prednisolone).
Desensitizing agents. These include: cocarboxylase, unitiol, calcium chloride.
Epinephrine hydrochloride in case of acute edema and a threat to the patient's life.

Symptomatic local remedies are used to reduce the manifestations of itching and the intensity of rashes on the patient's skin. For this purpose, various ointments (Fenistil, hydrocortisone other).

In the case of pseudoallergic urticaria, it is important to pay special attention to the therapeutic correction of the provoking pathology, to prevent its exacerbation.

In the most severe cases, it is necessary to carry out detoxification measures in a stationary setting. For this purpose, hemodez, glucose injections, hemasorption, plasmapheresis are prescribed.

Urticaria treatment of adults with folk remedies

Traditional medicine has a wide range of methods of treatment hives. But before applying any of folk methods therapy, it is necessary to consult with your doctor. Self-medication can lead to a worsening of the patient's condition and the development of serious complications.

Among the most effective methods of traditional medicine are the following:

Infusions medicinal plants: chamomile, string, burdock, oak and nettle... They should wipe the skin to eliminate rashes.
Celery juice... This remedy strengthens the immune system and is effective in treating hives. When using it, you need to observe the dosage: one teaspoon four times a day.
Infusion of yarrow... It is prepared in this way: one tablespoon of raw materials is poured with a glass of hot water and infused for about half an hour. You need to take this remedy inside, four times a day for a third of a glass.
To relieve the symptoms of itching, skin irritation, it is recommended to mix tinctures of valerian, motherwort and hawthorn and taken orally before a night's rest.
Herbal infusion collection: lemon balm, valerian and hops... To prepare it, you need to mix 20 grams of raw materials. Next, 1 tablespoon of raw materials is poured with 200 ml of hot water. You need to take such an infusion three times a day, 40 ml. It can also be added to water while taking a bath.
Grated raw potato lotions well relieve skin manifestations of urticaria. First you need to grate the potatoes, place on the affected skin, and then apply a film. Leave for half an hour, then remove and rinse the skin area with warm water or herbal decoction.
When taking baths, it is useful to add to the water infusions such medicinal plants: oregano, string, celandine, valerian.

All of these folk methods are mostly symptomatic, that is, they help to eliminate the main manifestations of the disease. The doctor will help you choose the most correct method of alternative treatment based on the characteristics of the clinical picture of the disease and the severity of the patient's condition.

When urticaria develops in adult patients, dietary adjustments should be made. nutrition in order not to provoke an exacerbation of the pathological process. The diet should be hypoallergenic, that is, it is supposed to exclude those foods that can cause a serious allergic reaction. Even if no allergy to a particular product was previously observed, during an exacerbation of the pathology, the body's reaction to its use can be unpredictable.

Such products should be completely excluded:

fatty meals;
spicy foods and spices;
chocolate;
citrus fruits;
canned food;
carbonated drinks.

You also need to stop drinking alcoholic beverages. Menu the patient suffering from urticaria suggests only hypoallergenic dishes, recipes of which there are quite a few. A doctor can help in choosing a diet, who, in addition to medication, also prescribes a diet.

In order to minimize the manifestations of urticaria in adult patients, a number of recommendations should be followed:

Quitting bad habits - smoking and drinking.
The use of sedative herbal preparations or sedative medications.
Water of a comfortable temperature while taking baths, refusal of excessively hard washcloths, towels.
The use of natural, high quality cosmetics.
Limiting the time spent in the sun.
Regular wet cleaning, airing the apartment.
Selection of clothes and bed linen made from natural fabrics.
Timely treatment of pathologies that can provoke an exacerbation of urticaria.
Prevention of all possible contact with allergens.
Strengthening the immune system: hardening, taking immunomodulatory drugs.

It should be noted that both the patient himself and his loved ones should remember about first aid measures to stop the manifestations of acute urticaria. This greatly reduces the risk of serious complications.

Special attention should be paid to the treatment of urticaria and its prevention. It is important to follow all medical recommendations, avoid contact with allergens and other provoking factors. Therapeutic interventions should include both etiotropic and symptomatic treatment. It must be remembered that if preventive measures are not followed, exacerbation of urticaria can be found at any time, so you should be more attentive to the characteristics of your body.

Have you met hives photo symptoms and treatment in adults raise questions? Share on the forum, leave feedback

Every third inhabitant of the world has suffered from hives at least once, and 15 percent of people face this phenomenon again. Itchy skin and blisters rarely occur as a separate disease, usually a symptom of a disease. Consider the symptoms of urticaria, photos and treatment of the disease.

Nettle rash is a disease that combines several groups of diseases, but they all have the same symptom - blisters that look like a nettle burn . A rash can occur on specific areas of the skin and then spread to most of the body.

Urticaria is accompanied by severe itching, sometimes the temperature rises. Since urticaria can manifest itself in the form of an allergic reaction to any external irritant, it is necessary to exclude the allergen from contact.

In addition to the allergic nature, the disease in adults is a cutaneous manifestation of an autoimmune disease, bronchial asthma. There are about five or more types of urticaria, the disease proceeds in an acute or chronic form. To prevent it from spilling over into the chronic phase, it is necessary to prescribe adequate treatment.

Causes of the disease

The causes of urticaria in adults are divided into two types:

endogenous;
exogenous.

Exogenous causes include temperature, chemical, physical effects. The rash occurs due to drug effects, the consumption of antibiotics.

It is also a variety of foods that an adult eats, insect bites. Endogenous causes are associated with the pathology of internal organs, in ancient times it was believed that any rash is just a reflection of a disease.

What causes hives in adults and children according to research? Scientists have compiled the following list:

... Most often on eggs, nuts, citrus fruits and other food products;
Metabolic disorders, bacterial infections;
Inhaled allergens. These include dust, cat hair, flowering of various plants, etc .;
Pharmacological preparations;
Insect bites;
Autoimmune diseases;
Features of the body, increased sensitivity to the sun, cold, increased sweating;
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

The main symptoms

The main signs of hives:

Blisters;
Rash.

Itchy skin is the first symptom of hives in adults and children. If you start combing the skin, then redness begins, against the background of this, blisters of a pale red hue appear. They are usually round in appearance, but as the reddened zone grows, various large plaques form.

A rash with urticaria can cover any part of the skin, it usually appears suddenly. Bubbles are dense, pale pinkish. Hives are very itchy, and the blisters can be small or large in size.

The rash persists for several hours, then the level of the rash decreases, sometimes blisters can appear in other parts of the body. But usually, nettle fever in adults disappears without leaving noticeable traces.

Typically, urticaria lasts several hours or days. In chronic urticaria, the rash persists for months. Sometimes rashes and itching are accompanied by fever, lethargy, and indigestion.

Types and forms

Each form of urticaria has its own course and variety of symptoms. There are acute, chronic and chronic persistent papular varieties. In international practice, a "spontaneous" form is noted, that is, without external influence from the outside and physical - the provision of any effect on the skin. The physical form of urticaria in adults is of several types:

... It manifests itself after mechanical stress. Signs are found after squeezing the skin for a long time. It often occurs after wearing a backpack, tight straps of shoes in summer, motionless sitting of adults.
... Skin manifestations occur against the background of external influences - cold wind, water, wind, temperature.
... Symptoms are due to heat.
Sunny. Signs are associated with exposure to light or UV radiation. You can learn about solar urticaria.

Some types of urticaria occur due to emotional stress, overexertion, itching and rash occur on the background of adrenaline release. There is contact urticaria, which appears as a result of skin contact with an allergen and aquagenic - when the epidermis is exposed to water.

It is noted that spontaneous urticaria in the acute and chronic phase, dermographic (delayed) and contact urticaria is most often diagnosed in adults.

Acute urticaria

The acute form of urticaria on the skin can occur at any age. Usually at risk are people with a predisposition to allergies and a tendency to atopic dermatitis. The signs of the acute form are pronounced, they are easy to diagnose visually.

A dense rash with pink blisters covers a specific area of the body, accompanied by severe itching. Blisters can coalesce into a single spot, and a large area of damage is formed.

With a complex version, nettle fever may be accompanied by edema, headache. Rashes are sometimes mucous membranes, in particular, lips, nasopharynx, larynx. In this case, there are complaints of shortness of breath.

Rash with urticaria is observed from a couple of hours to several days. The acute form of the rash is accompanied by a short period of time, usually a reaction to any stimulus.

The causes of the acute form:

Drug and food allergies;
Pollen, insect bites;
Chemical cosmetics;
Hepatitis B, dysbiosis, poisoning.

Classification of urticaria in the acute stage:

Typical;
Atypical.

With an atypical course in adults, there is no itching, and the blisters are linear. An atypical type of rash occurs, usually when the skin is exposed to mechanical stimuli. This group sometimes includes contact urticaria. Read more about acute urticaria in.

Quincke's edema: acute limited form

Features of the flow

Urticaria as a disease occurs due to the accumulation in the body of substances identical to the type of histamine. Histamine is released when a foreign antigen penetrates. It dilates the capillaries, which is why the first symptoms of hives begin: itchy blisters that itch and create discomfort.

Why does urticaria not go away in an adult? Why does it last more than two days and go into a chronic stage? This is due to the presence of a chronic infection in the body, it provokes illness, so the urticaria returns.

The causes of urticaria depend on many factors. One of them is a functional disorder of the nervous system. Also, stress disrupts the microcirculation of the skin, which leads to its inflammation.

The manifestation of rashes as a whole does not pose a danger to the body, but what is the danger of urticaria for adults and children? The main danger is Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock. They can be fatal without urgent medical intervention.

Photo

Consider a photo of adults with an indication.

Dermographic

Contact

Sunny

A disease characterized by a sudden widespread rash of itchy blisters surrounded by a zone of hyperemia. Usually allergic in nature.

Urticaria in adults

Urticaria or urticaria is one of the most common skin diseases; about 30% of adults have experienced manifestations of this disease at least once in their life. It is not so difficult to recognize what urticaria looks like: the skin turns red, blisters appear on it, accompanied by rather severe itching. In most cases, the acute phase of the disease lasts from a couple of days to several weeks. If the disease lasts for many months, doctors diagnose chronic urticaria. Treatment of the chronic form of the disease requires a great deal of experience from a specialist, and therapy is not always effective. The patient's suffering can last up to 10 years or longer.

When it comes to urticaria in adults, numerous observations show that women are much more likely than men to become victims of the disease. In the case of chronic urticaria, the gender ratio is 2: 1. There is an assumption that urticaria in adults, or rather a predisposition to it, to some extent depends on the hormonal background that is created in the body after the onset of puberty.

Hives can occur at any age - both young people and those who have managed to reach the 100-year mark. But most often the disease manifests itself in the period from 30 to 50 years. Cases of urticaria in adults for the first time after age 70 are extremely rare.

Urticaria in women

According to the observations of doctors, urticaria in women occurs about 2 times more often than in men. Experts suggest that hormones are the culprit for this phenomenon, but no official research has yet been conducted that reveals the dependence of the predisposition to urticaria in women and men due to different hormonal levels.

Most often, urticaria in women manifests itself in a spontaneous chronic form, that is, attacks of the disease are replaced by periods of a favorable condition of the skin, and it is not always possible to find out what exactly causes an exacerbation of the disease.

Often, women with urticaria report that exacerbations of the disease occur cyclically and depend on the monthly cycle. In particular, for many of them, itchy blisters cover the skin during or just before the onset of menstrual bleeding.

Doctors often advise patients to keep a diary in which data on the condition of the skin should be entered. Combining such a diary with a monthly cycle calendar will help identify possible addiction and prepare a woman for the next attack of the disease. Currently, you can enter your observations in one of the specially developed applications available free of charge in Google Play and Apple Store services. Examples of such applications include UrticariApp-Control or NesselApp.

Urticaria in pregnant women

Hives in pregnant women are not uncommon. Sometimes expectant mothers begin to suffer from itchy rashes on the skin, even if they did not know what urticaria is before pregnancy. The reason for this phenomenon is excessive sensitivity to placental proteins, as well as concomitant pathologies that occur during pregnancy, for example, gestational diabetes. If the patient was previously familiar with this disease, her condition during the period of bearing a child may worsen significantly. This is due to the change in hormonal levels, which affects the state of the woman's immune system.

At the same time, doctors are aware of completely opposite cases. A woman who suffered from urticaria before pregnancy, when carrying a child, forgot about this disease.

What will happen after childbirth, urticaria will return again or not - it is rather difficult to predict, almost impossible. Only one thing is clear, no matter how unpleasant the symptoms of urticaria in a pregnant woman are, the disease does not affect the condition of the fetus or the course of pregnancy. Nevertheless, doctors usually advise to stop taking antihistamines that enter through taking pills or injections, at least in the first trimester, when the organs of the unborn child are laid. In exceptional cases, the use of antihistamine ointments, for example, fenistil, is allowed.

Hives in nursing

Hives in lactating women, just like in pregnant women, have no effect on the baby. That is, feeding during urticaria is not prohibited, the child will not be infected with anything, blisters and itching are not transmitted through breast milk.

But with medicines, you will have to be extra careful. The antihistamines and cortisone commonly used to treat hives pass into milk quite easily and can be passed on to the baby, even if only in small quantities. Therefore, for the period of breastfeeding, it can be advised to stop taking medications in the form of tablets or injections and give preference to topically applied ointments or creams with antihistamines, cortisone, etc.

In especially severe cases, taking pills or prescribing injections of medicinal preparations is allowed, but it is necessary to inform the doctor about the fact of breastfeeding the baby. It may be necessary to express a portion of milk immediately after the intake until the urticaria has passed, but there is no need to complete breastfeeding. Breastfeeding helps to strengthen the baby's immune system, and this is a very important stage in his life, especially given the fact that the predisposition to hives could be inherited from his mother.

Urticaria in men

Urticaria in men occurs about 2 times less often than in women. It is believed that this fact is associated with a more or less constant hormonal background inherent in the male body. And if women are more likely to have manifestations of a chronic spontaneous form of the disease, men are more susceptible to symptoms of physical urticaria, which arise as a result of mechanical effects on the skin: pressure, friction, heat, cold, ultraviolet radiation. Most often, urticaria in men occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. Cases of the onset of the disease after 70 years in medicine are considered extremely rare.

Urticaria in children

Hives in children can occur on any part of the body, and the duration of an attack usually ranges from a couple of hours to a few days. Moreover, the disease occurs equally among girls and boys.

The most common cause of urticaria in children is a viral infection. Many parents noted a rash that protrudes on the child's skin as they recover from ARVI. In other cases, urticaria is the result of an allergic reaction to a particular product, and it is not always possible to establish the cause of the allergy.

Causes of urticaria in children:

Allergy to food: milk, eggs, nuts, soy, cereals, fish. Sometimes in young children, hives arise from simply touching an animal, such as trying to pet a cat.
Medications: Allergy to, for example, penicillin can cause urticaria symptoms in children both while taking the drug and for a week after the end of treatment.
Insect bites: Children often react with rashes to stings of bees, wasps, mosquitoes, ants.
Fever: Sometimes hives in children appear as a result of overheating in parts of the body where sweat glands are accumulating.

Hives in babies

Urticaria in young children is not so uncommon; every tenth child in the first year of life is faced with painfully itchy blisters on the skin that arise for a variety of reasons. The most common causes of urticaria in young children are:

Allergens in food or objects or animals in contact with baby's skin
Intolerance to certain medications, for example, penicillin drugs.
Insect bites
Cold
Stress.

Sometimes hives appear in newborns without a explainable cause, fortunately, its attack does not last so long. At the latest, after a couple of days, the urticaria goes away on its own without any complications.

To alleviate the baby's condition in the event of an attack of urticaria, you can use cooling compresses or a warm bath with herbal extracts: chamomile, string, yarrow. However, it should be borne in mind that if a child is allergic to a particular plant, the skin condition after such treatment may worsen significantly.

If a child has difficulty breathing or swelling of the eyelids, lips or throat due to an attack of urticaria, you should immediately seek medical help in order to avoid the development of life-threatening Quincke's edema.

Urticaria in schoolchildren

Urticaria in school-age children occurs somewhat less frequently than in toddlers or adolescents, but its attacks are no less painful. Itchy blisters on the skin are most often the result of an allergic reaction to certain foods, pet hair, and certain medications.

To relieve the symptoms of urticaria in schoolchildren, you can use cool compresses, antihistamine ointments. Rubbing with water with the addition of lemon juice or vinegar helps to cope with itching.

In the event of a viral disease, an increase in body temperature is considered completely normal. But since an excessively high temperature can provoke the occurrence of hives, at the latest after the thermometer shows 39 ° C, the child should be given an antipyretic drug.

Since in most cases, hives are caused by allergies, usually to food, it is very important as a preventive measure to avoid encountering a possible allergen. Sometimes the child, which is called "outgrowing" the allergy and stops responding to this or that trigger, but you must never forget that Quincke's edema can become a complication of urticaria, so you shouldn't experiment with allergens.

Urticaria in adolescence

Hives are more common in adolescents than in young children. This fact is associated with hormonal changes in the body. At the same time, girls are about 2 times more likely to become victims of the disease than boys. And if in childhood it was possible to more or less track the cause of itchy blisters, in adolescence, urticaria can occur for unexplained reasons; in this case, one speaks of idiopathic urticaria. If the attacks of the disease periodically return again and again, experts talk about spontaneous chronic urticaria.

Physical urticaria, which appears as a result of mechanical action on the skin (friction, squeezing, scratching with sharp objects), in adolescence can lead to an unhealthy hobby when young people deliberately injure themselves by photographing, and sometimes even laying out the resulting skin irritation inflamed patterns.

Of course, this hobby is unlikely to threaten the life of a teenager, but the periodic provocation of mast cells and the release of histamine into the layers of the skin can lead to allergies to the most unpredictable substances.

Hives on the skin

Hives on the skin get their name from a rash that resembles blisters from nettle burns. If the hives only cover the top layers of the skin, the patient develops blisters. If the inflammation has covered the deeper layers of the epidermis, this is fraught with the occurrence of angioedema - angioedema of the skin.

There are several clinical forms of urticaria on the skin. The acute form of the disease is characterized by a disease duration of less than 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, doctors begin to talk about chronic urticaria, which in turn is subdivided into 2 further forms. If it is possible to trace what exactly caused the allergic reaction, they talk about induced urticaria. The diagnosis of "spontaneous urticaria" is established if the cause of the rash cannot be established.

Induced forms of the disease include, for example, aquagenic urticaria, when a rash occurs as a result of skin contact with water, or cold weather - from the name it is clear that the cause of the rash is the reaction of the skin to cold.

Hives on the body

Hives can occur on any part of the body. Most often, the hands, feet, and back of a person are affected, but sometimes a rash appears in the most unexpected places.

Itching with hives on the body can be caused by many substances, both applied externally and acting on the skin from the inside. All these substances have one quality in common: they promote the activation of mast cells, causing the release of histamine into the inner and deep layers of the skin. The effects of histamine are well known to those who have been stung by a bee or a wasp at least once. Histamine irritates nerve endings, sending a signal to the brain: "This is where you should scratch." One should not think that nature has developed such a mechanism only in order to annoy a person. Mechanical irritation of the affected part of the body promotes the removal of toxic substances from the tissues. Otherwise, the destruction of nearby tissues would occur, fraught with rather serious consequences, up to sepsis, that is, general blood poisoning.

Thus, degranulation of mast cells (mast cells) results in the release of histamine, causing the skin to become itchy blisters.

Histamine attaches to receptors on the surface of blood vessels, dilates them, increases vascular permeability, causing fluid to escape from the bloodstream, causing tissue edema, leading to blistering. At the same time, histamine stimulates the nerve endings, irritating them, which causes itching.

If histamine gets into the deeper layers of the skin, it provokes angioedema in the patient.

Mast cell activation is most often promoted by contact with one or another allergen. Allergic urticaria is characterized by the spread of rashes over the entire surface of the body, can lead to the occurrence of angioedema - the so-called angioedema of Quincke and even to allergic shock.

Hives on the face

Hives on the face are not the same as hives on the body. Almost always, it becomes the result of contact with one or another allergen, most often food. In this case, the release of histamine occurs in the deep layers of the skin, and urticaria manifests itself as the appearance of edema, primarily on the eyelids and lips. It must be remembered that from time to time the attacks can become stronger and stronger, and small swellings can develop into a real Quincke's edema, which threatens not only the health, but even the life of the patient.

Therefore, at the first signs of urticaria on the face (swelling of the eyelids, lips, tongue or throat), as well as difficulty breathing or swallowing, it is necessary to provide the patient with first aid and, if necessary, call an ambulance.

Types of urticaria

There are several types of hives. Allergic urticaria becomes the result of an allergic reaction to a particular trigger. Spontaneous or idiopathic urticaria does not allow us to find out what exactly triggered the onset of pain. In turn, this kind of urticaria is divided into acute and chronic forms.

If the rash on the skin is the result of mechanical action on the skin, which include:

Friction
Squeezing
Scratches
Heat
Cold
Ultraviolet radiation

experts talk about the physical form of urticaria.

Spontaneous or idiopathic urticaria

Spontaneous urticaria is one of the most common forms of this disease. Symptoms of the disease occur, what is called "out of the blue", completely unexpected for a person. If it has not been possible to find out what causes the appearance of itchy blisters or angioedema, the patient is diagnosed with idiopathic urticaria. It is not always possible to establish what exactly triggered the appearance of urticaria. The disease lasts less than 6 weeks, we are talking about spontaneous acute urticaria. After 6 weeks, the diagnosis changes to chronic urticaria. It is most difficult for the patient, since it can last for more than one month or even more than one year. Chronic urticaria can deprive a person of the ability to lead a normal life, cause insomnia, and lead to disability.

Acute urticaria

If the symptoms typical for the disease disappear within a couple of hours or days and there is no relapse, then the patient has had acute urticaria. About a quarter of the population has experienced this form of the disease at least once in their life. Acute urticaria responds well to antihistamines and goes away as quickly as it appears. Acute urticaria lasts no longer than 6 weeks. During this time, the symptoms of the disease completely disappear without leaving any traces. If the disease does not want to give up its positions and after 6 weeks, dermatologists in this case talk about the occurrence of chronic urticaria.

Chronic urticaria

Chronic urticaria is a rather insidious disease. Only in 20% of cases it is possible to establish what exactly caused the onset of the disease. But sometimes the identification of the cause does not bring any relief, since a person's reaction can occur to the most ordinary things or phenomena. And if, in the case of allergic urticaria, one can try to avoid contact with the allergen, then with aquagenic urticaria, for example, it is unlikely that it will be possible to refuse contact with water. A person still needs to wash, take a shower, brush his teeth. In addition, common reasons such as the following can cause hives:

sunlight
Cold
Heat
Increased body temperature
Pressure
Stress
Motion
Friction

About 800,000 people worldwide suffer from chronic urticaria. Two-thirds of them do not know what causes the excruciating bouts of itching caused by blisters. The situation is further complicated by the fact that it is impossible to predict how the disease will behave in the future and whether full recovery will ever come. In most cases, chronic urticaria lasts from 6 months to 5 years, in every tenth patient it lasts for an even longer period.

Physical urticaria

The term "physical urticaria" means that the symptoms of a disease occur as a result of some kind of physical stimulus, such as rubbing, squeezing or scratching the skin. All forms of physical urticaria can occur both on their own and in combination with other types of urticaria, for example, spontaneous - chronic or acute.

Artificial urticaria

The so-called artificial urticaria or dermographism refers to the physical form of the disease and it occurs due to mechanical action on the skin - friction, scratching, strong squeezing. Artificial urticaria occurs in about 5% of the world's population. About half of all patients with chronic urticaria periodically experience artificial urticaria too. Young people between the ages of 20 and 30 are most susceptible to this form of the disease.

Cold urticaria is a form of physical urticaria. It is almost never congenital; in most cases, the disease develops during life.

Already from the name it becomes clear what causes the appearance of urticaria in this case, cold - cold air or cold water. And although the symptoms of urticaria quite closely resemble the manifestation of allergies, it is not an allergy as such, because even the most thorough analysis cannot detect antibodies to cold in the patient's blood, since there are none at all in nature.

In northern regions, cold urticaria occurs somewhat more often than in southern regions. At the same time, women are about 2 times more likely than men to become victims of the disease. And the average duration of the disease is about 5 years.

Solar urticaria

With solar urticaria, the symptoms of the disease appear as a result of exposure of the skin to light, mainly sunlight. In everyday life, this phenomenon is called "allergy to the sun." Most often, people under the age of 30 become victims of the disease, and the average duration of the disease is from 4 to 6 years. However, medicine knows cases when allergic solar urticaria did not go away even after several decades. About 20% of patients with solar urticaria have another form of urticaria, heat urticaria.

Causes the appearance of hives on the skin by the ultraviolet spectrum of sunlight. Scientists conducted the experiment. They took blood from the patient and immediately injected it with a syringe subcutaneously. In this case, no reaction was observed, even the place of entry of the needle practically did not differ from other areas of the skin. The next time, the patient was injected with his own blood in the same way, having previously irradiated it with light with a certain wavelength. Itchy blisters appeared immediately at the injection site. This experiment showed that the cause of the reaction is a change in the composition of the blood due to the effect of light waves on it.

Allergic urticaria

Allergic urticaria occurs as a result of a person's contact with any allergen or, as it is also called, a trigger. In this case, the symptoms of urticaria can appear both immediately and after several hours after contact with the allergen. The most common cause of allergic urticaria is foods that trigger the release of histamine. These include:

Strawberry
Citrus
Cocoa and chocolate
Most berries
Tomatoes
Canned food, etc.

However, allergic urticaria may not be food-grade. Cases of the body's reaction to wool, synthetic fibers, jewelry, pets, house dust are known to medicine.

Allergic urticaria is good, if I may say so, because in this case, an allergic test allows you to identify the cause of the urticaria. Since hives on the skin are caused by an allergic reaction, antibodies to the dangerous trigger are likely to be detected in the patient's blood.

Cholinegric urticaria

One special form of urticaria is cholinergic urticaria, in which blisters and itching occur as a result of an increase in body temperature, for example, when taking a hot bath, being physically active, eating hot spices, or when there is considerable excitement.

Cholinergic urticaria occurs in both sexes, although it affects men more often. The most susceptible to its appearance are young people aged 15 to 25 years. According to research by the Free University of Berlin, one in ten in this age group suffers from this disease. But at the same time, only a few go to the doctor, since the symptoms of the disease are so weak that they almost do not complicate everyday life. Fortunately, over time, the disease manifests itself less and less. Some patients claim that they start to feel much better in the summer. Perhaps this is due to the acclimatization of the body to hot temperatures during the warm season.

Sometimes cholinergic urticaria occurs in several members of the same family at once. This allows specialists to suspect the genetic nature of the origin of the disease. Moreover, most patients have other allergic manifestations, such as hay fever or hay fever, neurodermatitis, bronchial asthma, etc. Also, the same person can simultaneously observe several types of urticaria at once, for example, cholinergic and spontaneous chronic.

Causes of urticaria

Hives are usually caused by an overreaction of the human immune system. It should be understood, however, that all types of allergies represent an overreaction of the immune system, but not every overreaction of the immune system is an allergy. Classic allergy is characterized by the appearance in the blood of a significant amount of IgE (Immunoglobulin E) antibodies.

Chronic urticaria in most cases is not an allergy as such. No antibodies to cold or ultraviolet radiation are found in the blood of patients. Moreover, they do not exist in nature at all. But there is a reaction of the body, it remains only to find out - to what exactly. Conventional allergy tests do not help to clarify the situation in this matter. It remains only to carefully monitor under what circumstances the rash occurs, which usually precedes their appearance.

Some foods can also cause hives. At the same time, identifying an allergen can sometimes be compared to finding a needle in a haystack - the result can be so unexpected.

Urticaria symptoms

One of the most common signs of urticaria is the suddenness and disappearance of symptoms. In most cases, the skin turns red and within a couple of minutes becomes covered with dense, whitening blisters, which gradually change their color to a pale red. The size of the blisters can vary from the size of a pinhead to a few square centimeters. At the same time, the blisters are very itchy, which causes unbearable suffering to the patient. Everyone who has experienced the effects of a nettle burn knows how unpleasant the symptoms of hives are. That is why the disease is called urticaria or urticaria (from the Latin Urtica - nettle).

Intolerable itching and external manifestations of urticaria seriously complicate the patient's life and often affect the state of his psyche. The patient cannot lead a normal life, he feels overwhelmed and tired, he develops insomnia, the ability to concentrate decreases, it can even come to depression, social isolation, in especially severe cases, suicidal thoughts may arise.

Typical symptoms of urticaria:

Redness
Blisters
Severe itching
Swelling of the skin.

Itching with urticaria

Itching with urticaria will never be forgotten by those who at least once in their life on "their own skin" experienced the manifestations of this disease. It is difficult for even the most persistent person to keep from scratching the blisters. It becomes almost impossible to concentrate on something during the day, and at night the itching and burning sensation deprive the patient of sleep.

The symptoms of urticaria both appear suddenly and go away rather quickly. The only problem is that the attacks of the disease can be repeated up to several times a day. If a person has symptoms of hives on a regular basis for 6 weeks, they may be diagnosed with chronic urticaria.

Blisters with urticaria

Urticaria blisters are caused by the accumulation of fluid in the upper layers of the skin, which is why they are colored white at first. Usually they are flat, rounded formations, but often several blisters merge into one large itchy blot of irregular shape. In most cases, the rash disappears in a couple of hours without leaving behind scars or any other consequences, but a relapse of the disease can occur at any time on any part of the body.

Angioedema - angioedema with urticaria

Sometimes with urticaria, a person develops the so-called angioedema - angioedema of the skin, better known as Quincke's edema. Unlike blisters, with angioedema, the deeper layers of the skin are drawn into the process. Angioedema can occur on the head, face, or the back of the hands and feet. In some cases, hives edema affects other regions of the body. Sometimes angioedema can appear on the lips or eyelids. For some time, sometimes up to 3 days, patients are deprived of the opportunity to speak normally and even see. A particularly serious situation is when the swelling engulfs the throat and makes it impossible for a person to breathe. In this case, the person needs urgent medical attention, otherwise his life is in jeopardy.

Complications of urticaria

The situation is significantly complicated if urticaria caused the occurrence of angioedema Quincke - one of the most serious complications of this disease. What to do in such a situation:

If swelling occurs with hives, call an ambulance immediately, even if you don't think the situation is life threatening.
If it is known what exactly caused the occurrence of urticaria and Quincke's edema, immediately stop contact of the patient with this substance or phenomenon (food, cold, water, ultraviolet radiation)
Reassure the patient. In this condition, he may be prone to panic, stress can aggravate the swelling with hives.
Provide fresh air to the patient.
Unbutton tight clothing.
Constantly offer the patient water, the liquid will help to quickly remove the allergen from the body.
If sorbent preparations are available (activated carbon, enterosgel, etc.), force the patient to take them.
Also inquire about the availability of antihistamines, they, too, if they do not help to eliminate the edema, at least stop its development.
Put some vasoconstrictor drops, such as naphthyzine, into your nose.
If the patient knows about his tendency to develop Quincke's edema and has a first aid kit, be sure to use it, and after the arrival of the specialists, hand the patient over to them.

What can be confused with urticaria

It is difficult to confuse urticaria with any other disease, its symptoms are so recognizable and characteristic. Suddenly arising blisters are accompanied by severe itching, after a certain time, the rashes disappear without leaving behind scars, abscesses, crusts and any other consequences. In addition, everyone in his life at least once touched the nettle and remembers exactly how this meeting ended. The prevalence of the disease also plays an important role, that is, people recognize urticaria well, because they have already met with its manifestations in their relatives, friends, etc.

In rare cases, urticaria is confused with a related disease called hereditary angioedema (HAE). However, HAO has a completely different cause and course from urticaria. In addition, HAO occurs mainly in close relatives - members of the same family who are already familiar with their disease. In addition, hereditary angioedema is characterized by the absence of blisters and characteristic itching.

A separate word should be said about urticarial vasculitis - so to speak, the older brother of urticaria, which differs from it in that the blisters appear for a period longer than 1 day and, having disappeared, leave behind spots on the skin.

In general, urticaria is a reaction of the skin to this or that effect, so it is no wonder that it is a manifestation of some other diseases. These can be, for example, vitiligo, alopecia areata or diabetes mellitus.

Urticaria treatment

Treatment of urticaria is reduced to eliminating the symptoms of the disease, namely itching and rashes. Acute urticaria is fortunately short-lived and resolves within days and sometimes hours. In this case, it is easiest to get rid of itching and rashes with the help of antihistamines. If complications arise in the form of angioedema, that is, Quincke's edema blocking the airways, the urgent use of other medications, for example, corticosteroids, may be required. And of course, a patient who has cleared the urticaria is now advised to avoid foods or phenomena that caused such a violent reaction by the immune system.

Treatment of acute urticaria

Acute urticaria requires symptomatic treatment. The easiest way to relieve itching from blisters is with antihistamines in the form of ointments. In a more severe case, the urticaria may need to be treated with an antihistamine tablet or given by injection. If you want to know how to treat urticaria at home, we recommend rubbing it in with cool water and a little vinegar. However, it should be remembered that the patient's reaction to any of the types of urticaria treatment can be completely unexpected, therefore, in case of doubt, it is better not to engage in amateur activities, but to seek the help of a doctor.

Chronic urticaria treatment

The situation is greatly complicated when it comes to treating chronic urticaria. Since the cause of the onset of this disease is often not possible to establish, or contact with an irritant is inevitable (for example, with water), the treatment of chronic urticaria is reduced to eliminating the symptoms with the help of special drugs.

The international approach to the treatment of chronic urticaria involves a three-stage therapy regimen. The main part of therapy is based on taking antihistamines in the usual recommended dosage. At the same time, it is very important to observe the regularity of taking medications, only in this case they will be able to most effectively affect the body and not only eliminate the existing blisters and itching, but also initially prevent their appearance.

If, despite the observance of the doctor's recommendations and regular intake of drugs, the urticaria has not passed, the dosage of the drug increases significantly - 2, and sometimes even 4 times. You should also continue taking medications regularly, and not only when the rash has already appeared.

If, after this step, within 4 weeks the situation has not changed for the better, the patient may additionally be prescribed drugs with such active ingredients as omalizumab, cyclosporin or montelukast.

Omalizumab, for example, is officially approved for the treatment of urticaria. It is a selective immunosuppressant, the purpose of which is to neutralize immunoglobulin E, the very one that causes the activation of mast cells and a violent reaction of the human immune system. Clinical trials, in which more than 1000 people took part, showed the effectiveness of omalizumab even in cases where antihistamines remained powerless.

Unlike omalizumab, cyclosporine and montelukast do not have a formal recommendation for the treatment of urticaria. However, cyclosporine suppresses the immune response, and montelukast has anti-inflammatory properties and can eliminate the symptoms of urticaria in the most severe cases. At the same time, cyclosporine has a wide range of side effects on the human body, and therefore, at this stage of treatment, the patient needs strict monitoring of blood and urine parameters. Montelukast is safer in this regard, but its effectiveness is much less - only a few patients note significant improvements when they start taking it.

But cortisone, especially in the form of pills or injections, is not always readily used by specialists to treat chronic urticaria. Only ointments and creams containing cortisone are allowed, and then only for short-term therapy of severe attacks of the disease.

Of course, each doctor, based on his or her therapeutic experience, can determine for himself how to treat urticaria. Some methods are more effective, others are not. But I would like to warn patients against resorting to alternative methods of treatment. Urticaria is not such a harmless disease, treatment with homemade ointments, lotions, conspiracies or cleansing the body of so-called "toxins and slags" do not contribute to recovery. Moreover, they lead to the loss of precious time. Urticaria symptoms can worsen significantly and lead to life-threatening Quincke's edema.

Treating physical urticaria

The best way to treat physical urticaria is to control it. Otherwise, treatment is reduced to eliminating symptoms with antihistamines.

First aid for urticaria

First aid for urticaria should be provided immediately with appropriate means. The main thing to remember is not to comb your blisters, no matter how much you want to. The much-desired relief after scratching is replaced by a new attack of pain in just a few seconds. All alternative methods of treatment, such as applying heat or cold, lubricating the skin with some kind of cream at hand, etc. sometimes they can aggravate the situation, since hives may well be a skin reaction to cold. If, at the same time, a cold compress is applied to the affected area, the consequences may be unpredictable - up to the development of Quincke's edema.

Therefore, it is better to abandon self-activity and apply an antihistamine ointment, for example, fenistil or the like, to the skin. Usually, after a couple of minutes, the symptoms of urticaria subside, the skin condition stabilizes.

Diet for urticaria

A diet for hives will help prevent recurrence of the disease. Anyone who suffers from this disease can be advised to observe the following rules:

Avoid foods containing dyes and preservatives. Keep track of the expiration date. Very often, long-term storage products are processed with a large amount of preservatives, while manufacturers often "forget" to mention this fact on the product packaging.
When choosing products, give preference to those that have a sticker “free of dyes, flavors and preservatives”.
Avoid buying pre-sliced bread.
When choosing pasta, give preference to varieties made without the use of eggs or egg powder.
Of the fats, use only butter and cold-pressed vegetable oils for cooking. Previously, there was an opinion that carotene in butter aggravates urticaria, but now it has been disproved.
Dairy products such as fresh milk, cream, natural plain yogurt and cottage cheese can be safely eaten during the hives diet. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that thickeners are not listed in the composition of the yoghurt. At the same time, it is better to refuse from hard cheese and fruit yoghurts.
Fresh meat contains only a small amount of histamine, so its use with urticaria is quite acceptable, but it is better to refuse sausages, as well as tuna, which is very rich in histamine content.
While consuming vegetables while dieting for hives is not a problem, you should be careful with tomatoes, peas, mushrooms, spinach, olives, paprika and sauerkraut.
Fruits are famous for their high content of fruit acids and natural, but still flavors, so their use for hives is highly undesirable.
As a spice, it is better to limit yourself to salt, sugar, onions and green onions. The rest of the seasonings can trigger the onset of hives symptoms.
Drinks include mineral water, black tea and coffee. You will have to categorically refuse alcohol, you cannot even drink champagne and especially red wine. Fruit juices during a hives diet are also prohibited.

Prevention of urticaria

Since urticaria on the body or on the face is a reaction of the human immune system to a specific stimulus, the most obvious preventive measure for urticaria is to avoid contact with this irritant, or as it is also called, the trigger. And even if idiopathic urticaria occurs, that is, the form of the disease in which the trigger remains a mystery, a rather effective preventive measure can be a review of the diet, the transition to proper nutrition. Modern food manufacturers use a huge amount of preservatives, dyes and flavors, sometimes without even mentioning this fact on the labels (although they are obliged to do so). So idiopathic urticaria may well be the body's reaction to the dye in the favorite blueberry yogurt, which the consumer is not even aware of.

You should also exclude foods rich in histamine from the diet. These include:

Smoked meat and sausages
Smoked fish
Herring
Tuna
Sardines
Eggplant
Tomatoes
Sauerkraut
Spinach
Ketchup
Yeast

Additionally, you can be advised to avoid stressful situations, because stress can also provoke the release of histamine in the body.

Keeping a diary can be an effective preventive measure, in which you should describe in as much detail as possible everything that happened to a person during the day. A comparison of the diary entries and the time of the attacks can make it easier to find the trigger and give tips on how to avoid possible contact with it.

Urticaria in adults is a fairly common allergic disease, characterized by the sudden appearance of red itchy blisters on the skin. Such rashes in their appearance resemble symptoms from a nettle burn, hence the name of the disease. Allergic urticaria in adults can be both an independent disease and a manifestation of blood diseases or various pathologies from the endocrine system, gastrointestinal tract. The insidiousness of the disease lies in the fact that in adults the disease is more severe than in children, it is not always treatable and can become chronic. Treatment tactics will depend on the nature of the course and the type of disease.

Depending on the irritant, urticaria is:

We will tell you in more detail what causes the development of the disease, what symptoms should be paid attention to and how to deal with the disease.

Causes of urticaria in adults

There are many reasons that can cause hives. It is believed that determining the provoking factors that can cause its symptoms (especially in the chronic form) is one of the most difficult problems of modern medicine. In many cases, concomitant pathologies become the trigger to the development of the disease:

All of the above factors lead to disruption of the immune system, which reacts to unfavorable processes in the body with the appearance of rashes and edema.

What does urticaria look like in adults (photo, symptoms of the disease)

Signs of urticaria in adults can be very diverse, the nature of the symptoms largely depends on the type of disease. A common feature is the appearance of red blisters that itch a lot, the skin swells and itches. The main feature of the disease is the complete reversibility of symptoms, that is, after the disappearance of the provoking factor, the rash disappears without a trace.

In the acute form of urticaria, profuse rashes appear suddenly. The blisters are dense, pink and round in shape. Individual elements can merge and capture extensive surfaces on the patient's body. In addition to rashes, there is a deterioration in the general condition, expressed in weakness, fever, chills. The acute form of urticaria can be accompanied by gastrointestinal and neurotic disorders, insomnia, biliary dyskinesia.

Quincke's edema may join the symptoms of urticaria. The patient has swelling of the mucous membranes and subcutaneous fat of the face. This condition is dangerous, since with severe edema of the larynx and pharynx, there is a risk of complete closure of the airways and suffocation.

The course of the disease is considered chronic if symptoms appear for 3 or more months. In this case, the nature of the rash becomes less pronounced, the skin does not swell so much. Exacerbations are replaced by periods of calm, when all manifestations of urticaria disappear. At the same time, relapses may be accompanied by headaches, neurotic disorders, weakness, low-grade fever, and gastric disorders.

In the absence of adequate treatment and the inability to establish the exact cause provoking the appearance of rashes, urticaria can turn into a persistent papular form, which is characterized by the formation of dense red-brown nodules (papules) localized on the bends of the limbs.

Many patients are interested in whether urticaria is contagious in adults. Doctors believe that urticaria is a consequence of internal problems and skin rashes are a protective reaction of the body. Therefore, you cannot get hives from another person.

Competent treatment of urticaria begins with identifying the causes of the disease. For this, measures are taken to exclude possible allergens, regulate the diet and take measures to cleanse the body.

Patients are prescribed a plentiful drink, cleansing enemas, the intake of activated charcoal or other enterosorbents. The intake of vitamin complexes is shown, probiotics (Bifidumbacterin, Lactobacterin) are prescribed to normalize digestion, laxatives are used to eliminate constipation. Sorbents such as Laktofiltrum or Smecta are completely safe, they are able to quickly remove harmful substances and remove intoxication from the body.

The complex therapy includes taking antihistamines, antipruritic drugs, corticosteroids. In addition, physiotherapy procedures and adherence to a special diet are prescribed.

Treatment with pills

For any type of urticaria, antihistamines and sedatives are prescribed. These remedies quickly eliminate the most unpleasant symptoms: swelling and itching. The choice of such drugs is quite large, in most cases they try to use it in therapy medicines for urticaria in adults second or third generation, as they have much fewer contraindications and side effects. These are antihistamines:

Tavegil,
Tazepam,
Zyrtek,
Loratidine,
Erius.

In the acute form of urticaria, the use of diuretics (Furosemide, Diuretin) is indicated to eliminate edema. Antiallergic drugs (Diazolin, Citrine), calcium preparations (Calcemin, Calcium D3 Nycomed) are prescribed. Intravenous infusions of calcium chloride and sodium hyposulfite give a good effect. The course of treatment with these drugs consists of 10 procedures.

Diphenhydramine, valerian and motherwort tinctures have a sedative and antipruritic effect. In a severe form of the disease, hormonal drugs are prescribed (Diprospan, Prednisolone). They are taken in short courses, as these drugs cause serious side effects. Tablets for urticaria in adults should relieve the patient's condition in a short time and relieve him of the painful symptoms of the disease. In case of an extremely serious condition, the doctor may prescribe hormonal corticosteroids in conjunction with anabolic steroid drugs (Nerobol, Retabolil).

The condition of patients is significantly improved by physiotherapeutic procedures: ultraviolet irradiation, wet wraps, therapeutic baths.

Urticaria ointments

Topical preparations help to fight the external manifestations of the disease. Ointment for urticaria in adults should eliminate itching and get rid of rashes, without causing unwanted side effects. Zinc-based ointments are considered the safest. They have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and drying effects. Zinc ointment is applied to the affected area 4-6 times a day.

Ointments based on natural herbal ingredients are popular. For example, La-Cree drug quickly relieves irritation and itching, reduces swelling. It consists of extracts of string and licorice, contains panthenol and bisabolol.

Nezulin cream gel has an antihistamine effect, quickly soothes inflamed skin, providing a cooling effect. The drug eliminates puffiness and redness, relieves severe itching, has an antispasmodic effect.

Fenistil gel copes well with the manifestations of urticaria. It is a non-hormonal agent that can help relieve rashes and itching. But the drug has side effects, it can cause dizziness, headache, low blood pressure. Therefore, it is not prescribed for children, pregnant and lactating women.

Severe urticaria is treated with hormonal drugs. They quickly relieve symptoms, but their use can cause negative side reactions, so a doctor should prescribe a remedy. Ointments such as Lorinden, Advantan, Sinaflan, Elokom, Ftorocort are very effective, they quickly eliminate swelling, inflammation and itching.

Traditional medicine recipes

There are many recipes using herbal infusions and decoctions to combat urticaria at home. In combination with medications, they give a good effect, but before using them, you should consult your doctor. Treatment of urticaria in adults with folk remedies allows you to get rid of the excruciating itching and improve the patient's condition.

Diet for urticaria in adults

Urticaria often occurs when certain foods are eaten. Therefore, it is very important to determine which of them provoke an allergic reaction and eliminate irritants from your diet. A hypoallergenic diet can help control the situation and avoid urticaria.

First of all, a person suffering from allergic urticaria needs to exclude from the diet such highly allergenic foods as:

It is necessary to limit foods with moderate allergenic activity in the diet:

Fatty meats
Cereals (rye, corn, wheat, buckwheat)
Bell pepper
Legumes
Peaches, apricots, bananas
Cranberries, black currants, watermelons

The menu should be based on low-allergenic foods:

Lean meat (veal, chicken, turkey)
Low-fat varieties of fish
Oatmeal, rice, pearl barley porridge
Potato
Vegetable oil (sunflower and olive)
Fermented milk products (low-fat kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese, yogurt)
Green apples, pears
Fresh cucumbers, squash, spinach, white cabbage, zucchini

The determination of the product causing the allergy should be carried out under the supervision of a physician. Someone may have an undesirable reaction to a product of a highly allergenic type, while others may have urticaria symptoms caused by a product with a low degree of allergenic activity. An individual hypoallergenic diet will need to be followed for at least three weeks. If it is possible to identify a product that causes an allergic reaction in the form of urticaria, it will be necessary to completely exclude it from the diet.

Urticaria or urticaria is a type of skin dermatitis that occurs under the influence of psychogenic or chemical-physical factors. The latter refers to toxic substances, including those formed as a result of the activity of pathogenic viruses, for example, in hepatitis. Therefore, if a rash appears on the body that looks like a nettle burn, see a dermatologist immediately.

RECEPTION OF A DERMATOLOGIST - 1000 rubles. DOCTOR'S CONSULTATION ON THE RESULTS OF USES AND ANALYSIS - 500 rubles!

What is urticaria

Urticaria is a broad term that includes a number of conditions with different causes and similar clinical manifestations in the form of pale pink blisters that resemble a nettle burn.Urticaria is always accompanied by itchy skin. The reaction can be caused by stress, which is not so dangerous, or by toxic substances.

In everyday life, it is believed that urticaria (rash, urticaria) is a mild allergic reaction that appears on the skin, which is a big delusion.

Hives Causes: Don't Be Frivolous

It is believed that every person has experienced urticaria in childhood. Someone sprinkled after the first strawberries, someone after bathing in cold water, but someone's whole body itched before exams. The rash was not treated - it quickly passed, and they remembered about it only when a new strawberry grew up.

Hives in adults never appear out of the blue. And if the rash and itching often recur or do not go away at all, dermatologists talk about chronic urticaria.

The chronic stage occurs for the following reasons:

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tractcaused by Helicobacter pylori (gastroduodenitis, gastritis B (erosive gastritis), helicobacteriosis). To get rid of hives, it is not enough to cope with the pathogen. Helicobacter pylori does not cause disease, but supports it if there is a source of allergy.
Viral hepatitis... With liver damage, the blood level increases. Due to a violation of protein metabolism, a rash appears that itches and itches, especially at night. Antihistamines (antiallergic) drugs do not help with this condition. Additional symptoms of hepatitis: with hepatitis A, the temperature rises, with hepatitis B, the rash is accompanied by joint pain and vomiting.
(Type 3 is accompanied by a rash all over the body, type 6 is expressed in red spots as in rubella, types 7 and 8 are supplemented with chronic fatigue syndrome).
ARVI(infectious diseases cause rashes all over the body).
Infectious lesions of the nasal and pharyngeal mucosa(sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media).
Urogenital infections(cystitis, vaginitis).
Autoimmune thyroiditis- inflammation of the thyroid tissue, causing hormonal imbalance.
Systemic collagenosis- atrophy of connective tissue, causing malfunction of internal organs.
Autoimmune diseases(systemic lupus, vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis).
Cancer tumors.

How urticaria manifests itself: symptoms start small

Sometimes the rash appears the next day after the provoking factor, sometimes it takes a week before an allergic reaction occurs. Most unpleasant is the intense itching caused by red spots on the skin. In the mild phase, if there is no constant factor, the urticaria goes away.

With an exacerbation, the skin becomes dry, covered with a crust, which begins to bleed from constant scratching. On its surface, droplets of ichor are visible. Itching worse at night. The patient's temperature rises, he cannot sleep normally, he is hot and uncomfortable. Constant itching is exhausting, there is no escape from it. The acute period lasts several weeks.

Urticaria (urticaria) in an advanced stage is manifested by the following symptoms:

A person wakes up in the morning and sees puffiness on the face and body.
During the day, the skin becomes covered with bumps, blisters, which turn red in the evening.
During the night, the blisters swell so much that they completely merge, forming a crust.
The body itches a lot, the patient cannot sleep normally, often wakes up and scratches the places of the rash.

The main symptom of hives is a skin rash. It is localized on the legs below the knee, hands from wrist to elbow, neck, chest. The itching is so unbearable that the patient scratches the skin until it bleeds, and ulcers appear in some places.

In severe cases, a person's lips swell like after a silicone injection. Symptoms of sore throat appear: the neck swells, it hurts to swallow, the voice sits down. If the mucous membranes of the digestive system swell, diarrhea, bloating, and vomiting occur.

Types of urticaria

The type of urticaria depends on the mechanism of triggering the disease.

Allergic urticaria.Caused by ingestion of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Among these drugs are often prescribed tetracycline, amoxicillin, flemoxin, aspirin, ibuprofen, nise. Alcohol intake can accelerate and intensify the course of the disease. Antibiotics accumulate in the body, so the problem does not manifest itself immediately. The course can be completed, and urticaria will appear in a couple of weeks.
Food urticaria.More often it happens in children after eating certain foods - fruits (citrus fruits and strawberries), fermented milk, fish products, nuts and sweets. This type of urticaria is not dangerous, passes quickly, and arises from the production of antibodies by the body against a new product.
Contact urticaria... Occupational side effect (latex reaction in surgeons, chemical allergy in cleaning women).
Reaction to a bite of a wasp, horsefly, hornet... The most dangerous manifestation of allergy is Quincke's edema, when the bitten person dies an hour after the bite.
Reaction to the presence of a virus in the body... Sometimes the rash provokes intoxication with fungal infections (staphylococcus, tonsillitis, pharyngitis). If the disease is cured, the redness on the skin will disappear.
Nervous urticaria.

In a state of stress, there is a discrepancy between the functioning of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, a failure of the signaling system occurs, and our body incorrectly interprets the impulses sent by the brain. The stress hormone adrenaline is released, the vessels dilate, their walls stretch and become permeable. The endothelial cells lining the vascular and capillary walls swell, forming red bumps on the surface. This condition is also hives.

Classification of urticaria by intensity

According to the intensity of the course, urticaria is:

Sharp... Caused by allergenic foods, medications, chemicals, insect bites. Lasts up to 6 weeks, after which it disappears completely.
Chronic.Lasts over 6 weeks, after which 60% of the symptoms disappear. In 40%, they remain and are observed throughout life.

Atypical urticaria

Atypical forms of urticaria include the following types:

Cholinergic... It arises as a result of a weakening of immunity and an increase in the amount of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in the transmission of nerve impulses.
Adrenergic... It is caused by a sharp release of the hormone adrenaline into the bloodstream. The reason for this is severe stress or mental agitation. A rash of pale pink blisters is often seen in people who have to do things they don't like.
Contact... It occurs due to direct contact with an allergen (pets, metal jewelry). It disappears immediately after contact with the source of the allergic reaction is broken.
Aquagenic... It can be observed when the patient comes into contact with water. In this case, water is not an allergen, but an activator of allergy to a certain substance. Often occurs during overseas travel, when the local climate promotes the production of histamines (neurotransmitters), and water speeds up its production.
Quincke's edema.The most acute manifestation of urticaria is Quincke's edema - angioedema with deep skin lesions.

With Quincke's edema, not only the surface of the skin is affected, but also the mucous membranes of internal organs, in particular, the lungs, esophagus, and stomach. The antibodies produced by the body affect the nerve endings and blood vessels, increasing their permeability and expanding the lumen. Plasma penetrates through the vascular walls to the outside, paralyzed nerve cells reduce vascular tone, provoking the accumulation of membrane fluid in tissue cells. Severe edema can occur in the brain and lungs, leading to almost instant death.

What tests are taken for urticaria

Urticaria is an allergic reaction, so tests are aimed at identifying the allergen. What kind of tests the dermatologist decides to take. The patient may be assigned the following tests:

Urticaria in acute form lasts about a month, and in chronic form it continues throughout life, alternating with recurrent recurrences. Treatment of urticaria is reduced to eliminating the source of the reaction and restoring the protective barrier of the skin. Only a complex effect on the disease will help to recover faster.

In parallel with the treatment of the underlying disease, he selects and prescribes antihistamines (histamine is a neurotransmitter). They soothe the itching nerves.

These drugs include:

Cetrin... Refers to drugs of the second generation. The active ingredient cetirizine acts on receptors selectively, therefore it does not depress the nervous system and does not cause drowsiness. But it does not have such a strong antihistamine effect as the first generation drugs. Relieves itching and swelling.
Tavegil... First generation drug. The active ingredient clemastine is a powerful blow to allergies. Relieves itching for 10-12 hours.
Claritin.Belongs to the third generation. At the same time, it does not cause drowsiness and at the same time has an effective selective effect. Relieves skin irritation for 24 hours.

In addition to tablets, patients are prescribed glucocorticoid ointments. They are made on the basis of anti-stress steroid hormones. They adhere tightly to the skin and are slowly absorbed to soothe dry skin.

People who are faced with urticaria should understand that any drugs relieve the manifestations of the disease only for a while. If the source of the disease is not found, and the underlying disease is not treated, urticaria will remain in the body forever. The result will be excruciating itching, scratching of the skin and constant swelling.

If you treat the disease carefully,as a rule, the course of the disease is favorable. With proper treatment, the patient's life is not in danger. be fatal. It is possible to cure urticaria quickly and without relapse in the Diana private clinic.

Treatment of urticaria with folk remedies

Adults understand that it is impossible to cure such a serious disease with traditional medicine. But it is possible to alleviate the condition before receiving a dermatologist.

Baths of sea salt dissolved in water help to relieve itching for a while. It is necessary to wash the places of redness with a solution without rubbing with a washcloth or towel. It is advisable to let the water dry on the body, or simply pat it dry with a towel. Then you can apply a neutral, odorless, colorless cosmetic oil. It will restore the lipid (fat) barrier and soothe itching. Usually, after the bath, the skin does not itch for 6-8 hours.

Where to cure urticaria in St. Petersburg

The department of dermatology at the Diana clinic is engaged in the treatment of urticaria in St. Petersburg. The cost of a dermatologist's appointment is 1000 rubles.