I am starting this thread because there are a lot of questions and discussions about a particular kind of rash. There are a lot of people who have a mysterious rash and want some answers. No person on this website can make a diagnosis for you. If your rash seems persistent, go to your doctor and get a diagnosis- definitely.

That said, there is a skin condition, which can take on many forms and be caused by any of a number of things. Only in a relatively small number of cases is the cause ever found. Yes, it is extremely perplexing! But some of us are not happy with that. Some of us are not ready to settle for that. The general term for the condition is Urticaria. Those of us who are unlucky enough to have had our symptoms last longer than six weeks are chronic. (CIU- which stands for Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria).

I propose we help each other eliminate some of the guesswork. Let's all put our heads together and see what we can find out. Hey, what have we got to lose? We are already in H***.

Who has a proposal for a first question to get the ball rolling? Anyone can easily look up answers to questions like, "what is Urticaria," by doing a quick search in Google. So maybe we should start with a harder question. Does anyone have anything they want to know personally? I also encourage other people to start other threads so we can break up the information and make things easier to find.

Also, if you are seeking information on Urticaria, see the thread entitled, "Severe, itching rash brought on by wierd things."

I am starting this thread because there are a lot of questions and discussions about a particular kind of rash. There are a lot of people who have a mysterious rash and want some answers. No person on this website can make a diagnosis for you. If your rash seems persistent, go to your doctor and get a diagnosis- definitely.

That said, there is a skin condition, which can take on many forms and be caused by any of a number of things. Only in a relatively small number of cases is the cause ever found. Yes, it is extremely perplexing! But some of us are not happy with that. Some of us are not ready to settle for that. The general term for the condition is Urticaria. Those of us who are unlucky enough to have had our symptoms last longer than six weeks are chronic. (CIU- which stands for Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria).

I propose we help each other eliminate some of the guesswork. Let's all put our heads together and see what we can find out. Hey, what have we got to lose? We are already in H***.

Who has a proposal for a first question to get the ball rolling? Anyone can easily look up answers to questions like, "what is Urticaria," by doing a quick search in Google. So maybe we should start with a harder question. Does anyone have anything they want to know personally? I also encourage other people to start other threads so we can break up the information and make things easier to find.

Also, if you are seeking information on Urticaria, see the thread entitled, "Severe, itching rash brought on by wierd things."

I am a 44 year old female. I have suffered with Solar Urticaria for 12 years. I turn completely red when exposed to the sun for 8 minutes. The redness is only on areas of my body that are exposed to the sun. It doesn't go through my clothes. It itches like crazy and if I am in the sun long enough it will swell. I have been to several doctors for this disorder over the years. I was told that it is an autoimmune disorder. Below is some excerpts from a web site that explains autoimmune disorders. I know that I can't list the link, but I don't know if I can mention the name of the site (probably the same thing).

Excerpt: "An autoimmune disorder is one in which a person's immune system begins to attack his or her own body. The immune system creates antibodies against its own tissues. Virtually every part of the body is susceptible to an autoimmune disorder."

Excerpt: "The job of the immune system is to protect the body from foreign substances. It is the immune system that fights off infections caused by bacteria or viruses. Sometimes a person's own tissues may be seen as "foreign" by the immune system. When this happens, the immune system attacks the body itself. This response is known as an autoimmune disorder."

Excerpt: "New research findings suggest that autoimmune disorders may be triggered by a transfer of cells between the fetus and the mother during pregnancy. The study involved women with scleroderma, an autoimmune disorder involving the skin. These women have more fetal cells in their blood decades after a pregnancy than women who don't have scleroderma. While further research is needed to substantiate these findings, the study does offer an explanation for the much higher incidence of autoimmune disorders in women than in men."

I find the last excerpt particularly interesting because my mother has RH negative blood and my father has RH positive. This can cause problems for the baby. I have been wondering if this is the key.

I would be very curious to know if there are others with Solar Urticaria that have the same circumstances as mine. I wonder if we all have this in common. I also have other health problems and wonder if they are all some how related. I think there must be something that we all have in common. I would love to try to find out what it is. If anyone knows, I would love to hear from you.

It's interesting to me too, because my Urticaria started about 6 months after giving birth to my second child (who is now 11 months). I have sometimes wondered if the Urticaria could have come about in relation to the pregnancy.

If you're interested in more details about my particular case, and others, it's all in the thread mentioned above, "Severe itching rash brought on by weird things." It's great if we can help one another make connections and find solutions to the significant problems we are faced with. We just have to have faith and keep on keeping on.

It's interesting to me too, because my Urticaria started about 6 months after giving birth to my second child (who is now 11 months). I have sometimes wondered if the Urticaria could have come about in relation to the pregnancy.

If you're interested in more details about my particular case, and others, it's all in the thread mentioned above, "Severe itching rash brought on by weird things." It's great if we can help one another make connections and find solutions to the significant problems we are faced with. We just have to have faith and keep on keeping on.

Hi Genabeena,

Do you have asthma? I developed asthma about 2 years before I developed Urticaria. I wonder if there could be a connection with asthma or the medication.

It was interesting reading "Severe itching rash brought on by weird things." I think any medication that you try or anything that you try to eliminate needs to take place for a very long time before you can rule it out. I have lots of allergies and horrible breathing problems. Several years ago, I would take Benadryl every night for approximately 5-6 months to help me breath. All of a sudden I noticed that I could be in the sun without breaking out. I didn't stay out all day so I don't know exactly how much the Benadryl improved my condition. I had to stop taking Benadryl because it raises my blood pressure. I think you should try a medication for a long time before you decide if it is helping or not. I know the wait can be very frustrating. Thanks for sharing. Maybe we will eventually find the connection.

Thank you for your input about trying meds. I just feel so in the dark sometimes. It seems like, if I take an antihistimine for as long as the supply lasts, and by the time it runs out there is still no improvement what-so-ever, it just feels so pointless to continue. I feel like there could be another treatment I could try that maybe would work.

I don't have athsma myself or any allergies at all, really. I think you might have to consider the possibility that the Urticaria and the athsma could be unrelated, although, you know what they say, "everything's connected."

Thank you for your input about trying meds. I just feel so in the dark sometimes. It seems like, if I take an antihistimine for as long as the supply lasts, and by the time it runs out there is still no improvement what-so-ever, it just feels so pointless to continue. I feel like there could be another treatment I could try that maybe would work.

I don't have athsma myself or any allergies at all, really. I think you might have to consider the possibility that the Urticaria and the athsma could be unrelated, although, you know what they say, "everything's connected."

Have you ever used a tanning bed before the Urticaria? I remember tanning outside about a month before my first breakout and I used a tanning bed everyday for about 2 weeks just before my first breakout. I am still trying to find connections.

I have tried many medications. I would stay on them for about 4-6 weeks and give up and then on to the next one. It might take months for something to work. It took a long time for the Benadryl to work for me.

I just grew a red bump right above my right eyelid, below the eyebrow. This is unacceptable -- i posted earlier about having bumps on my hands. I'm going to try a spot treatment antihistamine today, stop eating berries and shell fish for a while. I'll report how it works.

I just grew a red bump right above my right eyelid, below the eyebrow. This is unacceptable -- i posted earlier about having bumps on my hands. I'm going to try a spot treatment antihistamine today, stop eating berries and shell fish for a while. I'll report how it works.

Are you experiencing itchyness as well?

Have you ever used a tanning bed before the Urticaria? I remember tanning outside about a month before my first breakout and I used a tanning bed everyday for about 2 weeks just before my first breakout. I am still trying to find connections.


I used a tanning bed once or twice when I was a teen (it was a long time ago). I can't imagine that being enough to cause Urticaria. Although, I'm noticing that a lot of cases of Urticaria are seeming to be related to the impact of some kind or another of negative stress on the body.

I used a tanning bed once or twice when I was a teen (it was a long time ago). I can't imagine that being enough to cause Urticaria. Although, I'm noticing that a lot of cases of Urticaria are seeming to be related to the impact of some kind or another of negative stress on the body.

I think you are right. For two years prior to my first outbreak was one of the most stressful times in my life. Stress can cause lots of health problems.

Yeah, same here. I'm taking Sominex now (for the past 3 nights) to help me sleep full nights. My sleep is definitely better with it. Not 100% sure yet how it will help with the Urticaria symptoms, but I'll keep you posted about it. I have a good feeling.

Yes, the rash can be on the skin, but it can also puff up the area around your eyes, or your lips. These are the worst because they take most of the day to settle down, are debilitating (cant see or talk), and cant be hidden with clothes if you need to go out.

My solution has been anti-hystamines, available over the counter, works a treat for stopping the symptoms (its certainly not a cure). Now that its 6 months down the track however, Its time to find a permanent solution. Im seeing a doctor in 2 days time, ill see what I can find out.