Possible useful information concerning Urticaria

[HAIRDOER]

ok, I am ready for more info please. Just call me a sponge just sitting here ready to absorb all info. I too have the chronic hives. Hate them with serious passion. Looking for answers to the cause. Well, actually at this point I don't care what the cause I just want a cure! Done all the drugs. Predisone is my only saving grace but can not be on it forever. Thanks for all your research and good luck to you!!

[Hogan Grimm]

Hello all, and hello HAIRDOER. I was going to post more last night but I was pretty tired. I spend alot of time searching for answers and talking to people about urticaria, and it takes alot out of me. Even though I am usually always very tired I feel it is important for all the people out there who suffer from urticaria to have information that may prove to be useful. Also I would like to say thank you HAIRDOER for posting your message. That lets me know that at least one person reading what I am posting here thinks it is important enough to want more information.
Although even if I didn't get any replies in this thread, I would still post what I have because I want you people to know that I care enough to do so. Believe me, I understand your suffering.

When I am finished posting about urticaria I will be posting information about the many different medications used to treat urticaria and their known side effects. Some of these medications that doctors prescribe can be very dangerous if used for a prolonged period of time. Anyway enough of that.

My next post will be on Solar Urticaria.

Hogan Grimm

[Hogan Grimm]

Hello all. This topic is about Solar Urticaria.
I hope anyone suffering from this disease/condition finds the information useful. Well here it is.

Solar Urticaria, what is it?

Solar Urticaria happens when people who suffer from it have an abnormal reaction to sunlight or certian kinds or artificial light. Shortly after exposure to sunlight or certian kinds of artificial light the skin cells of people with this condition release strong chemicals and histamine into their system which makes their blood vessels permeable allowing passage of fluids to leak into the skin.
When this happens they develope very itchy red patches. These patches can sometimes be swollen, and often resemble 'nettle rash' or 'wheals'. Usually the symtomes come on whthin about an hour after exposure to sunlight or certian kinds of artificial light, and it usually disapates within the same amout of time it comes on leaving no trace that it was there.

Solar urticaria can be a serious problem if someone with this condition has a large enough portion of their body exposed.
The amount of fluid leaked into the skin could cause you to feel dizzy, sick to your stomack, or pallor. Which means the state of being pale or pallid.
It is imparative for someone who suffers from this to limit the amount of exposure to most of your body so as not to go into possible shock.

At this time there is no known cause for this condition, except that for some reason a chemical is produced in the body which induces an allergic reaction to light.

This condition can effect both men and women, and can happen at any point in life. Sometimes solar urticaria can be brought on by certian drugs like aspirin or by other medications similar to morphine or by exsposure to certian chemicals. In this case if you can identify that any or all of these may be the cause it could be possible to stop the reactions by avoiding them.

One of the tests used to diagnose solar urticaria is called phototesting whereby an instrument is used to study how the skin reacts to different wavelengths of ultraviolet and visible light. A blood test is then performed to confirm this, and by comparing reactions taken with normal people whereby sensitivity to each part of the light spectrum is measured.

There are certian precautions you might consider taking that may help.

1. Wear as much clothing as you can stand covering as much of your body as possible.

2. Try and stay out of the sun as much as possible.

3. If you can use it without a reaction, use a sunscreen that blocks a wide range of the light spectrum.

"My comments" Well I hope this helps those out there who suffer from Solar Urticaria to better understand what it is. I know I didn't post it under the topics I would be providing information on, but my next topic will be about 'Cold Urticaria' "End comments"


Hogan Grimm

[Hogan Grimm]

Hello all. well here is some more information, I hope you find it helpful and useful.

Cold Urticaria

The term 'Cold Urticaria' is used by doctors to discribe what happens to a person with it after exposure to cold conditions. As the body begins to warm up shortly after exposure wheals or hives appear on the exposed areas.

There is a test used by doctors to help diagnose if a person has cold urticaria. It is called the ice cube test. Simply by placing an ice cube on the skin for about 3 to 5 minutes is usually suffficient, once the ice cube is removed and the skin begins to warm up in the area where tested reactions can be seen.
Also people who suffer from cold urticaria can test themselves to see if the treatments are working.

This is be very puzzeling because people who suffer from urticaria usually better by cool conditions, or by taking cool baths.

Finding a specific reason why people get cold urticaria can be very difficult, and the cause is usually unknown. However it is known that cold urticaria is not all one disease. There are many different forms.

Some doctors do blood tests to check for things like 'cryoglobulins', 'cryofibrinogen', 'cold agglutinins' and various other things, though these are not usually abnormal, but sometimes are, because cold urticaria can be caused by quite a few underlying illnesses. it is very important if you have cold urticaria to talk to your doctor about seeing a specialist to determine if you might have an underlying illness that could be pinpointed as to the cause.

It is important for people who suffer from cold urticaria especialy if you participate in events like water sports. Falling into the water can be very dangerious because of the sudden cooling of all your skin over all of your body at once could make your blood pressure drop due to the amount of fluid leaked out of your blood vessels that make you swell. Once this happens you could become unconscious and possibly drown if some one is not there to get you out.
The best way to avoid this is to not put yourself into a position where this could happen.

Often the treatments prescribed for cold urticaria, like antihistamines usually do not work well, but doctors prescribe them anyway.


"My comments" Well there you have it. I hope anyone reading this finds it useful if for nothing else but to just better understand a little more about it. "End Comments"

Hogan Grimm

[Andrew66]

Hi one and all.....

I am new here. It's 5am over here in Singapore and I have been up all night searchig for information about the condition I have - Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria. It's what is keeping me up - I mean the urticaria.

I can fully empathise with you all. This disease is delibitating. I run a small restaurant with my brother and since I have had this condition, I have been unable to go to work. Can't let the customers see my rashes and scartching all day long.

So I stay home and do my own research. most of what I have found out is similar to what Hogan has posted . ( By the way, great work, Hogan! )

However, I just came across something which I would like to share with you guys.

You see, besides having urticaria, I also have a bacterial infection in my intestines. The bacteria is called helicobacter pylori. So it is referred to as HP infection. This bacteria lives on the mucuous lining of the stomach. It protects itself from the highly acidic environment there by secreting and then living within these secretions. ( I can't remember the name of this chemical they secrete).

Anyway, I have been trying to search for information to see if there were any links between this bacterial infection and urticaria. I have seen 10 doctors, and have read up a lot. There were never any mention of the relationship between the two.

Until now.

I have been given steroids, antihistamines ( Atarax, Predisone, Loratadine, creams, etc..) All the docs told me there is no cure. But I do not believe them. So I went to see a naturopahic doctor. He is the only one who told me about my bacterial infection and said it was causing my rashes and terrible itch.

To cut a long story short, this is the website: [url="http://archive.uwcm.ac.uk/uwcm/dm/jdt/mar98.html#7."]http://archive.uwcm.ac.uk/uwcm/dm/jdt/mar98.html#7.[/url]

Anyone suffering from the same condition might want to do a test to see if they have helicobacter pylori infection.

Lastly, why one is infected or has urticaria is - I believe - due to a weakened immune system. So I propose a cleansing of the lymph system as well. The lymph system is an integral part of the immune system and is like the drainage system of the human body.

You might want to read up on that too - the lymphatic system.

I wish you all the best!