Temperature induced Uticaria - Skin Problems Message Board

Yama · 03-28-2007, 02:29 PM

Hello everyone,

Yesterday I was diagnosed with uticaria which I know is a big word for "hives". My doctor prescribed me some cortizone pills which I have been taking since yesterday and honestly they don't seem to do much. He told me to start a journal so I can try to identify my "trigger". I am 99% convinced that my trigger is temperature induced as I seem to suffer an outbreak when I am coming from outside (cold) to inside (warm-hot). What worries me is that although I did not grow up in a cold environment, this was not my first winter here but it just hit me now. (I am 26). I am wondering if this will eventually go away, and if this means that the affects will be reversed for me in the summer time. Like will I suffer outbreaks when I go from inside to outside.

Thank you to anyone who replies.

Mark

CaringMom · 03-28-2007, 03:41 PM

I'm not familiar with the word "Uticaria" but I do know about hives. I broke out about 23 years ago on my hands after taking sulfa for a UTI. I'm not kidding, every day for almost a year I had hives somewhere on my body. I lived on benedryl! My father said sulfa sometimes has a reaction with foods to people allergic to it and to watch my diet. He suggested dairy products first as they are the most common. Long story short, eggs. Once I quit eating anything with egg I didn't break out anymore! A few years later I ate something containing egg, (unaware of it) and was fine. My dad said I didn't let my body get rid of the sulfa/egg combo as I ate something everyday that probably contained egg. I'm fine now. No egg reactions. Just know I can't take sulfa drugs.
Sorry for running on, but have you taken any meds recently? New foods? Sprays, etc? Hives usually come from the inside out. Not topical.
Good luck.

Yama · 03-28-2007, 11:36 PM

Thanks for the reply. I cannot think of anything new that I have eaten. I would like to see an allergist to do an allergy test. It's just that I get a reaction like this almost everyday no matter what I eat.

CaringMom · 03-29-2007, 03:23 PM

If you get this every day, yes, you need to find the culprit. You don't necessarily have to eat something new to be allergic to it. Many times allergies can start up for no reason with things we've used for years. I would suggest eating a bland diet for a few days, kinda like when infants first start eating solids. I know it sounds like a headache, but it would save lots if you could figure this out on your own first.
Are your hives concentrated to one area or do they spread? Mine spread; one day on my hands, the next my feet or legs or back! The final straw was when I literally had hives everywhere on my body, head to toe! I looked like I was 200 years old!
Another thing? Have you been under any excess stress? Just another idea. I know my father's psoriasis increased when he was working and stressed. Now that he's retired, it's relatively mild. Maybe the same thing cause hives.

apmb · 11-02-2007, 02:29 PM

I've had "cold hives" for about 40 years. My skin would itch even in temps of 60 degrees if the wind was blowing. It was miserable! Recently my husband was put on a very high protein diet and I was enjoying those snacks, too. Suddenly I discovered my allergy to cold air or cold water was gone! I can now go for morning walks without bundling up and almost covering my face in 32 degree weather. What a relief after all these years. Apparently my hives were caused by not having enough protein in my diet! I hope this might help someone else suffering from this malady. I drink Ensure, milk and buttermilk and eat cheese, meat, cottage cheese, cooked dried beans. A diet of this kind means I also have to be sure to have enough bulk in my diet because it can cause constipation.