I have a skin condition called urticaria. I was wondering if anyone else has this and what they do about it?
147005
Urticaria is a fairly generic term that basically means you get hives. Frustratingly, most general practitioners seem to feel satisfied at that point and do not pursue the cause of the hives. To get to the root cause you will either need to do to a dosctor specializing in allergies or do some investigating on your own.\n\nTo investigate to see if it is a food triggering your hives you will need to go on an elimination diet. To do these you need to set aside time in which you will fast for 2 days drinking only water. Then gradually introduce one ingredient foods, one per day, until a reaction occurs. When a reaction occurs you need to treat that food as suspect and later challenge yourself with the food again to see if the source is confirmed a second time. We used this method to discover that my husband reacted to wheat which later led us to a correct diagnosis of celiac. He didn't have hives. His reaction was digestive and rash related.\n\nContact reactions are a bit tougher to identify. I would try the food based method first and if that doesn't locate the source, go to have the allergy skin test with an allergist.\n\nADDED INFORMATION - Since you are so reactive to touch, your allergen is extremely likely to be a food or medication. I was exactly the same way. My skin would constantly trigger into hives at just handling anything - wood, plastic, metal. It didn't matter. All that was needed was a touch or a scratch. Many allergens are ushered by the body to be stored just under the skin. Many conditions, even in animals, are from this (hives which can be from any allergen source, Dermatisis Herpetiformis which is when the allergen is gluten/gliadin, etc.) Do try the allergy elimination diet and don't forget to include medications if can safely do so. No doctor is trying, so it is up to you. I used the allergy elimination diet and successfully discovered what my hives were being caused from. I also used it many years later and discovered that my husband and daughter were celiac (reacts to gluten/gliadin). If I had left it all up to the doctors all three of us would still be suffering.
434426
yes i developed it after i moved to TX from AZ....but it's on my neck a little quarter size patch, elbows, and hands.....i have been to doctor.....and everything. they had me on elidel, steroids, al these ointments....la la la.......and better than anything i drink lots of h2o and use cortaid from the CVS/Walgreens -the extra strength cream.....and use it religiously EVERY day especially before bedtime......also use A&D ointment (especially for like tops of hands if slit i know how every bend is dreaded...this will help heal and soften skin....put mittens on at night with it ...but let it breath during day -that helps too...same with socks on feet at night )A&D is for like rashs / diaper rash i think it's in the baby isle at stores.....and also don't use any perfumed body lotions/etc. Use like jergens almond regular lotion and same with bath products.......nothing harsh but u don't have to suffer ....just don't forget to use it every day =) good luck~!
731967
ah sounds like a contact dermatits rash. stop using that lotion you may be allergic to it and how well do they clean that tanning bed hummmm you may have some funky stuff growing on you. to be on the safe side go and let a doctor look at it. If it itches as you said the best thing to put on it is hydrocortisone cream you can buy that over the counter you can get that anywhere.
250510
Sounds like a condition called Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating.  It most commonly occurs during times of anxiety, stress or when your sympathetic nervous system is stimulated i.e. fight or flight or adrenaline rushes. You can treat this condition with topicals such as aluminum chloride (Drysol) or antiperspirants.  There are other treatments which include orals, injections and even surgery.  A dermatologist would be able to help you with this situation.  Best of luck!
237292
I wonder if the itching is due to the flaking, or if it's all due to some kind of skin irritation.  Before trying cortisone or anything else, I would try an unscented moisturizing lotion for a while.
43154
I suffer from the same thing.\n\nIt's hives.  \n\nIt can be an allergic reaction - if you're having other symptoms of allergies like watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, then it could just be an extension of whatever you're allergic to.\n\nBut hives can be brought on by heat without an allergic reaction.  Nobody knows for sure why it happens in the absence of other allergies.  But heat brings blood to the surface of the skin and allows hives to develop.\n\nIf you scratch them, they will spread.  Sometimes mine itch when they're just flat red wheals, and sometimes they don't... but if I so much as touch a wheal before it swells, POOF! Not only does it swell and itch a lot worse, but it tells all its friends and neighbors, and it spreads like wildfire.\n\nI have had chronic hives for 6 months now - due to allergies.  I take a Claritin and a Singulair every day, and it still doesn't completely get rid of them.  I am undergoing allergy shots.\n\nOne other thing you can do is to get some Ivarest. You can find it at Walgreens. I've tried everything else on the market, and only Ivarest keeps the hives down for longer than an hour or so.  It's a little more expensive, but a tube will last me several weeks, instead of just a day or two like a tube of Benadryl cream.\n\nYou can also take Benadryl before a shower to help keep the hives down to a minimum.\n\nIf you don't get relief of them within about six weeks, go to the doctor and get tested for allergies.
732353
i had that problem, but without the redness.  I worked out at the gym allot and lifted heavy weights.  I thought it was some kinda virus i picked up from sharing equipment.  It turns out its some kinda skin condition, an allergy kinda.  It went away in time... you should get it looked at by a doctor immediately because the redness does sound a little peculiar.
929869
urticarial vasculitis or hypocomplementemic vasculitis is characterised by urticarial i.e. "mosquito-bite" like skin rashes that typically last for upto 24 hours,in contrast to the usual urticarial lesions that resolve in 4-6 hours.in addition,the patient may joint pain,fever etc.it is a disorder of immunity.i don't knw if u r a patient of this condition,but if u are,u need a thorough medical evaluation,because it is mostly due to some underlying disease(altough u must understand that in many cases no cause can be identified).is a chronic conditioin although the ouotlook is good with corticosteroid therapy.just for your satisfaction,some of the conditions that can lead to urticarial vasculitis are - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,Sjogren's Syndrome,cancers,certain infections etc.
897083
Yeah, I think that once your immune system has one thing to deal with, sometimes it can't deal as well with other things that are happening.  That is probably the reason for the cold sore, the zits, and the eczema.  I hope you feel better soon.
1116038
What you might have is a skin condition called Hives.  To best treat it, focus on making yourself feel better because its caused by nerves.  Stop stressing about things you really can't change.  I have found chocolate to help.
453251
A few years back I battled with this myself.  It seemed to be 2 fold.  The doctor told me it was Dermatitis as well.  He suggested I use a very heavy moisturizer called Eucerine, and to put it on all the time, especially before bed.  To also make sure that when I washed dishes, or shampooed clients hair at work, or used any other cleaning agents etc. to be sure and wear gloves.  It did help but it didn't go away entirely, and at times when I was doing everything I should be doing it would flare up bad again.  I found that stress was another part of it.  As I started taking a B-Complex vitamin and continued doing what the doc told me, it did clear up.  Hope this helps.
620381
Sounds like dermographism. This is physical form of chronic urticaria. Some people just get red from physical stimulation such as rubbing or light scratching, others get full blown wheals, and of course there is everything in between. Dermagraphism (AKA dermographia, dermatographia) literally means "skin writing." With severe cases, you can actually write a word on the patient's skin, and it appears in raised, red lettering.\n\nMore info, including pictures, at:\nhttp://dermnetnz.org/reactions/dermographism.html
1185639
a chronic disorder of the skin marked by scaly red lesions,try seeing a specialist sorry my books dont tell much more than that, dont be embarrassed though, every one has some sort of problem,iwish you didn't, but remember it is chronic so it may take awhile to find what works for her iwish you the best of luck
314978
It could definitely be hereditary. Sometimes, doctors can perscribe something stronger than the over the counter stuff. You should probably consult a dermotologist.
440485
I would recommend going back to the Certain Dri.  However, you should use some lotion like hydrocortizone if you get the rash again.  I would also recommend not using too much Certain Dri and maybe just use it every other day.  I have been using the stuff for over ten years and it has been really good if I use it in moderation when my skin gets tender.
1046712
It sounds like hives, an allergic reaction to something, also known as contact dermatitis.  These hives can last up to 6 weeks!  I know I got them on my legs from god knows what.  If they get worse or if they are just bugging you you should see a doc and they can give you oral and/or topical medication to clear it up.
738827
It sounds like it could be yeast-related.  There are many treatments for it.  I would highly recommend going to a holistic doctor.  Allopathic physicians will give you steroid creams that damage the skin and can cause other adverse reactions.  A holistic doctor will help you to balance any imbalances in your system that are causing your skin to act out in this way and help you to heal yourself naturally.