Has anyone know someone who has urticaria and how they try to get by?
602115
I have had chronic urticaria for as long as I can remember, and it has gotten worse as I have gotten older (I am 20) I finally went to the doctor, thinking maybe I could get allergy shots and fix my itchiness. This is when the doctor (who is an allergist/immunologist) told me I have urticaria.  I take Singulair (often prescribed for allergies) in the morning, and Ranitidine (often used for heartburn, but it works for both conditions because it is a histamine blocker) This does not completly stop all my breakouts, but it seems to help quite a bit.  There are many different causes, and it may be impossible to find out what is causing yours (go to a doctor and see if they can help figure out the cause) Unfortunatly there is no "cure" only medicine to control it.  Besides my preventative meds, I use benedryl or hydrocortisone creams if I have an especially itchy spot.  I don't know what causes it (the doc said that a traditional allergy test won't work for me, my skin will react to the needles themselves, not necessarily the allergens), but I have figured out that stress tends to make things worse (actually having a problem with that right now, it's finals week at college, and I'm a little stressed, and rather itchy). Some people try elimination diets to see if food is a cause, but I'm not quite that desperate (yet).  Sometimes heat or cold can cause it. Cold doesn't do it to me, but heat sometimes seems to make things worse, its hard to tell, as I have a rash almost everyday somewhere on my body.  Sometimes pressure can be a cause (my underwires bras cause mine sometimes if I wear them too long, but I know thats not the main cause, because I get them a lot on my arms, and other places that don't have something pressing on them.  I have never gotten hives on the bottom of my feet, but every other part of my body is fair game. It doesn't occur much on my face (thank goodness!) but it does happen every once in a while. (Actually happened today during my Organic Chemistry II final.)  Only once have I had hives so bad that I had to go to the hospital, and that was before I was on meds.  I was in middle school, and my parents had to take me to the ER in the middle of the night because almost my entire body was covered with whelps.  They gave me something IV, but I don't know what it was. Don't remember much about that night.  \nWell, I don't know how much that helps you, but if you want to talk more, just e-mail me amy_edrington@yahoo.com (be sure to put urticaria in the subject so I don't throw it out as junk mail or spam.)\nHope my ramblings were at least a little helpful.  :)
787845
I have two boys and went Thur similar issues.  We found a really good Pediatric & Adult Asthma Doctor.  So he treats all of us.  And the kids have been able to stay with him.  \nIt can be really scarry when their that young and you stay up all night listening to them and watching them to make sure their o.k.  Been there, twice.  Children are stonger than you realize.  But, it's still scarry and are Motherly instincts, just wanta fix it.  \nMy advice would be to start a log.  Of when you child is better and worse.\nMorning or night.  Usually night I found.  Times of years, Spring and Fall are our worst, seasonal induce asthma, tree pollens.  Wet, rain, mold.\nThe good news is an allergist can really help.  But only if you follow  a regiment he suggest and here's the hard part for me, being faithful to follow it.\nIt can be hard to stay with the routine of making your kid take there meds.  Later on when they get older.  But, it's also easier  because you'll be more attuned to your childs symptons.  Hope this helps and good luck.
1070936
You know how people who have Tourette's have a medication that they can take to suppress the outbursts, but when it wears off, they go apeshit for a while?  I think it's like that.  Normally they're scratching all day, but not while they're sleeping.  They've got a lot of itchiness built up in the morning.
173143
My daughter has it very bad, apricot oil did the trick for her.  Unfortunately eczema is one of those things that is very much a thing where you need to keep trying different things until you find something that cures it.  Another thing that was a great help for my daughter, swimming in the ocean, something about the salt water did the trick for her (unfortunately we moved away and salted baths didn't work).
513600
I have horrific allergies too, and I got a tip recently that is supposed to work.  Apperently if you try eating local raw honey (i.e. the unprocessed stuff from the area in which you live), you can kick a lot of the effects of allergies.  There are trace amounts of all of the things in the air that you are allergic to, and therefore your body is able to develop a resistance to the small quantities in the raw honey.  It works best when you take it at the beginning of the allergy season, but I have been taking it recently and it seems to help a bit.  Good luck!
709839
hi their first of all I'm sorry .\ni have also suffered from the ILLNESS panic for 11 years the day they started to ease was the day i excepted i will probably always be prone to them, my life is probably 90% over them and when i do get the start of one now i try to let it happen , some one once told me to tell someone anyone when you start to have one i tryed this and bugger me it does work its like as if you beat them by letting someone else know , when you except them it cant beat you the same and mine have eased off , i try now to laugh more and not let them rule my life , if one day it beats me and  i have a bad day then i say to my self tomorrow will be better , \ni can truly say the day i had the first one was the worst day off my life but if i keep letting them beat me my life will always beat crap .\nplease find the power to except and they ease \nmy thoughts are with you
740192
HAVE YOU TRIED OTC?? I KNEW SOMEBODY ONCE WHO WAS  LACTOSE INTOLERANT WHO COULDN'T  TAKE OTC CHEWABLES BECAUSE HE WAS ALSO IBS.  FOR HIM,(LUCKY GUY) HIS WIFE  IS A CERTIFIED HERBALIST  SO SHE  SIMPLY FEEDS HIM  ALL THE THINGS HE NEEDS TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.  MAYBE YOU SHOULD  FIND A CERTIFIED HERBALIST,  COULD BE AT YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY OR HERBAL STORE!!!!!!!  YOU COULD TRY THAT AND  MAYBE EVEN MEET SOME INTERESTING  PERSON OR MAYBE EVEN  LEARN SOMETHING NEW!!  GOOD LUCK!!
660357
You may have come in contact with something you may be allergic to. It could also be eczema or psoriasis.  It's best to let a professional diagnose you then us.
381322
Depends on the cause. If it is allergies, you can get through it quickly by taking allergy medication or going somewhere that is not exposing you to the allergies. If it is a virus, it depends on the strain. Those just have to run their course.
461658
First, it most definitely is NOT a neurotic action, it is one of the physical urticarias (hives due to a physical cause). While it is a chronic condition, it can eventually go into remission. \n\nI developed and was diagnosed with dermographism approx. 20 years ago. I also have chronic urticaria (hives lasting longer than 6 weeks - mine have lasted most of my life), and dermographism is often seen with that. The worst of my dermographism settled down 6-8 years ago, but it has never completely gone away. If I am having a bad day with my other health problems, it tends to be more pronounced. But most days I just get a little red from rubbing/scratching, rather than great big welts. \n\nI was part of the largest online support group for hivers for many years, working with thousands of people who have chronic hives, including many with dermographism. I can tell you that many people do go into remission, I've seen it happen many times, and it doesn't have to take years and years. Some go into remission in a few months, some a few years, although some do suffer for several years.... Urticaria is a very individualized disease, and everyone is different. Unfortunately no one can tell you with any certainty when or if your dermographism will go away. But the odds are in your favor....\n\nI have been on most antihistamines that have been on the market, including Atarax (hydroxyzine) and Allegra. Atarax always works great for me, although leaves me sleepy. Allegra is garbage, does not work at all for me. (Same with Claritin.) I have been on antihistamines every day for 20 years, and often prescribed at doses much higher than used to treat allergies - that's normal protocol for treating chronic hives. I have not suffered any ill effects from being on them, other than dry mouth (Biotene makes a lot of great products to help counter that).\n\nOverall antihistamines are safe for the long term, according to all my doctors and the research I've done, since I too had the same concerns at first. My only concern would be taking any newer antihistamines, since there have been problems in the past with some that eventually had to be pulled from the US market - notably Seldane and Hismanil. I prefer to stick with the older antihistamines for that reason....
1054864
don't use the creams to sensitive of an area I always get rashes\nMy best advice\nBrand New razer (everytime)\naloe vera as soon as you get out of the shower\n\ni have very sensitve skin so I\nput aloe vere in teh area eveytime after a shower and when that dries I put polysporin on it \nthat works for me
308967
I also have it, all I can say it that over the years it seems to get better.  I still have attacks but not nearly as bad as they used to be.  During the day I can usually control them.  The night when I am really tired, it the worst.
286782
I read an article about sweaty hands in a magizine. this girl like couldnt even hold a pen. then she went to a doctor and he told her how to take care of it. i cant find it right now but just visit a doctor if its that bad.
546313
Yes it is possible in a psychological sense! Just as some people have Asthma attacks brought on by an uncomfortable  situation, certain perfumes. Allergic reactions in some can be triggered by uncomfortable things like a color, a scent an animal a person. Its all in the mind of the beholder. This does not make it any less real than an allergy diagnosed and treatable with antihistamines. It is very real to those suffering from this unusual but documented ailment.\n Sometimes this sort of allergic reaction can be treated as a phobia, ie. fear of heights can be conquered by slow but firm exposure to high places, but most likely it stems from a bad experience as a child or infant and until this can be recognized by the sufferer it may continue throughout life.
89592
Hives, rash, itching, etc.
956345
I had this happen to me in summer.  I have had hives every day since June 1 2006.  check out this site it has helped me a LOT, the mailing list too. www.chronichives.com  I've tried every medication
1045101
I feel your pain! Here is the plan of action I have taken to heal my eczema as much as possible. \n\n1) Go to your family doctor and get a recommendation for an allergist (if you don't already have one).\n2) Get allergy tests done, especially a patch test, which tests to see what chemicals you are allergic to. You may be surprised of what things you are coming into contact with that you are allergic to. For me, it was fragrance.\n3) From your allergist, get a recommendation for a dermatologist. My allergist's solutions for my eczema were very temporary and honestly, not that helpful. \n\nMy dermatologist was amazing in helping me work on my eczema. I was prescribed 2 different topicals for my face and body. For my face, it was Cutivate, and for my body it was Dermatop.  The Dermatop worked wonders. Now that the sores and redness are healed up, I moisturize every day after I get out of the shower. Keeping your skin moist is essential in preventing future itchiness. I use Cetaphil cleanser and cream because it is hypo-allergenic and free of skin irritants. It is more expensive than typical cleansers (about $7-$9 a tub or bottle) but the cream lasts for a long time. It is also available at Wal-Mart, so it doesn't have to be purchased online. (BTW my Wal-Mart is not a SuperCenter, so it shouldn't be too hard to find).  Avoid any irritants.  The best tip I can give for you is to moisturize.. I can't stress it anymore! My eczema is at least 95% gone now. I'm still fighting a patch on my foot, but feet usually take longer to heal. I wish you the best of luck! It can get better!