What is Urticaria - All You Need to Know About Urticaria
Posted on March 8, 2010
Filed Under Aging Skin Care, how to get rid of acne |
In layman’s language Urticaria is called hives; so do not think they are two different medical conditions. It has red-pinkish itchy welts or swelling that appear on the skin; the can appear and disappear daily with new ones sprouting in different new places as the old ones disappear anywhere on the body. Mostly they occur singly or in groups forming ugly patches on the skin. In some cases the spots may be as large as one inch, and when they are in group they can merge and colonize a very large area.
Causes of Urticaria
It is caused by viral infection or allergic reactions to several elements. Basically, it is a counter reaction to an event that triggers an immune response in the body especially in people who are allergic to some proteins. Some allergens that trigger hives can be in foods, proteins that come in contact or applied on the skin, inhaled inhalants or germs as bacteria and viruses. Just like any other infection that gets into the body, the antibodies react to fight them. In the course of the anti-bodies fighting the allergens dilation is caused in the blood vessels of skin layer- cuteneous making the extra blood to accumulate locally hence the swellings appear. As more and more blood accumulates the red-pinkish blotches tend to itch.
Other causes
There are other causes of hives that are neither allergic nor non allergic. These conditions are caused by friction as by worn clothes, stroking of the skin causing linear shapes, exerted pressure on the skin and extreme temperatures that conflict with the body temperature gauge.
Basic types of the condition
There basically two major classifications of the Urticaria among other minor one; acute and chronic. The main difference is the duration of the condition and the severity on the body with each demand different type of medication to completely eradicate it.
1. Chronic condition
This condition is referred to as the type that last for more than six weeks or longer, in most cases they appear, disappear and recur regularly hence medical attention must be sort to completely eliminate it. These are rarely caused by allergy but infections by germs or other underlying conditions. As the condition advances the blotches turn to whitish raised wheals that vary in sizes. Sometimes the condition is caused by several underlying factors as the presence of lupus or thyroid malfunction and disorders in self immunology system. This condition is mostly treated through the use of anti-histamines drugs.
2. Acute condition
This is the condition that lasts less than six weeks and is mostly caused by the allergic triggers as stated above. In this situation, the welts appear and disappear on their only-mostly within a week. The acute condition has been proved to affect at least 20% of the population at point one of life.
Diagnosis
It is easy to diagnose Urticaria for the red-pinkish swelling are easily visible, but identifying the specific form is a bit tricky and only time will tell if there are no other accompanying symptoms. Care should be taken not to confuse the condition with others as ivy, oak and sumac poisoning.
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