"Itching due to hives, aka urticaria, can occur in the long term or chronic. This condition can occur due to many factors, ranging from sweating, cold weather, to autoimmune diseases."
Hives or urticaria is a skin reaction that appears with symptoms of a red and itchy rash. This health problem can occur on any part of the skin, more often on the back, thighs and stomach.
Usually, mild hives get better on their own after some time or after you take medication. However, for some conditions, hives can occur longer and repeatedly, which is known as chronic urticaria.
What Are the Trigger Factors of Chronic Urticaria?
Hives can occur for many reasons, most commonly pet dander, pollen, and certain foods. However, there are still several other factors that contribute to this, including:
1. Sports
Can you have an allergy to your own sweat? Yes, says Miriam Anand, MD., an allergist with Allergy Associates and Asthma in Tempe, Arizona. Although experts think of exercise-induced hives as increasing body heat, the actual trigger for hives during exercise is sweat.
Does that mean you have to skip exercise if you have chronic urticaria? Not necessarily. Try discussing it with your doctor if you feel that sweat might be one of the triggers. Usually, doctors will recommend taking antihistamines before exercising to prevent recurrence.
2. Stress
It's no secret that stress has always played a major role in many physical and mental ailments, including chronic urticaria. Stress that you cannot control can trigger a relapse, even exacerbate existing conditions.
3. Artificial coloring and preservatives
According to a study in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, hives can occur due to several food additives, including artificial coloring, flavoring agents, and preservatives. However, it is not as easy to test for food intolerances that trigger hives as easily as to test for food allergies in general.
Because, both have different mechanisms. If you suspect that your diet is triggering your hives, your doctor may suggest an elimination diet to test for food intolerances. Apart from that, you can also read the article Beware, These are the Types of Foods that Trigger Hives to avoid these types of foods.
4. Cold temperature
Exposure to cold temperatures can also trigger chronic urticaria in some people. Apart from the weather, other conditions related to cold temperatures include cold food and swimming pools. For people who are allergic to cold, soaking in a swimming pool can trigger a severe reaction that can involve not only hives but also anaphylactic shock.
5. Autoimmune disease
According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, about half of chronic urticaria cases are due to the immune system attacking the body's own tissues or autoimmunity.
Thyroid disease is an autoimmune problem that is the main trigger in people with chronic urticaria, followed by rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. Studies in the European Journal of Dermatology also found that Celiac disease is also associated with chronic hives.
Apart from chronic and acute urticaria, there are actually other types of hives. You can find out through this article The Types of Hives You Need to Know.
How to Overcome Biduran
Actually, most cases of urticaria do not require special medical treatment. The reason is, the symptoms that appear will generally disappear by themselves in a matter of hours or days. However, if the itching is very annoying, you can choose the following treatment method.
Use anti-itch creams or lotions that are soothing. Choose products that contain menthol which can help relieve itching for a while.
Antihistamines that can help control swelling and itching.
Corticosteroid medication for severe hives. For example, the drug prednisone which can reduce itching and inflammation. Meanwhile, for milder hives, the doctor can prescribe topical corticosteroid drugs.
Light therapy or phototherapy. This noninvasive treatment method can be quite effective if antihistamines don't work well for urticaria.
You may also need to do a follow-up examination to a doctor or hospital if the urticarial rash does not disappear or gets worse to the point where it interferes with activities.