Urticaria: causes, types, symptoms, treatment

Published: 11/03/2021 10:00:00 Updated: 11/03/2021

Urticaria is an allergic disease, the causes of which in children and adults can be very different. The main symptom of the disease is the appearance of blistering rashes on the skin, which are very itchy and resemble a nettle burn.

According to statistics, 25% of the entire population of the planet has encountered this pathology at least once in their lives, mainly children and women under the age of 40. With constant contact with the allergen, the disease becomes chronic, and in half of all cases it is accompanied by Quincke's edema.

Reasons for the development of urticaria

Hives never develop on their own; there is always a reason for this.
In some cases, identifying it is not difficult, but sometimes it is difficult to do. Most often, urticaria in children appears after using certain medications or eating certain foods. The most allergenic foods for babies are honey, nuts, fish, food additives, spices, sausages, and processed foods. Therefore, they are not recommended for children under 3 years of age.

Also, provoking factors include:

• insect bites;
• the presence of parasites in the body;
• plant pollen;
• mold;
• chemicals, including household chemicals;
• latex;
• ultraviolet radiation;
• vibration.

However, it is not always possible to find out what exactly the patient developed allergic urticaria to. In about a third of all patients with this diagnosis, the causes of the disease, even after numerous tests and analyses, remain unknown.

Allergies on the face and neck

If it is confirmed that it was allergies on the face and neck that caused the redness and rashes, the allergen will be identified. More often such rashes are provoked by:

• Food;
• Seasonal flowering of plants, pollen;
• Cosmetics for face and neck care;
• Contaminated air;
• Medicines, etc.

Allergy on the chin

If, after diagnosis, the doctor determines that your redness is an allergy on the chin, and not another type of disease, then the allergen will be identified and appropriate therapy will be prescribed. But often a small red rash on the chin indicates hormonal changes in the body. Therefore, such rashes occur:

• In adolescents - during the formation of the hormonal system;
• In adults after 45 years, when restructuring of the body also begins and hormonal levels change.

Then it will be enough to take a blood test for hormones, and the doctor will determine the true cause of the spots on the face.

Allergic acne on forehead

When red spots appear on the forehead, doctors can diagnose:

• Diseases of the small intestine - in the central part of the forehead;
• Adrenal glands - near the eyebrows;
• Rectum - on the left side of the forehead;
• Large intestine - at the top, near the hair;
• Bladder - at the temples;
• Endocrine and hormonal systems - small rash in any area of ​​the forehead;
• The nervous system is a large red spot.

If allergic acne on the forehead is determined after examination, then the treatment regimen is the same:

1. Identification of the main allergen;
2. Its elimination;
3. Prescription of the treatment complex.

You don’t have to wonder why you have a rash on your face, you just need to come to the Allergomed clinic, where they will definitely help you get rid of them.

Symptoms of urticaria

The main manifestation is the appearance on the skin of red or pink spots of various shapes, and blisters, the size of which can reach several centimeters.
A slight swelling may appear, which gradually disappears over the course of a day, rarely two. If the swelling affects the deeper layers of the skin or mucous membranes, angioedema may result - a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical intervention.

The rash of allergic urticaria is always accompanied by unbearable itching, and some patients describe it as an unbearable burning sensation. Violent scratching of such areas can lead to infection of the epidermis with further complications in the form of pustules and wounds.

Minor manifestations of urticaria include:

• headache;
• elevated temperature;
• sleep disorder;
• anxiety;
• loss of appetite.

According to the nature of the course, allergic diseases are divided into two types.
Acute urticaria is diagnosed most often. Blisters and swelling of the skin in this form appear completely suddenly, sometimes against the background of a person’s excellent health. Most often caused by some external reasons, food. It also happens after using medications, especially when self-medicating. Symptoms go away on their own within a few days to several weeks.

Chronic urticaria is a condition in which symptoms continue to persist for more than 6 weeks after the first rash on the skin. This variant is characterized by a wave-like course, when periods of complete absence of symptoms (recovery) are abruptly replaced by exacerbations with the appearance of a new portion of spots and blisters. This is accompanied by unbearable itching and rapid development of Quincke's edema. The emerging elements of the rash can merge with each other, covering more and more new areas of the skin.

Sometimes periods of complete well-being without symptoms can last for a long time - up to 10 years.

Children's urticaria is an allergic skin disease, which most often develops against the background of an existing exudative diathesis and appears due to food products introduced as complementary foods.

It has been noticed that this type of allergy mainly develops in babies who are bottle-fed or eat foods that are not appropriate for their age.

Frequent phone conversations and small red pimples*: where is the connection?

Where does your phone go? In your purse, on the table, in your hands, in your pocket. Agree, these are not the most sterile conditions. Dust settles on the gadget screen, cosmetics imprint, bacteria multiply, and when you put the phone to your cheek, they get on the skin.

It is important to wipe your phone down more often and try to keep it in a case that covers the screen so that it gets less dirty. Although this factor is not the leading factor in the formation of acne, it can also cause rashes.

Complications of urticaria

It is important to know what hives look like and to be able to provide first aid correctly.
This will help prevent the development of severe complications that can lead to death. Often urticaria is accompanied by Quincke's edema, which is also called angioedema. Its development in the larynx area is especially dangerous, as it can compress the trachea and impair breathing.

Another serious complication is anaphylactic shock. This is a life-threatening immediate allergic reaction that occurs when the human body is hypersensitive to a particular allergen. Usually develops upon repeated contact with the allergen and requires immediate medical attention.

Allergic rashes on the face

A rash on the face appears in people with a hereditary predisposition to allergies. You may also develop:

• Due to chronic diseases of various types;
• With reduced immunity;
• After undergoing operations;
• If you are often in an environmentally harmful environment or work;
• In contact with animals;
• In the spring - during the flowering of plants;
• With chaotic use of medications and so on.

The main thing that the doctor should do after diagnosis is to determine the main allergen that provokes the rash and eliminate it.

Rashes on the face

If you are allergic to one or another component, a rash can appear on different parts of the body - but more often on the face. It has a different appearance and can be expressed as:

• blisters;
• Dots;
• Nodules;
• Spots.

The appearance of the rash directly depends on the allergen. Based on the appearance and contacts of the patient, the entire rash can be classified into:

1. Medicinal - the main provocateur is medication - rash - small spots that gradually occupy an increasing area of ​​the skin;
2. Seasonal rhinitis - due to pollen, poplar fluff - red, pronounced spots;
3. Allergic dermatitis - most often an occupational type, associated with the environment and contact with stainless metal alloys - in the form of purulent blisters;
4. Urticaria - different etiology - red, swollen spots;
5. Atopic eczema - has a hereditary nature, in the form of clearly defined spots, often on the skin around the lips and so on.

There are many such varieties, and a doctor will be able to determine the exact allergen and cause of the disease after a thorough diagnosis.

Small rash on the face

Allergic rashes on the face can be on any part of the skin and look like small red dots. A small rash on the face can be not only an allergic reaction, it has different causes:

• Hormonal imbalances;
• Stomach diseases;
• Nervous disorders;
• Improper skin care and so on.

Therefore, it is impossible to independently determine why you have red rashes - laboratory and clinical studies are needed, that is, professional diagnostics. If urticaria is diagnosed (namely, it has a pinpoint arrangement of small spots), then the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment, taking into account:

• Patient physiology;
• His age;
• Heredity;
• Degree of development of the disease;
• Chronic diseases and so on.

Treatment of minor allergic rashes is a long process that includes a whole range of medical measures.

Rash on the face and neck

Such rashes can also have different causes, ranging from improper hygiene of the neck area to diseases of the internal organs.

It is simply necessary to visit a doctor with such symptoms, because a rash on the face and neck may indicate the onset of serious diseases:

• Corey;
• Rubella;
• Typhus;
• Scarlet fever;
• Meningococcemia.

Rash on the face of an adult

Rashes in adults are more often associated with a number of factors:

• Poor nutrition;
• Bad habits;
• Stress;
• Hormonal changes in the body;
• The onset of serious diseases of internal organs, for example, diabetes;
• The development of a chronic disease of any organ.

Then it’s worth getting examined in a clinic and identifying the disease before it becomes chronic. As you know, all diseases are best treated in the initial stages; later they become incurable and can even lead to death. Therefore, a rash on the face of an adult is a reason to undergo an examination and find out everything about the state of your health.

Diagnosis of urticaria

Before starting treatment, it is important to understand what exactly a person has such a strong allergic reaction to.
Only by removing this provoking factor from your usual life can you not be afraid that the symptoms of urticaria will appear again, and this is possible even after proper therapy. Most often, this type of allergy appears to food. It is possible to determine what exactly caused the rash by a blood test: the level of IgE antibodies to a mixture of food allergens is detected. First of all, you need to diagnose the presence of an allergic reaction to:

• nuts;
• vegetables and legumes;
• citrus fruits and fruits;
• seafood;
• cereal and sesame flour;
• fruits and melons;
• baby formula;
• fish;
• meat;
• mushrooms;
• loose leaf tea;
• goat milk.

In addition to food, allergic manifestations can also occur to other substances that surround us almost everywhere in life:

• mold fungi;
• pollen from early flowering trees;
• pollen of late-flowering trees;
• weed pollen;
• epithelium of domestic animals;
• house dust;
• house dust mite;
• poultry feather.

To identify the exact type of allergen, allergy tests are performed on certain foods.
It often happens that rashes appear due to seasonings and herbs used in cooking: paprika, cumin, cloves, basil, ginger, tarragon, thyme, marjoram, dill, bay leaf, black pepper, vanilla. Some types of fish may also be allergenic: cod, halibut, mackerel, and squid meat. But sometimes an allergic reaction in the form of urticaria develops to such familiar products as:

• cucumber;
• apricot;
• cherry;
• tomato;
• plum;
• grape;
• persimmon;
• carrot;
• beet;
• watermelon.

All tests are carried out only by a specialist laboratory technician. You cannot independently determine the presence of an allergy in the form of urticaria to a particular food product or substance. This can be life-threatening, since it is possible to develop not only Quincke's edema, but also anaphylactic shock.

Why does acne appear on the face?

Acne (pimples) is directly related to the active work of the sebaceous glands, hyperkeratosis, inflammation and increased colonization of propionibacteria. Excess sebum and dead epidermal cells clog pores, causing open (blackheads) and closed comedones to appear.

An inflammatory process may also begin in the skin, causing papules and pustules to appear. They can either independently or from comedones. Before deciding what to do with pimples* on the cheeks, you need to determine the cause of the rash, and there are several of them [4, 50]:

• Poor nutrition. Consumption of large amounts of fried, spicy, sweet foods, and dairy products increases the functioning of the sebaceous glands, causing rashes.
• Disruption of the digestive system. Allergies to certain foods and metabolic problems can cause rashes.
• Frequent stress and emotional overstrain. During stressful situations, the body produces large amounts of cortisol and adrenaline, which affect the functioning of the sebaceous glands.
• Insufficient or excessive hygiene, use of incorrect cosmetics. A connection has long been established between the appearance of acne and the use of certain types of cosmetics that are called comedogenic. They clog pores, causing acne*.

There are other reasons for the appearance of rashes on the cheeks - heredity, mechanical stress, bad habits, hormonal disorders. Sleeping on one side, using dirty makeup brushes or sponges, and the habit of constantly touching your face with your hands are all triggers for acne.

First aid for hives

It is important that you always have allergy medications in your home medicine cabinet, since urticaria in adults, and in children too, can appear at any time.
Allergy medications can be in the form of drops or tablets. Modern remedies do not cause drowsiness and have virtually no side effects. Doctors recommend having in your home medicine cabinet to eliminate urticaria and itching, Fenistil drops, which can be used from childhood, Erius tablets, which have a long-lasting antihistamine effect after administration, Loratadine, which helps cope with Quincke's edema, which often accompanies urticaria.

It is important to take the medicine at the first symptoms, without waiting for the general condition to worsen. If after 20 minutes from the moment of administration there is no improvement, you should call an ambulance.

Treatment of urticaria

The only way to get rid of the disease is to avoid contact with the allergen, which is previously detected by laboratory tests.
If testing does not reveal a provoking factor, and the urticaria is episodic, then taking antihistamines will quickly eliminate the symptoms. During treatment, it is recommended to follow a diet that, in case of urticaria, will help prevent the recurrence of the disease. The menu should include only hypoallergenic products: lean boiled meat, soups with recycled meat broth or vegetarian. It is better to choose rice, buckwheat, and oatmeal from cereals. Low-fat cottage cheese, natural yogurt, apples, dried fruit compote, excluding raisins, and whole grain bread are recommended.

Citrus fruits, nuts, fish and all seafood, chocolate products, smoked meats, coffee, eggs, honey, and store-bought baked goods should be excluded from the menu during treatment.

Treatment is carried out by a dermatologist and an allergist-immunologist. For topical application, ointments for urticaria are effective; they not only relieve itching, but also eliminate swelling, redness and a burning sensation on the skin. One of the most effective is Dimetinden gel, which must be applied in a thin layer to the affected area of ​​the skin up to 4 times a day.

A course of antihistamines is prescribed in the form of tablets. Your doctor may also prescribe calcium gluconate or calcium chloride for urticaria. They help reduce the symptoms of allergies, but they should only be administered under the supervision of a doctor in the treatment room.

If antihistamines do not provide the desired effect quickly, or for severe forms of hives, corticosteroids are used, which can be applied to the skin or taken in the form of tablets or injections.

How to remove pimples* on the cheeks: treatment features

A cosmetologist or dermatologist can tell you how to get rid of acne* on your cheeks after conducting a diagnosis and determining the severity of the disease. For mild to moderate acne, topical medications are mainly used; with average – complex treatment is necessary; in severe cases, emphasis is placed on systemic therapy [18]. Auxiliary measures may also help:

• correction of diet and getting rid of bad habits;
• refusal of comedogenic cosmetics;
• stress reduction;
• carrying out special cosmetic procedures (peelings, cleansing, polishing).

Regardless of the location of the rashes, it is not recommended to remove them yourself. This can only worsen the condition, and a scar or pigment spot may appear in place of the pimple*.

How long does it take to cure hives?

Within 4-6 weeks, acute urticaria resolves in almost all patients with this diagnosis.
However, sometimes the acute form can become chronic, and then the disease becomes incurable, with periods of exacerbation and complete remission with the absence of symptoms, which alternate with each other. To deal with this allergic reaction as quickly as possible, it is recommended:

1. Immediately consult a doctor at the clinic or call an ambulance.
2. Follow a hypoallergenic diet for several months.
3. Follow all doctor's orders and recommendations regarding treatment. Do not stop taking allergy medications at the first signs of improvement, but complete the full course.
4. Be sure to have modern antihistamines recommended by an allergist in your home medicine cabinet.

Author:

Pugonina Tatyana Alekseevna, Therapist