Urticaria - a reaction that appears on the skin in the form of bumps or changes in relief. As a rule, it appears due to an allergic reaction or from stress. It is characterized by itching, burning, swelling that appears and disappears anywhere on the body. In this article, we will get acquainted with the description of the rash with hives, as well as find out what can cause it and how to treat this ailment.
Reaction description
Urticaria is a completely natural ailment that every person can face. It is caused by swelling of the upper layer of the dermis. Up to 20% of the population experience this skin reaction at some point in their lives. Urticaria does not divide people by gender, age, or he alth status. It can hit absolutely everyone, it all depends on the factors.
In medicine, there is such a term as angioedema, which means the development of edemaunder the skin. Urticaria, although it manifests itself with similar symptoms, does not lead to a deterioration in a person's condition. Angioedema can be caused by the same pathogenic factors as an itchy rash, but differs in that fluid begins to accumulate deep in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Angioedema may be painful and burning, but usually does not itch. It is important to distinguish between these reactions in order to seek first aid in time.
Types of dermatitis
Before you know the description of the rash with urticaria, you need to understand what it is. The reaction on the skin is divided into acute and chronic:
- Spicy. The duration of the onset of symptoms is less than six weeks. Often resolves on its own without any medication.
- Chronic or recurrent urticaria. Lasts over 6 weeks. Medical intervention required.
Some people experience acute urticaria that comes and goes in just a few hours, days. Some, on the contrary, face relapses. That is, the rash appears periodically over a long period.
Symptoms
Let's get acquainted with the description of the rash with urticaria, and also find out what symptoms accompany this type of dermatitis:
- The most common sites affected are arms and legs, lower back and face. However, it is important to understand that hives can affect any part of the body.
- General symptoms: itching, hyperemia (redness), swelling. The reaction may appear immediately afterthe allergen enters the body. Urticaria always appears in a chaotic manner, that is, first a rash appears, and then itching, and sometimes vice versa.
Description of hives rash
Lesions appear as separate well-defined pinkish-red edemas ranging in size from two millimeters to thirty centimeters. Sometimes the diameter of the rash can increase. Usually each formation has a clear edge. Lesions usually consist of several skin inflammations and swellings.
How to identify a rash on the body? Urticaria is not so difficult to recognize. If you are faced with a rash, then just press lightly on the red bump. Always the center of the swelling becomes white.
With urticaria, a rash (you can see the photo below) is accompanied by a slight burning sensation. There is an irresistible urge to scratch the damaged area, because there is a feeling that something is scratching the skin. Often a person is faced with mild swelling of the arms, legs, mouth, genitals, neck. This swelling is called angioedema and usually goes away within 24 hours. But if you experience this symptom, make sure you don't have a severe allergic reaction that could worsen the condition and lead to difficulty breathing.
What causes dermatitis
Now you are familiar with the description of the rash. Allergic urticaria, however, like the usual one, against the background of stress, can appear in any person. It all depends on some factors. Your body can react to some allergens by triggering a reaction through the blood,which leads to itching, rash, swelling. The well-known substance histamine plays this role, causing hives.
In 90 percent of the cases, the trigger is never found, despite extensive testing. These cases are also called idiopathic. In about 50 percent of cases of idiopathic urticaria, swelling and itching are most likely caused by a reaction from the person's immune system (autoimmune reaction).
Common allergens that lead to hives and body rashes (you can see photos of foods that change histamine levels below):
- Pollen.
- Poisonous plants.
- Insect bites.
- Medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, narcotic painkillers or antibiotics.
- Various foods and preservatives.
- Food allergens such as strawberries, fruits, eggs, nuts or shellfish.
- Animal wool.
- Stress.
- Latex.
- Injection of contrast agents into human blood.
You can also experience hives with hay fever, viruses, bacteria, fungi. Upper respiratory tract infections, streptococcal infections and helminths (parasitic worms), monoculosis, fatigue, tight clothing, excessive sweating, rapid change in body temperature, extreme weather, physical effects on the body (cold, heat, water, sunlight, pressure), blood disorders or cancer (leukemia), lupus and other autoimmune diseases. All this list can lead to hives. Often the cause of the rash is unknown.
Who is at risk
When studying the description of the urticaria-type rash, it is important to understand that this type of dermatitis can occur in people of all ages, races and both sexes. However, the skin reaction is not contagious, is not considered dangerous or fatal, and is not accompanied by serious consequences.
Acute urticaria is most common in children and young people, while chronic urticaria, on the contrary, is observed in women, especially middle-aged ones. This dermatitis is very common, but is not the result of infection with a specific virus.
What is physical urticaria
Rash caused by factors such as cold, pressure, sun exposure is called physical urticaria. There are a number of other reasons that lead to this type of dermatitis:
- Vibrations, exercise and excessive sweating.
- Uncomfortable clothes, poor quality material containing synthetic fibers.
How to Diagnose
If you notice that a rash constantly appears on the skin, which periodically disappears, and then reappears, then it's time to contact a dermatologist. This is especially true of parents who study the description of a rash in children with hives.
The specialist will look at the shape of the swelling, the affected area. In some cases, a dermatologist may prescribe additional tests: take blood, skin for a sample,urine, biopsy. All tests performed will show if you had an allergic reaction and what caused it. However, in most cases, the cause of hives remains unknown.
How to recognize dermatitis
The most common and noticeable symptom of hives is swelling of the surface of the skin. The resulting rash is often located in a straight line. A hives flare tends to flare up very quickly, and it can surface on the surface within thirty minutes. This speed is considered one of the most characteristic symptoms of this type of dermatitis.
Swollen areas of the skin are accompanied by itching, and nearby ones become very sensitive. There are more serious manifestations of urticaria, when angioedema occurs, and after the disappearance of all symptoms, small bruises remain on the surface.
Urticaria does not require treatment if it does not cause any discomfort. In order for the rash and other symptoms to pass and they no longer occur, for this they only eliminate the allergen or other factor that could lead to dermatitis.
During this reaction, intense itching can occur, which sometimes becomes unbearable to such an extent that a person is ready to scratch the affected areas hard. This is especially true for young children, which causes considerable concern among parents. In this case, it is important to be distracted and endure, because only a specialist should recommend other methods of treatment. You can take an antihistamine if you're sure something is causing the hives.allergen.
Medical assistance is necessary in any case, so when the first symptoms appear, you need to go to the hospital without delay. Urticaria can go so badly, causing swelling of the larynx that it leads to suffocation and then death. Only a specialist will determine your condition and tell you how best to get rid of dermatitis with all the accompanying symptoms.
