What is urticaria ?

Urticaria are red, itchy welts that result from a skin reaction. The welts differ in size and appear and fade repeatedly as the reaction runs its course.The condition is considered chronic urticaria if the welts appear for more than six weeks and recur frequently over months or years. Often, the cause of chronic urticaria is not clear.Chronic urticaria can be very uncomfortable and interfere with sleep and daily activities. For many people, antihistamines and anti-itch medications provide relief.

Causes

Urticaria occurs when the body reacts to an allergen and releases histamine and other chemicals from under the surface of the skin.The histamine and chemicals cause inflammation and fluid to accumulate under the skin, causing wheals.Examples of known triggers include:

• medications, including some antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ACE inhibitors, used for high blood pressure
• foods, such nuts, shellfish, food additives, eggs, strawberries, and wheat products
• infections, including influenza, the common cold, glandular fever, and hepatitis B
• bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections and strep throat
• intestinal parasites
• extreme temperatures or changes in temperature
• high body temperature
• pet dander from dogs, cats, horses, and so on
• dust mites
• cockroaches and cockroach waste
• latex
• pollen
• some plants, including nettles, poison ivy, and poison oak
• insect bites and stings
• few chemicals
• chronic illness, such as thyroid disease or lupus
• sunlight exposure
• water on the skin
• scratching
• exercise

In over half of all cases, people never find the exact cause.Chronic urticaria may start as an autoimmune response, but why it occurs is unclear.

Symptoms

Symptoms can last anywhere from minutes to months – or even years.While they favor bug bites, urticaria are different in several ways:

• Increased itchy bumps, either skin or red-colored
• “Blanching”
• Urticaria can occur in any area of the body; they may change shape, move around, disappear and repeat over short periods of time.
• The bumps – skin or red-colored “wheals” with clear edges – normally occur suddenly and go away just as fast.
• Pressing the center of a red urticaria makes it turn white – a process called “blanching.”

There are two types of urticaria – short-lived (acute) and long-term (chronic). Neither is generally life-threatening, though any swelling in the throat or any other symptom that restricts breathing requires immediate emergency care.

Types

Urticaria can be acute or chronic.Acute urticaria is the most common type. Symptoms last less than 6 weeks, and they mostly affect the face and neck, fingers, toes, and the genitals of males. However, any part of the body can be affected.Chronic urticaria continues for more than 6 weeks. About 1 in every 1,000 people is estimated to experience chronic urticaria.The exact cause is unknown, but it may link to the immune system. Viruses can also trigger urticaria. In some cases, it may relate to a basic autoimmune disorder, such as thyroid disease or lupus.Angioedema may also occur. This is similar to urticaria, but it affects the deeper layers of the skin.

Home Treatment

Triggers do not cause the problem.This may include:

• abstaining from or cutting down on alcohol
• avoiding certain medications
• avoiding stress, if possible, perhaps with meditation or relaxation techniques
• choosing some soaps, skin creams, and detergents that are mild.

Homeopathic Treatment For Urticaria

Some of the commonly prescribed homeopathic medicines for urticaria are urtica urens, astacus fluviatilis, rhus toxicodendron, natrum mur., sepia and bovista etc.

• Urtica urens :- This medicine should be tried when apis mel. Fails. In urtica urens the symptoms are similar to that of apis mel. Except it has frequent urination. Urticaria that appears every year, in the same season, is best treated with urtica urens. Urticaria with intense burning and fomication on the skin. Urtica urens are also effective for urticaria that alternatives with rheumatism. Urticaria from eating shellfish.

• Astacus fluviatilis :- For both acute and chronic urticaria. Urticaria is associated with liver complaints. Itching occurs over the entire body with marked stinging sensation on the skin. Sensitiveness to air and are aggravated by uncovering.

• Rhus tox. :- Red, swollen skin with itching, burning and smarting, better from warmth and heat. Throwing off of clothes aggravates burning and itching. Urticaria resulting from getting wet.

• Natrum mur. :- Urticaria triggered by exercise, and exposure to the sun. Violent itching and burning the eruptions are red and oedematous. Urticaria with constipation and earthy complexion. The skin is usually oily or greasy. The eruptions are mostly at the bend of joints or at the margin of hair.

• Sepia :- Urticaria from going in cool open air. Being in a warm room brings relief. Urticarial eruptions with itching, which is not relieved by scratching.

• Bovista :- Urticaria resulting from coming in contact with water. Urticaria on waking in the morning time and attended with diarrhoea.