If you have red blisters on your body that look like a nettle burn, you are dealing with a dermatological disease called urticaria. To treat this disease, a doctor must identify the cause and determine the type. Dermatologist Tetiana Selivanova tells about the types, causes and treatment.
Urticaria is a common name for several types of dermatitis that have one common symptom - the formation of blisters similar to a nettle burn.
- There are several main types of urticaria. All of these diseases differ in the peculiarities of their course:
- Acute urticaria. It has the following symptoms: sudden skin itching, blistering, burning, and swelling of the skin.
- Giant urticaria. It is characterized by swelling of mucous membranes and subcutaneous fatty tissue. Sometimes there is swelling of the larynx, which can be life-threatening.
- Solar urticaria. The symptoms of this type of urticaria are a rash on exposed skin, which manifests itself more often in the summer season and worsens after prolonged exposure to the sun.
- Chronic urticaria. It is characterized by the fact that the rash reappears some time after it disappears. At the same time, there is severe itching, which may be accompanied by fever and nervous system disorders. As a rule, chronic urticaria occurs as a result of an inflammatory process (diseases of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the larynx and the entire throat).
Most often, urticaria is an allergic reaction to an irritant, but sometimes it can be a manifestation of more serious diseases. Only a dermatologist can identify the exact cause and type of urticaria.
Among the most common causes of urticaria are the following
- consumption of allergenic foods;
- taking medications;
- inflammatory processes in the body;
- liver pathology (failure in the destruction of histamine);
- autoimmune inflammation;
- insect bites.
If signs of urticaria appear, you should consult a dermatologist. After a thorough examination, the doctor will prescribe the most effective therapy.
For the treatment of urticaria, a special diet and a healthy lifestyle are definitely recommended. It is also essential to avoid any medications other than those prescribed for the treatment of this disease. These are usually antihistamines, which can be taken for up to six months.
As a rule, if you follow all the dermatologist's recommendations, urticaria treatment is quite effective. It should be remembered that in case of chronic course of the disease, you will need constant monitoring by a dermatologist.
