You cannot copy content of this website, your IP is being recorded
Urticaria (Hives) Treatment Specialist Questions and Answers

Urticaria (Hives) Treatment Specialist Questions and Answers

Hives can erupt over sensitivities and can cause life-threatening issues. If you are suffering from urticaria, contact Columbia Clinic Urgent Care today. For more information, call us or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Portland OR and Tigard OR.

Urticaria (Hives) Treatment Specialist Near Me in Portland OR and Tigard OR
Urticaria (Hives) Treatment Specialist Near Me in Portland OR and Tigard OR

Table of Contents:

What is the main cause of urticaria?
Is urticaria a serious disease?
Is urticaria an autoimmune disease?
How do you treat urticaria?

What is the main cause of urticaria?


Urticaria is also known as hives, the cause of hives is when certain cells are released and histamines, as well as other chemicals, are released into the bloodstream. Often doctors cannot identify the exact main reason for chronic hives or even why acute hives can sometimes turn into a long-term issue. The skin may react from a trigger like:

– Pain medications
– Insects
– Parasites
– Infections
– Scratching
– Heat
– Cold
– Stress
– Sunlight
– Exercise
– Alcohol
– Food
– Pressure on the skin from something tight like a tight waistband

In certain cases, chronic hives can be in relation to an underlying illness.

Common signs and symptoms of chronic hives include:

– Batches of red or skin-colored welts, which may appear anywhere on the body
– Welts which can vary in size, may change in shape, and then appear and fade repeatedly as the reaction begins to run its course
– Itching
– Painful swelling on the lips, eyelids, and possibly inside the throat
– Signs and symptoms may trigger with stuff like heat, exercise, and stress
– Signs and symptoms which begin to be persistent for more than six weeks plus and frequently recur

Is urticaria a serious disease?


Urticaria or hives is a serious disease, if a patient ends up having an allergic reaction and hives are involved as well, it could provide life-threatening issues like swelling of the airways in the throat or lungs. This serious condition is known as anaphylaxis, which can potentially close off the patient’s airways, and can result in death.

Anaphylaxis is a common trigger by severe allergic reactions to foods like peanuts, tree nuts, or a bee sting. If a patient is dealing with anaphylaxis, they will need an immediate shot of epinephrine to open the airways, raise blood pressure and reduce hives and swelling.

Is urticaria an autoimmune disease?


Chronic hives is an autoimmune disease, as they erupt over the entire body and wreak havoc on the body’s immune system which causes it to be overactive and attack the body’s normal cells and tissues.
Other conditions which are commonly seen in those with autoimmune hives include:

– Type 1 diabetes
– Vitiligo
– Lupus
– Rheumatoid arthritis
– Celiac disease
– Sjogren’s

It can often be very difficult to diagnose the root cause of hives, your doctor may want to rule out allergens first. To do this, you may be asked to provide an extensive medical history of the substances with which you have eaten or come into contact before your hives outbreak. Many doctors request allergy tests like scratch tests to be completed.

Your doctor will also need to know of other symptoms that you may have to help determine if you have any other autoimmune conditions.

Some specific testing’s which your doctor may request include:

– Basophil histamine release assay
– Autologous serum skin test

How do you treat urticaria?


Treating urticaria or also known as hives can be based on the cause as well as the severity of the symptoms.

When hives erupt, oral antihistamines like diphenhydramine can be very effective for alleviating the hives. There are non-drowsy antihistamines that are available to block the release of histamines which can prevent an outbreak of hives. They are:

– Loratadine
– Fexofenadine
– Cetirizine
– Desloratadine
– Levocetirizine

If you are noticing hives erupt on your body, as well as many other symptoms, visit our urgent care walk-in clinic. For more information, contact Columbia Clinic Urgent Care today! We serve patients from Portland OR, PDX, Happy Valley OR, Tigard OR, Milwaukie OR, Cedar Hills OR, Cedar Mill OR, Lake Oswego OR, Oak Grove OR, Vancouver WA, Aloha OR, Minnehaha WA, Gladstone OR, Tualatin OR, West Linn OR, Fairview OR, Oregon City OR.

Columbia Clinic Urgent Care & Walk-in Clinic in Oregon

Mall 205

  • 9415 SE Stark Street, 3rd Floor, Portland OR 97216
  • View Details

82nd Avenue

Tigard, OR

 

Directions to Nearest Locations