How should hives be treated?

Written by Xie Ming Feng

Dermatology

Updated on September 12, 2024

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Urticaria is divided into acute and chronic types. Antihistamines are the first choice of treatment for acute urticaria. If the condition is severe and antihistamines are ineffective, corticosteroids can be used to control the condition. The fundamental treatment for chronic urticaria is to remove the cause, and specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

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Written by Li Ya Ping

Dermatology Department

1min 9sec

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Can urticaria be contagious?

Urticaria is not contagious. Urticaria, also known as wheals or commonly referred to as hives, is caused by temporary increased vascular permeability in the skin and mucous membranes due to allergic factors, resulting in localized edema. Wheals generally subside quite quickly, typically within 24 hours. The causes of wheals, which are essentially urticaria, may include the food we eat, airborne inhalants, and skin contact with substances such as pollen, dust mites, mold mites, as well as animal dander, fur, etc. Additionally, some cases may be related to infections, and some people may have a lethal factor due to suspicious medications. Moreover, the occurrence of urticaria can also be related to other factors such as cold, heat, ultraviolet light, and mechanical stresses such as friction or pressure. Furthermore, other factors including psychological and endocrine factors can also lead to the occurrence of urticaria.

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Written by Huang Kun Mei

Pediatrics

51sec

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Symptoms of urticaria in children

The symptoms of urticaria in children generally include the appearance of erythema and patches of varying sizes on the skin. Some patches may be bright red and then look more obvious. Systemic symptoms can occur, and some children may experience nausea, vomiting, etc. At this time, it may be considered to be caused by allergic factors, and it is necessary to come to the hospital as soon as possible to ascertain the cause in the child. Avoid contact with allergens and then conduct anti-allergy treatment according to the child's condition. If the child's skin scratch test is positive, it can confirm that the child has urticaria. Generally, urticaria subsides quite quickly, and it is considered a specific type of disease.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan

Dermatology

1min 5sec

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How to treat chronic urticaria?

Chronic urticaria often utilizes antihistamine medications to control symptoms, combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and differential diagnosis and treatment. Treating chronic urticaria generally requires long-term use of antihistamines, sometimes for two or three months, or even up to six months, a year, or more. Typically, treatment involves the combination of two or more types of antihistamines. For cases of chronic urticaria where antihistamines are ineffective, immunosuppressants may be used to adjust the body’s immune state, thus controlling the outbreaks of chronic urticaria. Chronic urticaria is a long-term, slow process that cannot be resolved quickly, so it is important to try to identify the triggering factors of chronic urticaria, or to identify specific allergens. However, finding the allergen is usually challenging because many patients with chronic urticaria have conditions that are also related to their own immune status.

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Written by Qu Jing

Dermatology

1min 11sec

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How is urticaria best treated?

Urticaria, commonly known as hives, occurs when there is a localized swelling due to temporary increased vascular permeability of the skin and mucous membranes. It can be divided into acute urticaria and chronic urticaria. Acute urticaria often has a sudden onset. Chronic urticaria is characterized by recurrent skin lesions for more than six weeks, with episodes occurring at least twice a week, termed as chronic urticaria. The preferred treatment for acute urticaria is the use of second-generation H1 receptor antagonists with a strong sedative effect. The combination of vitamin C and calcium supplements can reduce vascular permeability and have a synergistic effect with antihistamines. For chronic urticaria, the treatment of choice is also second-generation H1 receptor antagonists. When one medication is ineffective, two to three drugs may be combined or alternated. It is also recommended to combine Chinese medicine to adjust the overall physical condition while gradually reducing the dosage of Western medicine to control the condition.

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Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

47sec

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Symptoms of postpartum urticaria

Postpartum hives are mainly characterized by subjective itching symptoms on the skin. On the surface of the skin, you can see patches of varying sizes with a reddish color, some of which may also feel burning. Generally, this can occur within the first few hours and then quickly subside, but it is prone to recurrent outbreaks. Additionally, some patients may experience gastrointestinal reactions, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and can even cause palpitations and difficulty breathing. When hives are detected, it is advisable to go to the hospital in a timely manner, and ask professional doctors to actively carry out examinations and treatments.