How to treat chronic urticaria?

Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
Updated on September 04, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jing
Dermatology Department
50sec home-news-image

Is there a difference between measles and urticaria?

Measles and hives are two completely different skin diseases. In terms of etiology, measles is caused by a viral infection, while hives are an allergic skin disease. Clinically, measles presents with diffuse red rash all over the body, accompanied by high fever and mucous membrane catarrhal symptoms, such as red eyes, excessive eye discharge, and so on. On the other hand, hives present with wheal-like skin lesions. Wheals refer to pale red or skin-colored raised lesions that can vary in shape and are usually quite large. They typically develop very rapidly and then subside within a few hours, with most wheals disappearing within 24 hours. Hives are also usually accompanied by severe itching.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
52sec home-news-image

Characteristics of papular urticaria

Papular urticaria is a type of allergic reaction, generally associated with contact with irritants, or bites from mosquitoes and fleas. The likelihood of occurrence increases if small animals are kept at home. Typically, small red papules or red wheals appear on localized areas of the body or extensively, with a transparent blister on top. The itching is quite severe, and the blisters are prone to bursting when scratched. Once symptoms appear, it is crucial to treat them with proper medication, and care should be taken to prevent infection if the blisters are scratched open. To prevent recurrence, it is advisable not to keep small animals at home, to frequently disinfect clothes, sheets, and duvet covers by exposing them to sunlight to eliminate mites or fleas, and to maintain a standard diet and lifestyle habits.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
52sec home-news-image

What is the fastest way to relieve itching from hives?

Urticaria is a type of allergic disease that generally causes large areas of hives to appear rapidly all over the body, accompanied by severe itching. A quick method to relieve itching is the topical application of calamine lotion extensively and taking oral antihistamines, such as loratadine tablets. In cases of acute flare-ups, it may be appropriate to use hormone-based medications, such as dexamethasone injection, administered intravenously or through infusion, as these act quickly. For chronic urticaria treatment, it is generally advised against the use of hormones; standard oral antihistamines should suffice. Urticaria tends to recur; therefore, it's important to maintain a controlled diet and lifestyle habits. Foods and substances to avoid include chili peppers, mutton, seafood, and alcohol.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
24sec home-news-image

urticaria symptoms

Acute urticaria manifests as sudden severe itching of the skin, quickly followed by hives of various sizes. In severe cases, symptoms can include palpitations, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, and other signs of anaphylactic shock. Chronic urticaria is characterized by recurrent outbreaks of hives, often lasting for several months or years.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
21sec home-news-image

What medicine is used for urticaria?

Urticaria primarily uses second-generation antihistamines as the first choice, and topical treatments that soothe and relieve itching can be used as appropriate. Traditional Chinese medicine often treats it with herbal decoctions based on syndrome differentiation, and specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.