Chronic urticaria is an allergic skin rash that lasts longer than six weeks. Also referred to as hives or a nettle rash, urticaria is most often brought on by an allergy to pets, latex, a bee or insect sting, medicine or foods. The rash is composed of round or oval bumps on the skin, sometimes red in color and often itchy. They are caused by a release of histamines in the skin which causes the small blood vessels near the skin’s surface to leak fluid. It is this fluid that causes the irritation and swelling consistent with hives.

The best way to treat chronic urticaria hives is to treat the itching, as scratching the rash will only prolong and exacerbate the hive outbreak. Calamine lotion is a proven way to soothe the skin and decrease itching. Antihistamines taken orally or applied topically are among the most widespread treatment options for such skin rashes. There is also a wide variety of herbs that can impair histamine production, speeding the recovery time and minimizing itchiness. These include Paeonia and Forsythia extract, which can be found in a variety of dietary supplements. Lotions containing green tea have shown antihistamine properties, and their application on rashes will soothe and relieve itchy skin.

Cholinergic urticaria are hives that are caused by profuse sweating, usually in response to overheating of the body because of exercise. The hives are generally small, ranging from 2 mm to 3mm and are often restricted to the upper torso and arms, although sometimes these hives have been found as low as the thighs. These urticaria hives develop quickly after a rise in body temperature, usually appearing within twenty minutes of increased internal temperature.

These hives are most often noted as a result of exercise or stress, and usually dissipate on their own within thirty minutes. The most severe incidents are sometimes accompanied by headaches, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and abdominal cramps. The best way to treat cholinergic urticaria is to cool the body down, by simply resting in a cool area, taking a cool shower, or drinking copious amounts of water.

Sometimes urticaria hives are not brought on by an allergic reaction. These can be triggered by extreme temperatures, acute stress, prolonged exposure to sunlight or a sudden increase in body temperature due to exercise or climate. By reducing daily stress and physical exertion, urticaria hives can be minimized and chronic urticaria can dissipate. Keeping the body hydrated is an important component to keeping it cool, and this can help prevent urticaria hives. Identifying and preventing the cause of urticaria is the most important step to keeping the number and intensity of chronic urticaria incidents to a minimum.

If you find yourself breaking out in hives and think that you may have chronic urticaria or cholinergic urticaria, you should call your doctor, especially if you have just started taking a new medication or were stung by a bee or other insect.

br /> Author: Scott LeRoy

Scott LeRoy has been studying prescription and OTC medications as well as natural remedies for over a dozen years. He is a regular contributor to Skin Diseases, a section of Skin Conditions dedicated to conventional and alternative treatments of various conditions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_LeRoy

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