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What Is The Clasification Of Atopic Urticaria?

Posted on Sat, 3 May 2014

Question: I want to know what is the clasification of Atopic Urticaria. I am seeking actual daily skin treatment to resuce my hives. I am in a little confusion between Atopic Dermatitis amd Atopic Urticaria since all of my doctors wrote my urticaria as dermatitis. I don't have final diagnosis yet with my condition but so far I was diagosed as Atopic with encironmental allergies with numerous eosinophils in my skin. My urticaria is acute, happens mostly on my hands, wrists, arms, sometimes on my thigh, legs, neck, upper body and face. They last several days and go away in a week, makes blisters at the end and makes my skin dry. I put coconut oil or sunflower oil for daily care. Currently my doctors are suspecting I would have more allergies such as medications, chemicals, and food, sicne my environmental allergen such as Dust mites, cats, cockroaches, tree pollen and weed were already revealed by allergy skin testing. I am 51 years old female. This symptoms suddenly started in December 2013. My urticaria is hot and painful, it comes back to the location of original urticara or similar part of my body parts when triggered by new urticaria breakout. I do not have typical Atopic Dermatitis with dry skin on me, though... My skin is relatively smooth except urticarial location. When it heals, it makes dark stain that lasts many months. Since I am atopic, I wonder what I have to expect to see my skin changes in the future. I see many more scars on my skin amd feel bad about it. Is there any way to make my skin more durable to allergens? I understand release of histamine needs to be controled to supress my immnue reaction, but I want to know how to protect my skin better. I am afraid of my skin condition pregressively worse to the point of cannot wear short sleeves in Summer.

Answered by Dr. Charu Bansal (5 hours later)

Brief Answer: atopic dermatitis -management Detailed Answer: Hello dear, Welcome to healthcaremagic. I have read your query and understood your concern. I have seen the uploaded images as well. Atopic dermatitis is really a distressing condition for a patient. Super added urticaria adds to more to already existing pain. Actually atopic dermatitis is an allergic condition of skin characterized by generalized dryness along with itching and itchy varied lesions involving any body sites. It may be associated with urticaria characterized by itchy transient eruptions over body. Urticaria may or may not be present in a patient of atopic dermatitis. These two are different conditions but may be seen in a patient as both are allergic conditions. Other features like recurrent cold and cough and respiratory distress may also be seen in such patients. But the condition can be controlled by taking antihistaminics like Levocetrizine / fexofenadine or combination of montelukast and antihistaminics . montelukast acts at the level of mast cell itself that is before histamine release. Additionally a good amount of moisturizer has to be applied over whole body preferably over semi wet body 2-3 times a day. Because dryness exacerbates the itch as well as the lesions of atopic dermatitis. So the preventive measure is to make the skin supple so as to avoid new lesions to some extent. Avoid the use of harsh chemicals over body. Try to avoid the exposure to the allergens that precipitate the lesions . Don't worry. It usually manifests as skin condition mainly not involving body systems. I hope it helps. If you have any further query you may ask me. Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Charu Bansal (13 hours later)

Thank you very much Dr. Charu! I understood better now. I will try the better options to control my urticaria breakouts. One more question though.... In my case, I didn't have hives like that entire my life until December 2013. I didn't even have symptoms of allergy at all before. Since after my first hives on my hands, it is on and off, and develped a pattern to start my hives at the particular places such as more dust mites, more chemicals, so on. Other times, places I go have no new urticarial development on my body. My skin is good at home as well. Since you mentioned that it is allergic condition, I want to know what relatively caused sensitization of my body. As I remember I started my urticaria exclusively on my hands each time I go to work. I cannot pin point allergen there and I didn't know I had dust mite allergy back then, I was sweeping old carpeted floors a lot there. I might have inhaled dust mite allergen and activated Atopy? Is that possible to start my Atopy with my old age so sudden? I want to to test more to find what my body is allergic to inorder to avoid painful urtocaria. If you could give me one more onsiteful answer, I will be appreciative. Thank you. Yoko

Answered by Dr. Charu Bansal (11 hours later)

Brief Answer: adult onset atopic dermatitis Detailed Answer: Hello dear, Welcome again. Atopic dermatitis can start at any age. When it starts in adult age, we call it adult onset atopic dermatitis. It can start all of a sudden also. Like in you, it started all f a sudden in late age. Exposure to allergens like house dust, mites, pollen grains which aee common allergens initiate such allergic reactions usually. The only best measure is to avoud exposure to common allergens and to the substances you are allergic to. ADDITIONALLY take the medications I advised in my previous reply. I hope I am able to solve your query. If you have any further query you may ask me. Else you may close the discussion and rate it. Stay healthy.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Charu Bansal (8 hours later)

Thank uou very much. Now I have full understanding of my condition. I will get better soon dor sure with your advise. I wish I had a good doctor like you from the begening... Yok

Answered by Dr. Charu Bansal (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Stay healthy Detailed Answer: Its my pleasure dear. we are always here to help you. In future also, whenever you are in need , you may contact us here. All the best. take care.

Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj