L‘urticaria is a’rash characterized by the mostly sudden appearance of pink or white wheals of various sizes, which typically result in itching and discomfort. Can join angioedemathat is to say bulges to blurred limits of the subcutaneous or submucous tissue. Typical locations of angioedema are the lip and the eyelidsbut sometimes, if it involves the digestive tract, it can also manifest itself with abdominal cramps.
How long does it last
“The 20% of the population will experience at least once in a lifetime an episode of acute urticaria, a transient form which, with adequate medical support, resolves spontaneously. Wheals may appear at any location of body surface area e vary in size, shape and number. Each individual wheal typically has one lasting less than 24 hours, but the disease can have a much longer course. While acute urticaria lasts a few days, it is referred to as urticaria”chronic”when the urticaria episodes recur several times over a longer period of time 6 weeks» explains the Doctor Paola Facherisdermatologist at theIRCCS Humanitas Clinical Institute of Milan and at Humanitas Medical Care in Fiordaliso and Assago.
Urticaria: the possible causes
«The manifestations of urticaria are caused by histamine release by mast cells, white blood cells that reside in the dermis. Many can intervene to cause it stimuli: immunological, non-immunological, physicists and chemists. Especially in children, acute forms can be caused by food allergy or from recent respiratory infections. They are often caused by drug allergies in adults. It can also be induced by physical stimuli such as contact with the heat or, conversely, with the Freddoexposure to ultraviolet raysthe pressure on the skinfor example of belts or clothing, exercise», continues the expert.
The therapy
“L’avoidance of triggers, if identifiable, is undoubtedly the best strategy. In the case of urticaria, treatment and prevention coincide and are based on antihistamine therapies not sedatives. For the form of chronic urticaria called “spontaneous”, or for which it has not been possible to identify an external triggering cause, but which is mediated by immunological factors, it is possible to use biological drugs. L’omalizumabit’s a monoclonal antibody which neutralizes IgE (immunoglobulin E) and prevents them from inducing the release of histamine, the main mediator of urticaria. Can be used when the antihistamines they do not sufficiently control the wheals and itching», advises Dr. Facheris.
What foods to avoid
«In the active phase, i histamine-releasing foodsi.e. which induce the release of histamine or which contain it in quantities, such as strawberries, chocolatemushrooms, tomatoeswalnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, soybeans, wine, beer, fermented cheeses, fish, shellfish and seafood. That doesn’t mean you’re allergic to those foods, just that it’s better give it up temporarily or avoid the association in the same meal of these foods to avoid a additional inflammatory stimulus. Generally, once the disease has been diagnosed, the dermatologist himself will provide the patient with the list of foods to temporarily avoid», reassures the expert.
If stress intervenes
“Stress is not never the cause of hives, but it can result a pejorative factor, especially in spontaneous chronic forms since, it represents a stimulus for our body inflammatory which affects the immune system. In general, the skin diseases that have an inflammatory origin worsen in times when you are particularly under pressure. A silent pathology can rekindle as a result of stress», concludes Dr. Facheris.
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