Features of the disease
Urticaria is a skin disease in which an allergic reaction occurs due to exposure to a specific agent. It manifests itself in the form of redness and swelling of individual areas of the epidermis. A little later, blisters ranging in size from 1 mm to 5-7 cm form at this site. The foci of the pathological process are very similar to nettle burns. This disease can occur in both adults and children.
Demographic urticaria, or more precisely, dermographic urticaria, is considered a not very common pathology of the skin. Inflammation never occurs at the site of the allergic reaction. The disease is not accompanied by headaches or loss of consciousness. Symptoms usually go away within a few hours, so many people do not rush to see a doctor for help. In fact, consulting a doctor will not be superfluous. He will be able to determine the etiology of the disease, and in case of severe forms, he will prescribe the correct treatment.
What is demographic urticaria
Demographic, or mechanical urticaria, is one of the most common skin diseases. Characteristic signs are the appearance of blisters on the skin. They can be white or red. The contour is smooth, clearly limited.
Urticaria does not cause severe discomfort or inconvenience at the initial stage. As a rule, it represents the body's response to infections or household allergens. Genetic predisposition may also influence the occurrence of this disease.
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Demographic urticaria is a skin disease that is allergic in nature. It is characterized by the appearance of a raised white or red rash on the skin. The immune system can trigger a reaction to a variety of irritants, resulting in corresponding allergic manifestations on the skin. Often with this type of disease, severe swelling and itching occur, causing severe discomfort.
Main Causes of Skin Disorders
The appearance of rashes on the skin is most often caused by various mechanical influences. These include insect bites, scratching and rubbing, and rubbing of clothing. Young children are also not spared from demographic urticaria. Their epidermal reaction may be a consequence of active games, during which they receive scratches and bruises.
The exact causes of the development of the disease could not be established. However, doctors identify a whole group of factors that contribute to the occurrence of the disease:
- hereditary predisposition;
- frequent stress;
- pathologies of internal organs;
- taking NSAIDs;
- disruption of the thyroid gland;
- the presence of neoplasms in the body.
Often the pathological process is accompanied by diseases that significantly weaken the body’s immune forces.
Treatment of demographic urticaria ↑
Demographic urticaria requires different approaches to treatment, it all depends on the degree of its development. The very first stage of demographic urticaria often goes unnoticed by people, since it practically does not manifest itself at all. However, during a medical examination, the doctor may well detect it in the patient.
Antihistamines are prescribed as an effective treatment to relieve the allergic reaction and prevent the development of more serious forms of mechanical urticaria. The dosage and duration of treatment is prescribed to each person individually, based on his weight and general health.
Treatment of mechanical urticaria can also be carried out using folk remedies. The most effective is a decoction of string. This medicinal plant has the property of relieving irritation and allergic reactions, soothing overly sensitive skin and promoting the rapid disappearance of rashes on the surface of the skin.
To prepare this medicine, take dry string herb (1 part) and pour boiling water over it (2 parts). When the mixture is infused, pour it into a bath of water and immerse the affected areas of the epidermis in it. Wait 15 minutes, then pour out the water. It cannot be used a second time. Try to ensure that the prepared decoction is not too dark in color, as this may cause the opposite effect of this treatment method to develop.
You can use this infusion as a lotion and a means for wiping affected areas.
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Another effective way that will help speed up the treatment of the disease is a decoction of chamomile and stinging nettle. The principle of its preparation and use is exactly the same as in the case of the string.
Many people prefer to carry out treatment with folk remedies. In most cases, they resort to folk recipes that have been known since ancient times. However, such treatment can lead to serious consequences.
First manifestations
What are the symptoms of demographic urticaria? The disease does not affect the general well-being of a person. It is not characterized by symptoms that appear during standard allergic reactions. These include watery eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing, and difficulty breathing.
Both adults and children with demographic urticaria experience similar symptoms. First, marks appear at the site of skin contact with the irritant. These can be stripes or other shapes. In their shape, the marks accurately reproduce the pattern that remained on the skin after exposure to the irritating agent.
After some time, the damaged area acquires characteristic swelling. The streaks or other marks first turn red, then swell and begin to rise above the surface of the skin. Sometimes scars or blisters appear. These symptoms may persist for several hours.
Classification of the disease
Mechanical urticaria comes in different forms. Let's take a closer look at its types:
- red - in such cases, the cause of occurrence is a mechanical impact, distinguished by reddish stripes;
- cholinergic – it appears in patients due to the fact that they have become hypothermic or have simply been in places with a low temperature (there is a similarity with cold urticaria);
- white - damaged areas of epithelial tissue are covered with white stripes;
- familial - this is a very common type, it arises only due to the fact that there is a hereditary predisposition that is transmitted from ancestors to descendants.
When should you see a doctor?
If you suspect demographic urticaria, you can first perform a simple test at home. To do this, you need to scratch a grid in the forearm area with a well-sharpened pencil. After a few minutes, white stripes will first appear in this place, and then pink marks. They may rise slightly above the surface of the skin. Normally, such marks disappear after about an hour. In addition, the strips should not itch or hurt. This simple test allows you to determine whether you have demographic urticaria. A photo of the results of the procedure itself is presented just above.
After diagnosis at home, you must definitely visit a dermatologist. Detection of the disease usually does not cause difficulties. To confirm the final diagnosis, the doctor only needs to examine the patient’s epidermis and do several skin tests. Sometimes consultation from outside specialists is required. For example, a parasitologist helps identify the presence of pathogenic flora, and an endocrinologist evaluates the functioning of the thyroid gland.
Diet
- Fish and seafood;
- Various types of cheeses, in particular hard ones, as well as dairy products;
- Strong alcoholic drinks and drinks containing caffeine;
- All types of smoked meats.
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In addition, if you exclude the above products, doctors recommend diversifying your diet with such products as:
- Coarse bread products;
- All types of nuts except coconut;
- Green olives;
- Pumpkin (can be eaten raw or cooked) and avocado.
Nutritional adjustments are not strictly necessary, but are still recommended for complete recovery.
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Drug therapy
As mentioned above, specific treatment for this disease is extremely rarely required. Symptoms usually disappear on their own within a few hours or days. However, for many patients they still cause aesthetic discomfort. Therefore, they are interested in the question of how to treat demographic urticaria.
Therapy should begin with first generation antihistamines. These include the following medications: Zyrtec, Tavegil, Claritin, Cetirizine. They relieve the symptoms of the pathological process, and noticeable relief occurs after 2-3 hours. Therapy is usually reduced to a single pill before bedtime.
If for some reason the patient refuses to take the tablets, they can be replaced with ointments. For example, Fenistil gel perfectly relieves itching and inflammation. "Drapolen Cream" effectively fights scars and small scars characteristic of such a pathology as demographic urticaria.
Treatment of the chronic form of the disease is recommended with second-generation antihistamines. These are drugs such as Tagamet, Zantac and Bricanil. When the listed medications do not give a positive result, the prescription of oral steroids and physiotherapy is considered appropriate.
It should be noted that only a doctor can select specific drugs for treatment. Self-therapy often ends in disastrous results.
Treatment options
After studying the diagnostic results and identifying the cause of the disease, the attending physician prescribes appropriate treatment. Initially, all skin irritating factors are neutralized and an H1 antihistamine (Cetirizine, Zyrtec and others) is taken once. This drug selectively affects the activity of histamine. Itching is relieved with a cold or chamomile compress. This treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms. Improvement occurs within a few days. Red welts may remain on the skin surface for several months.
If there is no effect from H1 drugs, drugs of group H2 (Tagamet, Bricanil and others) are used. They selectively bind to histamine H2 receptors and block its functioning. Often these drugs H1 and H2 are prescribed in combination.
When antihistamines do not work, other treatment methods are used:
- taking oral steroids;
- UV radiation;
- taking antidepressants.
To relieve itching, inflammation, irritation, and redness, special ointments and gels are used (Fenistil gel, Nezulin, Drapolen cream and others).
Important! The treatment regimen for demographic urticaria and the duration of treatment should be prescribed directly by the attending physician. Self-medication is unacceptable.
Help from traditional medicine
A mild form of the disease often does not require specific therapy. To eliminate unwanted symptoms, you can use recipes from traditional healers.
A decoction of the string is particularly effective. It should be brewed like tea and consumed in small portions throughout the day. Celery juice is no less useful. You should drink 1/3 cup of this delicious medicine every day. You can also soak a cotton pad in this juice and treat the affected areas with it.
Diagnostics
If the above symptoms appear, you should consult a therapist, dermatologist, allergist, or immunologist.
A visual examination and skin test are sufficient to make a diagnosis. The doctor acts on the surface of the skin with a blunt object and waits for a reaction. With mechanical urticaria, a white mark resembling a scar immediately appears. To identify cholinergic dermographism, apply a piece of ice to the skin. Solar urticaria is detected by irradiation with waves of different lengths.
The doctor’s actions are determined based on the patient’s complaints. Additionally, the doctor may prescribe a test for immunity, thyroid hormones, a general blood test and culture for intestinal flora.
Prevention measures
Specific measures to prevent the disease have not been developed, since the exact causes of its occurrence are still unknown. To prevent allergic skin reactions, doctors recommend adhering to the following rules:
- give preference to outfits made from natural fabrics;
- minimize stressful situations;
- refrain from visiting saunas;
- do not use hard washcloths;
- undergo preventive examination.
Remember that if you consult a doctor in a timely manner, it is easier to cure any disease. Be healthy!
Preventive measures
There are no universal tips that will eliminate the risk of urticaria 100%. But there are recommendations to help prevent the development of painful symptoms:
- it is necessary to exclude provoking factors - tight clothing and shoes, compressive belts and belts;
- medications, certain foods and household chemicals can provoke an allergic reaction; you should avoid contact with possible triggers;
- There must be proper nutrition for urticaria;
- You should always have antihistamines on hand to relieve itching, such as Zyrtec;
- Cool baths with baking soda will soothe the skin.
To prevent the development of urticaria, it is important to promptly treat infectious diseases to prevent them from becoming chronic.
