Urticaria is commonly known as hives. It makes you feel itchy and uncomfortable — and scratching only makes it worse. As experts in skin conditions like urticaria, the team at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology of the Rockies, P.C., offers comprehensive care to give you relief from your symptoms. The practice has convenient locations in Avon, Basalt, Aspen, Frisco, and Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Find out how they can help you by calling today or scheduling a consultation online.
About 20% of people will get urticaria at some point in their lives. Provoked by many situations and substances, urticaria causes red or skin-colored bumps and itching. Certain factors, such as exercise, stress, and alcoholic beverages, can worsen the itching.
An outbreak of urticaria can go away quickly or last for weeks or months. Even though urticaria isn’t life-threatening, this condition can be associated with a deeper swelling called angioedema that causes swelling and make it harder for you to breathe. When this happens, seek emergency care immediately.
Urticaria causes bumps, welts, and sometimes both. With urticaria, you may also have:
Urticaria can appear on any area of your body. The bumps may move around, change shape, disappear, and reappear over short periods of time.
Your practitioner asks a series of questions to diagnose your condition. You’ll be asked about:
Your practitioner may perform skin tests, along with blood or urine tests, to pinpoint what’s causing your condition. You may want to keep track of what you eat to see if a specific food or ingredient triggers urticaria.
Your practitioner will make sure you don’t have angioedema, which causes swelling of tissue under the skin, and is commonly mistaken for urticaria.
Your provider works with you to devise a treatment plan tailored to your symptoms. You may benefit from medications like antihistamines to ease your itching, redness, bumps, and welts.
If your symptoms are severe, your provider may recommend a steroid like prednisone or an immune modulator. Both of these medications help to alleviate your symptoms. If urticaria is causing swelling of your lips or tongue, you’ll typically be prescribed an epinephrine pen, which you should keep handy at all times.
If you’re ready for relief from the symptoms of urticaria, call or book a consultation online today with the dedicated medical professionals at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology of the Rockies.
