Does anybody suffer from urticaria?

Rummer

Oh I have had this on and off for years however it has now been 4 months of daily reactions and it is really wearing thin

terra_ferma

tinkle wrote: »

Hello

I am not looking for medical advice. In recent months I have found that I suffer from urticaria, skin rash, bumps etc...very, very itchy. Have visited the GP about 4 times and each time just get given anti histamines. I do not know what is causing this. Does anybody else suffer from this and know any 'natural' things to relieve it? Do not want to keep on taking anti histamine every day.

Thanks in advance.

I don't know if this is something you've already thought of, but cleaning/laundry products can be a factor.
Someone in my family has a form of allergy/urticaria, but rather mild.
It was getting bad between her fingers, but using surcare washing up liquid instead of normal one stopped that.
Also fabric softener, even sensitive one, was causing a lot of itching.

cardiogirl

I've had it for years & almost certainly the reason you are prescribed anti-histamines is because they are the best at controlling it in most people. I took cetirazine every day for a few weeks & now just take it about 3 times a week, I realise if I have forgotten as the itches start again. It doesn't work out particularly expensive as I buy Asda's own brand which is much cheaper than a prescription. It's probably worth looking at the possibility of washing powder/fab cond formulation changing, but mostly this just happens & there is no way of finding out why & anti histamines are pretty good at helping.

goodz

Probably different to what you've got but in case it's useful for a bit of background, in about 1994 my girlfriend suddenly over night got a big rash from neck to knees, lots of red itchy weals. All over everywhere but not above her neckline and not below her knees. But all over her thighs, tum, chest, back and bot.

She went to her doctor who said, don't worry, don't know what's causing it, could be stress, could be all sorts of things, start with the old palliative kalamine lotion, come back if it changes or gets worse or doesn't go.

It was raging bad for about a month, then it seemed to settle a bit but was still bad for another month. Then in the third month it started to go and by the end of three months or so it was nearly all gone.

Then no repeat at all. Rather odd but apparently just one of those things. So it could have been stress and or an allergy or perhaps an immune thing. Anyway, the point is that although it was severe and worrying also it just went.

So, yes, look into allergy, chemicals in washing powder, other chemicals in your environment, your diet and lifestyle, stress factors and such like.

A couple of examples regarding allergy that I've experienced : I was diagnosed as having coeliac condition, which makes you ill if you eat the wrong foods. It's an allergy and inability to digest gluten in wheat, oats, barley and rye, so no normal bread, pastries, cake, biscuits, sweets and all sorts of foods. Then years later I was diagnosed as not coeliac at all and they theorised that possibly it had been a milk allergy. So in my case allergy was incorrectly diagnosed and so perhaps bear in mind that that may also be the case on other occasions as well.

On another occasion I was coughing and sneezing a lot at night so my Mum got me allergy tested via my normal NHS GP which was pricking my arms with about twenty possible irritants on each arm. It turned out to be "general house dust" that was the one, as it came up in a big red lump on my arm. So my Mum got me a new bed and then I was fine, no more coughing or sneezing at night.

Hope this is of some interest and helps your understanding. Sorry I can't think of anything more directly practical to suggest. I hope it clears for you. All the best.

Gingham_R

I had this for months and it turned out to be a stress reaction caused by someone making me feel bad.

Bronnie

Oranges and raw tomatoes caused this when my daughter was young. Instant reaction, therefore easily diagnosed and avoided. Sympathies to you. Hope you can get some relief.

jenniewb

OK I'm gonna say this then run and hide as I know others seem to not like any mention of the word...

Homeopathy (there, I've said it!) I don't mean the pills, I mean the ointments which are different from the pills. They may help they may do nothing but I had 4 separate skin disorders 2 years ago (GP specialising in skincare diagnosed them). I had been trying all sort, cryotherapy where they burn them off- still have the scar patches all down my forearms, coaltar- for the psiosis, steroid creams -plural because the GP tried several- all to no effect....itch relief creams would make it worse for an hour then help for about an hour then it'd be back with avengance...I wanted to be referred to a dermatologist but the GP didn't offer and I was about to ask but thought I'd do one last thing to prove my point- I tried Homeopathy. Mainly because Neals Yard Homepathy were celebrating 250 years and had a free day and discounts on things but also so I could go back to the GP and have evidence to show how desperate I was to do something about it. I was a complete skeptic and had no belief in it working, I just did it on a whim and didn't expect it to work. But it did.

I was suggested 2 ointments, -these are not like the pills, you can watch them mash up plants and boil up a liquid which is not clear and does have a slight scent too- its not like the pills which are made differetly, its more of a herbal solution. I had two one to clean (made with activated silver) the other to treat (I can't remember the names of the plants and I don't want to name the bottle as I think its important to get one made spcificly for your symptoms not mine) and within 2 weeks it had almost all gone. I was still to embarassed to say to the GP what I'd done to make it go away as I got the feeling she'd think I had lost the plot, when I showed her she said she was amazed that it vanished so fast- nearest appointment I could get was 4 weeks after I'd started the Homeopathy and I'd had the skin problems 4-5 months by then, it was said they'd be there at least 6 and most likely 2-3 years so for the treatments to have worked so fast I have to say I was sold.

I'm not saying its the only way nor that it is something that cures everything, I just know that for me it worked and if I had tried everything and nothing worked (not sure if thats your position or not) I'd want to try.

You have to find a registered Homeopath who can prescribe and make up solutions for you to apply. I did take the pills at the same time but only because Boots sold them on 3-4-2 and I had wanted to say to the GP I'd been desperate enough to try Homeopathy now please refer me. I think it seemed like the ointments which made the biggest difference.


I wont check back here because although others may mean well, I do find it hard when it feels like everyone starts saying harsh things or having a go all at the same time. I'm not invincible and things do hurt- this stuff I wrote comes from my own experiences and I'm only trying to help, if you wanted anymore questions answered I don't mind but either start a new thread or PM me as I don't have the guts to check back- sorry!!

terra_ferma

jenniewb wrote: »

OK I'm gonna say this then run and hide as I know others seem to not like any mention of the word...

Homeopathy (there, I've said it!) I don't mean the pills, I mean the ointments which are different from the pills. They may help they may do nothing but I had 4 separate skin disorders 2 years ago (GP specialising in skincare diagnosed them). I had been trying all sort, cryotherapy where they burn them off- still have the scar patches all down my forearms, coaltar- for the psiosis, steroid creams -plural because the GP tried several- all to no effect....itch relief creams would make it worse for an hour then help for about an hour then it'd be back with avengance...I wanted to be referred to a dermatologist but the GP didn't offer and I was about to ask but thought I'd do one last thing to prove my point- I tried Homeopathy. Mainly because Neals Yard Homepathy were celebrating 250 years and had a free day and discounts on things but also so I could go back to the GP and have evidence to show how desperate I was to do something about it. I was a complete skeptic and had no belief in it working, I just did it on a whim and didn't expect it to work. But it did.

I was suggested 2 ointments, -these are not like the pills, you can watch them mash up plants and boil up a liquid which is not clear and does have a slight scent too- its not like the pills which are made differetly, its more of a herbal solution. I had two one to clean (made with activated silver) the other to treat (I can't remember the names of the plants and I don't want to name the bottle as I think its important to get one made spcificly for your symptoms not mine) and within 2 weeks it had almost all gone. I was still to embarassed to say to the GP what I'd done to make it go away as I got the feeling she'd think I had lost the plot, when I showed her she said she was amazed that it vanished so fast- nearest appointment I could get was 4 weeks after I'd started the Homeopathy and I'd had the skin problems 4-5 months by then, it was said they'd be there at least 6 and most likely 2-3 years so for the treatments to have worked so fast I have to say I was sold.

I'm not saying its the only way nor that it is something that cures everything, I just know that for me it worked and if I had tried everything and nothing worked (not sure if thats your position or not) I'd want to try.

You have to find a registered Homeopath who can prescribe and make up solutions for you to apply. I did take the pills at the same time but only because Boots sold them on 3-4-2 and I had wanted to say to the GP I'd been desperate enough to try Homeopathy now please refer me. I think it seemed like the ointments which made the biggest difference.


I wont check back here because although others may mean well, I do find it hard when it feels like everyone starts saying harsh things or having a go all at the same time. I'm not invincible and things do hurt- this stuff I wrote comes from my own experiences and I'm only trying to help, if you wanted anymore questions answered I don't mind but either start a new thread or PM me as I don't have the guts to check back- sorry!!

IMHO nothing wrong in hearing about different experiences, and what's out there. Glad to hear you found a solution that worked for you

Flibsey

I get it, but have managed luckily to pin down a lot of my triggers. mygp did mention Sunlight Urticaria which I get after winter's gone if I spend too long in the sun in, say, march.

M.Holloway

tinkle wrote: »

Hello

I am not looking for medical advice. In recent months I have found that I suffer from urticaria, skin rash, bumps etc...very, very itchy. Have visited the GP about 4 times and each time just get given anti histamines. I do not know what is causing this. Does anybody else suffer from this and know any 'natural' things to relieve it? Do not want to keep on taking anti histamine every day.

Thanks in advance.

It's very hard to get a referral for these types of things on the NHS any more (due to recent cuts) so you might want to go with a private dermatologist.

Generally you'll have to have multiple visits to a GP and a lot of hoop-jumping before they even consider referring you.

You also have to be very firm that the anti-histamines aren't working.

Alternatively, I found this site the other day. It might help you find more patients like you.