The little monster hidden in the skin when the temperature drops during the season change - urticaria

This is the 5126th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

Have you ever experienced a situation like this: some red, itchy swollen bumps suddenly appear on your skin. They may be scattered like small papules, or they may be connected together in large patches with irregular shapes. Sometimes, the more you scratch, the more itchy it becomes. The more you scratch, the more it appears? This is probably urticaria!

1. What is urticaria?

Urticaria, also known as hives, is a common skin disease characterized by dilation of small blood vessels and increased permeability in the skin and mucous membranes, leading to localized edema reactions. This edema reaction manifests itself on the skin as wheals of varying sizes and irregular shapes that can appear anywhere on the body, such as on the face, arms, legs, and even on the stomach. The color can be red, white, or skin-colored, and is usually accompanied by itching. There are many reasons for urticaria. Recently, as the temperature has dropped due to the change of seasons, it has reached the peak of urticaria. Let us get closer to this "little monster" and learn how to prevent and treat urticaria.

2. Typical symptoms of urticaria

The wheals mentioned above are the main symptoms. These wheals vary in size and are usually red or pale in color. Wheals are usually very itchy, making people want to scratch them. They appear suddenly and may spread all over the body in just a few minutes or hours, and then disappear on their own within a few hours to a day, leaving no trace after disappearing. However, new wheals may continue to appear, one after another. And they are very likely to appear on exposed parts such as the arms and face, causing aesthetic problems, but they disappear on their own without leaving any traces. Be careful not to scratch too hard, otherwise it may cause skin damage and infection.

In a few severe cases, in addition to skin symptoms, patients may also experience some accompanying systemic symptoms, such as fever, which usually indicates an infection in the body or the onset of an autoimmune disease. Digestive system symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea may also occur, because the gastrointestinal mucosa is also affected. If you feel your throat tightening or have wheezing and difficulty breathing, you need to call 120 immediately for medical treatment to prevent life-threatening situations such as suffocation.

3. Factors that trigger urticaria

1. Food factors

The most common ones are seafood, such as fish, shrimp, shellfish, etc., as well as eggs, milk, nuts, etc. Some proteins in these foods are like "foreign invaders" to some people's bodies, which can cause the body's immune response and lead to urticaria.

2. Environmental factors

Pollen and dust mites are common triggers. In the pollen season, or in an environment with a lot of dust and mites that are easy to breed, people who are allergic to pollen and dust mites are very likely to suffer from urticaria. In addition, sudden changes in ambient temperature, such as large increases and decreases in temperature, can also induce urticaria.

3. Autoimmune factors

When the body's own immune system has problems, it can also cause hives. For example, people with autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disease are more likely to develop hives than the average person. In addition, after the body is infected with a virus, bacteria, or parasite, the immune system may mistakenly attack its own tissues in the process of fighting these pathogens, causing hives.

4. Psychological factors

Psychological factors are also one of the common causes of urticaria, especially when we are under too much mental stress, depressed, anxious or have abnormal mood swings. This "little monster" may take advantage of the situation and wreak havoc in our body.

4. Prevention and treatment of urticaria

1. Avoid triggering factors

Friends who have been tricked should learn from their mistakes and take preventive measures based on possible causes of the disease, such as avoiding allergic foods in diet; wearing masks when going out in spring and summer when pollen is strong, and paying attention to personal hygiene when dust mites are prone to multiply in autumn and winter, keeping clothes and bedding clean and free of mites; keeping warm during the season change, adding clothes in time to avoid cold infection; maintaining a good attitude, seeking help in time when encountering difficulties, and avoiding excessive mental stress; maintaining a regular work and rest time, and adequate sleep will help the body recover and enhance immunity. Try to get 7-8 hours of sleep every day and avoid staying up late.

2. Drug treatment

Antihistamines are common drugs for the treatment of urticaria, such as loratadine and cetirizine. They are widely used in clinical practice and can effectively relieve the symptoms of itching and wheals. If the symptoms are severe and other treatments are ineffective, oral corticosteroids (such as prednisone) can be used. The duration of administration should be as short as possible. If taken for more than 3 to 4 weeks, glucocorticoids sometimes have many serious side effects and should be used under the guidance of a clinician.

Traditional Chinese medicine also has many effective treatments for chronic urticaria. Guizhi Decoction, Jianpi Decoction, Chinese medicine navel patches, and massage have been proven to have good effects in treating chronic urticaria in children.

5. Daily care of urticaria

1. Daily care

During the illness, you should keep your skin clean and avoid scratching, as scratching may cause skin damage, infection, and delayed healing. You can gently wash your skin with warm water and then dry it with a soft towel. In addition, wearing loose, soft clothes to avoid friction on the skin can also help relieve symptoms.

2. Psychological care

Keep a positive attitude and understand that there will be no obvious marks left after the hives subside, so there is no need to worry too much about the appearance. At the same time, negative emotions such as tension and worry may aggravate the symptoms, so keep a calm mind during treatment.

In short, urticaria is an extremely common disease, but the trouble it brings to patients should not be underestimated. Therefore, strengthening the understanding and recognition of urticaria is very meaningful for both patients themselves and those who care about them. I hope that through this introduction, more people will know about urticaria, and use health knowledge to protect our loved ones and those who love us during the season when urticaria is prevalent!

References:

[1] Xing Peiye, Kong Yaoyao, Huai Pengcheng, et al. Analysis of global urticaria disease burden from 1990 to 2019[J]. Chinese Journal of Leprosy and Skin Diseases, 2024, 40(09): 618-623.

[2] Pan E, Sun Renshan. Progress in epidemiological research on urticaria[J]. Journal of Dermatology and Venereology, 2020, 27(04): 291-294.

[3] Zhang Xujie, Huang Weishan, Yang Ting'an, et al. Research progress in traditional Chinese medicine nursing for patients with chronic urticaria[J]. Medical Vocational Education and Modern Nursing, 2024, 7(03): 273-276.

[4] Huang Xuemei, Ou Shanshan, Zou Hui, et al. Assessment of anxiety and depression levels in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria[J]. Journal of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024, 31(08): 536-541.

[6] Yuan Jiaqin, Lu Rong, Chen Chunguang, et al. Research progress on the incidence, diagnosis and treatment of chronic urticaria[J]. Chinese Prescription Drugs, 2019, 17(03): 22-23.

[6] Zhang Weili, Yuan Shuping, Su Huan. Clinical observation on the treatment of chronic urticaria with Guizhi decoction combined with Xiaochaihu decoction[J]. Journal of Practical Chinese Medicine, 2024, 40(09): 1691-1693.

[8] Lü Kaifeng, Wang Yuanhong, Zhang Wei. Research progress on traditional Chinese medicine treatment of urticaria in children[J]. Hebei Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2021, 43(04): 691-695.

[9] Tan Wanyi, Shen Ting, Liu Yufeng. Effect of childlike care on psychological status, treatment compliance and quality of life of children with urticaria[J]. Qilu Nursing Journal, 2021, 27(21): 38-40.

Author: Zunyi Medical University

Han Kaiye

Reviewer: Shen Biyu