Aortic Stenosis: Diagnosis, Symptom Progression, Surgery
Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment
Urticaria is the medical term for hives. It causes bumps or raised patches to appear on the skin. Chronic idiopathic urticaria is the name for hives that occur at least twice a week and last more than 6 weeks.
Hives are patches of skin or bumps that can be very itchy and may appear swollen. Chronic idiopathic urticaria causes a person to develop hives that last for a prolonged period.
In this article, we discuss the definition of chronic idiopathic urticaria and discuss its symptoms, treatment options, and causes.
Urticaria is the medical term for hives. Idiopathic is a term medical professionals use to describe a condition that has no identifiable cause. Some medical professionals may also refer to idiopathic urticaria as spontaneous urticaria.
Most people's idiopathic urticaria causes hives that last for a few minutes to a few hours. Most hives clear up within 24 hours.
If a person has hives that continue to appear on a person's skin for 6 weeks or longer, then they likely have chronic idiopathic urticaria. Chronic is a term medical professionals use to describe a condition or disease that is persistent or long lasting.
Chronic idiopathic urticaria causes a person to develop hives on their skin that are:
These hives may also appear on the soft and moist tissue that lines a person's:
Common symptoms of chronic idiopathic urticaria include:
Some people have hives that only appear in a few places. It is also possible for hives to cover a large portion of the body.
If a person has darker skin tones, their hives are usually the same color as their skin. They may also be slightly darker or slightly lighter than the person's natural skin color.
If a person has a light or medium complexion, they will often develop hives that are red or pink. In this case, if a person presses on their hives, the red or pink color will often disappear and return when they stop pressing.
If a person develops swelling in their mouth or throat, they should seek immediate, emergency medical care. A person should also receive immediate medical care if they develop hives and have difficulty breathing.
Medical professionals do not fully understand what causes chronic idiopathic urticaria. Some medical professionals believe it occurs due to a dysfunction in the autoimmune system.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), hives develop when the body releases histamine. Histamine is a chemical that plays a role in the modulation of allergic reactions.
When the immune system recognizes a threat, it releases histamine and other chemicals. This can help protect a person from becoming seriously ill. In some people, the immune system mistakenly releases histamine when there is no threat present. This is what happens when a person has an allergic reaction.
Common events that cause the body to mistakenly release histamine, causing hives, include:
The AAD estimates that millions of people in the United States will develop hives during their lifetimes without understanding the cause.
A dermatologist will often diagnose chronic idiopathic urticaria simply by looking at the person's skin.
They may also ask a person about their medical history, including if they have any allergies or if they have had any recent medical treatments, such as radiation therapy or a blood transfusion.
A dermatologist may also use other tests to confirm a diagnosis. These include:
During a skin biopsy, a dermatologist will remove a small part of the affected skin. They will then examine this sample under a microscope to confirm their diagnosis.
A dermatologist will often then try to determine what caused the condition. This is to help prevent the person from developing it again. They may ask the person:
If a person has had hives for 6 weeks or longer, then a dermatologist will diagnose them with chronic idiopathic urticaria.
Hives usually go away on their own. This means the main goals for treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria are:
A dermatologist will tailor a person's treatment plan to their specific needs. They may use one of the following medications to treat chronic idiopathic urticaria:
If a person develops hives, they may want to keep track of what they have eaten to see if they can determine what is triggering the hives.
For some people, reactions to specific foods may be triggering the hives. Some foods that contain possible triggers include:
If a person has a latex allergy, then specific foods may also trigger their hives. These foods include:
Other people may develop hives due to a reaction to certain additives present in foods, including:
A medical professional may suggest a person get a skin prick test to help determine if certain foods are triggering their condition.
During this test, a doctor will place liquids containing certain foods on a person's skin. They will then make a small prick in the middle of each sample so the liquid can penetrate the outer layer of the skin.
If a person has an allergic response to the liquid, then their skin will show a change of color and swelling. This will show which foods may trigger their hives.
Once a person is aware of which foods may trigger their hives, they should try to avoid eating them.
Chronic idiopathic urticaria is a condition that causes a person to develop hives that last for a prolonged period. A person has chronic idiopathic urticaria if they develop hives that last for 6 weeks or longer.
Hives are patches of skin or bumps. They can be very itchy and may appear swollen. Allergic reactions and reactions to certain foods or situations may trigger hives.
Hives usually go away on their own. People can treat their hives with medications that help reduce itchiness and swelling. These include soothing lotions or anti-itch creams, antihistamines, corticosteroids, and omalizumab.
What To Know About Itching Due To Thyroid Disorders
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause skin changes associated with itchiness. These include dryness and patches of thick, scaly, discolored skin.
Thyroid conditions can also cause an increase or decrease in sweat, which can also lead to itchiness under certain conditions.
Graves' disease and Hashimoto's disease are two autoimmune disorders in which the immune system attacks the healthy cells of the thyroid glands. Both conditions have connections with itchy skin.
This article discusses the associations between itchy skin and thyroid conditions, plus how to manage the discomfort.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces an excess amount of thyroid hormone. Itchiness is one of the symptoms of this condition. However, not everyone with hyperthyroidism will experience it, according to older research.
This may present as an overall itchiness across the body or a raised and itchy rash that forms in the crevices of the skin. Other skin changes that can accompany hyperthyroidism include warm, discolored skin and excessive sweating. When sweat dries, it can lead to itchiness in the form of a heat rash.
Additionally, some research suggests that people with psoriasis may be more likely to also experience thyroid disorders. However, experts need to conduct more research on this potential connection. Psoriasis is a condition that causes dry, itchy, and scaly patches of skin near the knees, elbows, waist, and scalp.
Learn more about hyperthyroidism.
Graves' disease can lead to hyperthyroidism. It is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the healthy cells in the thyroid gland. This leads to enlargement of the thyroid gland and the overproduction of thyroid hormone.
One complication of Graves' disease is Graves' dermopathy, which is discoloration and thickening of skin that also causes itchiness.
Aside from the same skin itchiness associated with hyperthyroidism in general, Grave's disease can also cause bulging, dry, and itchy eyes. This condition is Graves' eye disease.
Over-the-counter eye drops can provide temporary relief in mild cases. For more severe cases, doctors may prescribe steroids such as prednisone that can target the swelling behind the eyes.
Learn more about Graves' disease.
Hypothyroidism refers to when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone.
This thyroid condition can cause dry skin, which can be itchy and uncomfortable. Dry skin can shift the skin's texture from soft to rough, causing itching.
Hypothyroidism can also have links with eczema craquele, also known as asteatotic eczema. This is a form of dermatitis that appears as splitting on the skin. This may appear as diamond-shaped plates of skin separated by discolored bands. It may also involve scratch-like marks and begin on one shin before slowly spreading to all of the skin on both lower legs.
Learn more about hypothyroidism.
Hashimoto's disease can cause hypothyroidism. As with Graves' disease, it is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid gland. However, instead of causing the thyroid gland to produce too much thyroid hormone, it does not produce enough thyroid hormone.
Some research suggests a correlation between Hashimoto's disease and chronic hives. In fact, in 25–30% of chronic hives cases studied, there was antithyroid peroxidase in the blood. This is a hallmark sign of Hashimoto's disease.
Learn more about Hashimoto's disease.
There are several lifestyle and self-care changes people can make to help manage itchy skin. These may also be helpful for itchiness associated with thyroid disease.
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests the following:
Ultimately, resolving itchiness due to thyroid conditions involves managing the condition and the level of thyroid hormone in the blood.
Some forms of hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto's disease, require thyroid replacement therapy through levothyroxine. The required dosage can fluctuate, so doctors may recommend regular blood tests. Most cases of hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's disease require lifelong treatment.
Treatment for hyperthyroidism may involve taking a prescription medication to suppress thyroid function, such as propylthiouracil or methimazole. Radioactive iodine treatment is another option for managing hyperthyroidism. It is a type of radiation therapy that helps to destroy cells in the thyroid gland, reducing the amount of hormones it produces.
In some cases, including cases of Graves' disease, doctors may recommend a thyroidectomy, which is surgical removal of the thyroid gland, or radiofrequency ablation therapy to dissolve the thyroid gland.
The following are some questions people frequently ask about thyroid disorders.
What are early warning signs of thyroid problems?Early symptoms of thyroid conditions can mimic the symptoms of other conditions. Early symptoms include:
Where might a person itch with thyroid problems?Itching can occur anywhere on the body, but often occurs in crevices such as the armpits, elbows, and groin.
Thyroid conditions, including both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, can cause skin changes, including itchiness, dryness, and discoloration.
Autoimmune disorders such as Graves' disease and Hashimoto's disease, in which the immune system targets the thyroid, often coincide with itchy skin.
Hyperthyroidism may lead to an overall body itch, rash, and heightened sweating. Sweat that dries and stays on the skin for a prolonged period can cause a heat rash.
Graves' disease can also cause patches of persistently itchy, discolored, and thickened skin.
Hypothyroidism results in cool, dry skin and potential texture shifts, inducing itching.
Hashimoto's disease may correlate with chronic hives.
Psoriasis may occur with hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Graves' disease, and Hashimoto's disease.
Management involves lifestyle adjustments, such as oatmeal baths, cooling agents, and stress reduction. Resolving itchiness ultimately requires a doctor to address the underlying thyroid condition, often requiring medications or other forms of treatment, such as radioactive iodine therapy.
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