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Most Americans suffer from urticaria, also known as hives. Hives are an outbreak of pale red bumps and welts on the skin, which appear suddenly and cause a swelling known as angioedema. It is caused by allergic reactions, chemicals in some foods, and some medications. Get to know the triggers, prevention, and best treatment for hives in Gilbert from a specialized team of experts.

Hive triggers

The following are some of the causes of urticaria.

Medications such as antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Food such as shellfish, nuts, food additives, and wheat products

Viral infections such as influenza, hepatitis B, glandular fever

Bacterial infections such as urinary tract infection, strep throat, and intestinal parasites

Extreme changes in temperature

Pet dander from cats, dogs, horses, and dust mites

Latex, pollen, plant poison, and insect bites and stings

Scratching, exercises, water on the skin, sun exposure, and chronic illness such as lupus

Chemicals and blood transfusion

Types of urticaria

Acute urticaria

Acute hives last for an hour or six weeks. They are caused by diseases, insect bites, food such as milk and eggs, medication such as aspirin, and infections.

Chronic hives

This urticaria lasts more than six weeks. They affect muscles, the gastrointestinal tract, and lungs and are triggered by thyroid disease, infection, and cancer.

Physical urticaria

They are caused by skin stimulants such as heat, cold, exercise, sweating, vibration, sun exposure, and pressure. It occurs where the skin has been stimulated and appears within an hour.

Dermatographism

It occurs when the skin is firmly stroked and scratched.

Infection induced hives

They are triggered by viral and bacterial infections such as UTI, strep throat, hepatitis, colds, and mononucleosis.

Symptoms

The following signs accompany the various types of hives:

Dizziness

Throat and face swellings

Difficulties in breathing

Chest tightness

Wheezing

Management of hives

Hives often disappear after some time, therefore a team of experts at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates, LTD recommend the following prevention methods to avoid future reoccurrence.

Apply cool press to the affected area

Work and sleep in a cool room

Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothes

Avoiding the diagnosed known triggers

Take a bath with an anti-itch solution

Avoid skin-irritating products such as some lotions, moisturizers, and soaps.

Avoid scratching, alcohol consumption, stress, and some medications

Diagnosis

Your allergist asks you about your medical and family history, substances exposed at home and workplace, food diary, exposure to pets, animals, and some medications.

Your allergist then conducts a blood test, urine test, and skin test to identify hive triggers.

Treatment

Hives are treated as follows.

An antihistamine such as cetirizine reduces rashes, scratching, and blocks histamine effects.

Antibiotics like dapsone to reduce inflammation

Epinephrine auto-injector for emergency purposes

A biological drug such as Xolair for treating chronic hives

Corticosteroids such as prednisone to alleviate hive symptoms

Consult your urticaria specialist today

Hives can cause irritations on the body. Although they are not contagious, it can be difficult for you to enjoy outdoor events such as public swimming and some sporting activities. Book … Read More...

A neuroma refers to the painful but gentle abnormal growth of nerve tissue. Morton’s neuroma, commonly known as neuroma, refers to a painful condition that affects the ball of the foot. It mainly occurs in the area between your third and fourth toes. When you suffer from neuroma, you feel like you are standing on a fold in your sock or a pebble in your shoe. It results from the thickening of the tissue close to one of the nerves connected to your toes. You can experience a sharp, burning pain in the ball of the foot. It may also cause a stinging or burning sensation and numbness in the affected toes. High-heeled shoes connect to the development of Morton’s neuroma, and the problem fades away when they switch to shoes with lower heels and broad toe boxes. Colorado Springs neuroma specialists can recommend different treatments, including steroid injections or surgery.

Symptoms

Since neuroma involves the thickening of the tissues close to the nerves in your foot, you will experience severe nerve pain. It can also affect the way your brain perceives touch, causing unusual types of pain categorized as dysesthesias. Dysesthesia refers to a unique sensation. They can come with some discomfort or in the form of a sensation, but you hardly differentiate between the two. Neuromas are linked to two kinds of dysesthesias (Allodynia and hyperalgesia) that cause a lot of pain.

The specific symptoms you experience depend on the body part where you develop your neuroma. In Morton’s neuroma, which affects the foot, you will experience symptoms such as:

• Burning pain in the ball of the foot which can spread to the toes
• A sharp tingling pain that gets more severe with activity
• Pain that gets worse when wearing shoes, especially if they have a tight and narrow toe box
• Unpleasant sensations and numbness
• Clicking sensation when walking
• Pain after removing shoes

People suffering from a neuroma can develop pain in a large area due to complex regional pain syndrome, which develops over time. It can cause additional symptoms in nearby structures and tissues such as:

• Alterations in circulation and sweating
• Changes in hair density
• Reduced bone density

However, the symptoms get better when you get treatment for your neuroma.

Treatment

The initial treatments for neuroma involve medications, physical therapy, or both. They include:

• Anticonvulsants which help relieve pain.
• Tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil change how the central nervous system processes pain signals to relieve the tingling and burning sensation.
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors like duloxetine treat nerve pain and change how your CNS processes pain signals, just like tricyclic antidepressants.
• Corticosteroid injections, commonly known as steroid injections. They act as potent anti-inflammatories and help relieve compression in inflamed tissues.

You can also treat neuroma through various physical therapy techniques recommended by a specialist. Some common physical therapy treatments for neuroma include ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and desensitization exercises. Lifestyle changes like resting and icing the affected area after activity and wearing shoes with enough room around the toes can … Read More...