After experiencing and living with my own severe symptoms of cholinergic urticaria (heat hives), I have finally found the answer. It dawned on me, then I tested it, then it worked, and then I immediately googled it and found this forum and everything I am reading on here confirmed my theory. IT’S BECAUSE OF BLOCKED SWEAT GLANDS. Here’s my story:
I was highly active all my life (3-sport athlete as a child through high school, followed by year round college baseball). It was safe to say I sweat significantly essentially everyday. Then, I graduated. I took a break from my constant hustle and bustle, sadly to the point where I actually hadn’t broke a significant sweat for several months. Then one day, I changed things up–I went on a bike ride. That’s when it hit me.
The “pins and needles” sensation was overwhelming. Never had a felt so much pure discomfort in my life. At first I thought it was a result of dry skin and the dry fall weather. However, it happened again and again and again, every time I got warm, nervous, or started to sweat even a tiny bit for any reason. I literally avoided getting warm from that point on; wearing t-shirts outside in 40 degree weather to avoid the horrible sensation. When I finally found the label for my curse– cholinergic urticaria (heat hives)–I thought I had solved my problem! I went to the dermatologist, but to my horror, they said it had an unknown cause and couldn’t be cured. They prescribed an antihistamine (which helped very moderately), but I was still scared to feel warm because of the horrible sensation that still occurred. That’s when I solved it, and here’s how I did it.
There were several things throughout my year of intense heat hives:
(1) I took a week vacation to humid Florida, and I had no heat hives there, but as soon as I returned, it was back.
(2) I live in Wisconsin, and our summer’s are hot and humid. I had barely any symptoms throughout the summer.
(3) Once the dry fall air returned, it was back.
So what are the common factors? Hot + Humid = no itching; and it made sense. With these three bits of evidence (in addition to the fact that as soon as I stopped my active lifestyle and began to itch), I concluded that the dryness of my skin coupled with the lack of sweat flow was clogging up my pores. To make matters worse, I had actually developed a separate yet fairly common skin condition known as tinea versicolor, where essentially the naturally existing yeast on my skin had grown out of control and had covered a large portion of my back and chest. I realized this was acting just like a further blockage of my sweat glands. In fact, I tested it out and I could not even sweat out of the areas that were covered by tinea versicolor. Interestingly enough, these areas were “the most itchy”, even though my entire body exhibited the horrible pins and needles sensation.
So what was my solution? STEAM ROOM. I read that steam rooms are great for dry and itchy skin and help with numerous skin issues. Not only that, but I figured it would be a perfect way to test my theory of clearing out my sweat glands.
I scampered off to my local health club, and spent two consecutive days (10 mins per day) in the 110 degree 100% humidity room. By the end of each 10 minute sensation, it’s safe to say my sweat glands were as wide open as they could be and sweat was pouring out of them at the rate of white water rapids. I experienced no itching whatsoever during these sessions (the reason I believe being that the humidity levels were so astronomically high). This actually surprised me because normally when I shower and start to get hot, I experience the itching sensation, but not in the steam room.
In summary, after two days of steam room therapy, I literally was healed. It’s been a week, and I’ve exercised multiple times (in Wisconsin dry winter air!). I haven’t been itchy once.
Moral of the story? GO TO A STEAM ROOM AND SWEAT YOUR PORES OUT OF THEIR MINDS. The sweat unclogs your itchy sweat pores, and the humidity further aids in dry skin relief and relieves itchiness.
Now, I plan to go to the steam room every week for the rest of my life. I also can’t wait to see my dermatologist and tell him the solution to this horrendous curse of a situation.
-Eric
(Editor’s note: please check with a doctor before attempting sweat therapy or steam room therapy, as it may not be safe for all individuals, such as those with anhidrosis, a history of anaphylaxis, or other concurrent medical conditions).
P Ling says
Congratulations I’m glad this works for you. I tried steam room a while ago but my whole body was itchy as h**l after that, hope I’ll find my solution soon.
Lisa says
So happy for you, Eric!
HRC says
Thanks for your solution Eric! I definitely agree that the sweat pores become blocked and this causes the hives and extreme itching and pain. For me only sweat therapy works, did you find the sauna room helpful too? Or is it only the steam room?
Thanks
HRC
LJY says
Hi Eric! I’m new here as I just finally found out that this horrid problem I’ve been facing is CU! I too wondered about clogged pores being my problem! Growing up until the age of about 13 I was constantly sweating, to the point of having wet hair when I woke up! At around 13 (when I was playing countless sports) I all of a sudden stopped sweating all the time. It got to the point that I could play a whole game of basketball and barely sweat. I later on had my first CU outbreak, and it’s taken me eight years to finally get an answer as to what’s wrong with me! I have found that the cold does help me to cool off and stop the itching. However I was confused when I was told it was caused by my core body temperature being too hot. I’ve lived in FLORIDA since I was around 14 and I’m constantly hot! I work out all the time, and get hot doing all kinds of things, making me question why I ONLY get hot during running and hot/warm showers, or hot/warm water in general. I still have some questions that I haven’t figured out yet. Like why can I get a little sweaty when working out and not itch but as soon as I start to run I break out like crazy. Why don’t I break out every single time? Even with showers I don’t break out every time? Why do I break out almost every single time I shave?
I’m So glad to finally know what’s going on with me, and learn that I’m not the only one dealing with this problem! I’ve felt so depressed for years when eveyone looked at me like I was crazy! At least I had visible proof on my skin. No one ever seemed to understand how bad of pain I was in, and just thought I was over exaggerating.
So far I’ve learned that a half of a benadryl really helps me. I can run and still break out, but only with the visual symptoms. No itching, stinging and burning.
I’ve tried the sauna, but it hasn’t helped much. I’ll try a steam room tomorrow!
I’ve also learned that drinking at LEAST a gallon of water a day helps me.
Best of luck eveyone!
Anonymous says
I am also suffering from this condition for past 4 years. Same story, played basketball in college and suddenly stopped after moving into professional life. A year back I started taking Homeopathic medicine and it really helped but the hives are back now. This sweat therapy makes sense to me and I will try this. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Jeff says
Hi Eric,
I think I am in the same boat as you. I have been having CU since I came to Sydney, Australia. However, when I traveled to tropical countries, such as Indonesia, Singapore, I did not get hives attack at all. It could be because Sydney’s weather can be quite dry, especially during winter season.
Thanks for sharing your story. I might try the steam room therapy.
Johnny says
Hey Eric. I also have cholinergic urticaria and tinea versicolor. Iv had simular theories in regards to clogged pores. Steam room has helped me as well. I live in Canada and fall winter are the worst. Happy for you man! Good luck!
Angela Clark says
I stumbled upon this website as I was searching for the cause of my recent hives problem. I have never had any issues with my skin and hair until recently. Now my hair is dry and brittle and coming out by the hand fulls and I am breaking out in hives so bad that I want to tear my skin off from the itching. I have gone to the doctor and she prescribed hormones thinking that I had a hormone imbalance. Still have the problem.
I read the post on here about hard water and it leaving a film on your skin and clogging your pores. Which causes the mast cells to weaken. Then when you get hot these mast cells quickly break down producing an allergic reaction.
Then it hit me! We have recently bought an old farm house with a well for water. This is not new to me….. I’ve owned several homes with a well, BUT, I always had a filter on the shower from Aquasana. I don’t have one on my shower here.
After further research on the negative effects of hard water with heavy mineral content, I am convinced that this is the problem.
I am ordering a new shower filter and testing my theory.
I will post the results.
Sean says
Eric, think you’re on to something. I’ve had this for the last few years. Only happens late Autumn into winter when the it’s cold and the air is dry. At work I occasionally have to help lift things and it triggers it off but soon goes when I begin to sweat.
I always have a reaction when I go to my local supermarket. Recently, after discovering that the thyroid gland in your neck controls body temperature regulation, I’ve taken to wearing a wet, cold scarf around my neck. Boy does it help. I still get a little tingle in the small of my back but it’s no where near intense as before. Don’t the cool wetness on the neck helps keep me cool, I also wonder if the evaporating water is tricking the brain into thinking that sweating is happening?
Anonymous says
Hello! I suffer enormously from this disease. I would like to know if doing it 2 times to completely cure or to go into a steam room will become an addiction to me?
Hivesguy says
It’s not a guarantee that a sauna/steam room will help you, but sweating regularly does help some people with cholinergic urticaria. Most people have to do it regularly (daily or weekly) to keep the sweat coming out. Some people can’t do sweat therapy due to anhidrosis or anaphylaxis issues, so talk to your doctor before trying it.
Namraw says
Hello! I suffer enormously from this disease. I would like to know if doing it 2 times to completely cure or to go into a steam room will become an addiction to me?
Hivesguy says
It’s not a guarantee that a sauna/steam room will help you, but sweating regularly does help some people with cholinergic urticaria. Most people have to do it regularly (daily or weekly) to keep the sweat coming out. Some people can’t do sweat therapy due to anhidrosis or anaphylaxis issues, so talk to your doctor before trying it.
Anonymous says
But I want to know if I go only one time im sauna/hammam, will I be cure?