Hi! As you see in the title, I am a teen with urticaria, but I mainly believe I have a somewhat mild form of it, as all I get is the “itchy prickly” sensation and not the bumps and red flares all over the body; but it still is really annoying and depressing, as I don’t believe I’m living a life a teen like me should live (like at school).
I can’t get excited for one second without my body getting this itchy prickly sensation, and it starts on my scalp ( t gets really prickly and itchy there) and then goes to my back. I went to a dermatologist and a allergist for this, and my allergist was able to diagnose me with chronic urticaria. She prescribed me Zyrtec.
However, it has shown not to work at all, as I have taken it in the morning when I know I will be outside throughout the day, and I still get the bad sensation, which frustrates me so bad because I never believed that I would have a condition like this so early in my life. I honestly don’t know what to do at this point because if I get nervous or excited within an AC building, I get the sensation, and If I step out in the sun, I also get the sensation.
I just can’t go on with this anymore. I need a solution. I have noticed in past months that when I’m outside, my back does get a little moist and damp as if it’s trying really hard to sweat. So is sweating something that I need to do? But my other issue is the sensation occurring on my scalp. How exactly do I deal with that cuz that’s where it mainly occurs, and it has he worst of it, and it’s really hard to itch since I have a lot of hair as well.
If there is anybody who can give me some sort of answer it would BE GREATLY appreciated.
-Sean
Hivesguy says
Hello, Sean. I’m sorry to learn about your suffering. We’ve all felt like you, but you have to stay positive and hang in there. Things will get better for you, but it may take some time. Sweat therapy might help you (search for posts on this site for more information), but it can be painful at first, and it doesn’t help everyone. There are also risks such as anaphylaxis and so forth, so talk to your doctor
before trying it.
If Zyrtec doesn’t work, other antihistamines might provide relief for the short term (Allegra, etc.), so keep working with your doctor. Also, diet was the biggest cause of my cholinergic urticaria (others have reported remission or reduction in symptoms by altering diet), so I’d definitely investigate potential food intolerances or allergies.
Finally, this site has a ton of information, and many people have shared their experiences. I’d definitely spend some time reading this site and then continue working with your doctor to try things.
Sean says
Thank you this really means alot and I am glad to have found his website with others who are going through the same condition as I am and I will definitely keep working with my doctor
Bates says
Hey man,
Sorry to hear about this. CU is the kind of issue where each person has to find their own cures and solutions because what works for one might not work for another. Before I found my permanent cure I used to take crazy hot showers every morning. At least I could break the sweat barrier in the comfort of my own home before going about my day. Once I did this every morning, the rest of the day was typically breakout free.
My eventual cure came in a very unorthodox form: Very spicy food. I eat, multiple times a week, extremely spicy food/hot sauce to keep my body’s heat tolerance up as high as possible. Sounds insane but I am going on 2 years being breakout free!
Try other allergy medication first and then try the hot showers in the morning. Keep trying solutions until you find one that works for you. Don’t let the condition get you down and make you depressed, you’ll end up finding what works best for your body.
Deborah says
Sean, cut out All sugar and that evil one, High Fructose Corn Syrup. Read all ingredient on everything you eat. No soy oil,corn oil, canola oil, that fried foods are cooked in, only olive, coconut, avocado oils. I would cut out gluten, white rice, barley, pats, and All grains to heal your gut. Have your parents take you to a Good holistic nutrition based naturopath doctor. It will be an out of pocket expense for them.
Anonymous says
Don’t give up. Check out the Medical Medium. It’s a rather unconventional perspective on nutrition, but it’s so worth it. Getting the right nutrients is key in resolving this issue.
Good luck!
Anonymous says
I hope by now you are experiencing some relief. This is my 5th or 6th week of this itching and I am still investigating and hoping. I wish I could offer you advice but I have nothing but concern for you. I agree, hang in there. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and I believe you will be better, hopefully soon. Meanwhile, I will keep you in my prayers, because they work.
Sean says
Thank you alot for just replying in general it really means alot and I will puch through this
Peter Foord Brown says
Sean,
Really sorry to hear you are suffering being so young and wanting to get on with life
My symptoms are similar to yours, an itching sensation that comes out of nowhere and triggered by internal or external heat, no bumps spots etc
Many people have commented to take cool showers and it works, for a while during the day also a good skin cream IF you have dry skin.
AND
Ask your doctor to perform tests on your skin for bacterial imbalance.
I live in the UK and 2 consultants gave me anti -histamine courses that failed.
My dentist prescribed some antibiotics… and after 2 years of managing the condition stopped for 6 months.
You cannot keep taking antibiotics and in the UK it is definitely frowned upon to have more than 1 course.
The point I’m trying to make is if it works for you then you may have an indicator to the root cause.
Hopefully in your case you will get better.sooner rather than later .here’s hoping.
All the very best pete
Sean says
Thank you for your help Peter it really means alot as I am trying so hard to deal with this and just move on with my life
HRC says
Hi Sean
I have recently found something which has helped my attacks considerably and I hope this can help other patients suffering from this terrible condition. I’m not great with dermatology but It feels like my skin is dehydrated and dry which seems to clog up my sweat pores, therefore when there is a rise in temperature, my sweat pores cannot secrete sweat and I experience a hive attack.
I was managing with sweat therapy which included exercising on a daily basis to open up my sweat pores which seemed to lessen the intensity of the attacks when becoming warm/hot during the day even though it is excruciating when exercising (please check with doctor before pursuing this). I was offered UV light therapy but wasn’t keen due to the potential side effects.
After researching online, one of the things which was suggested was using coconut oil and I have been using this on my skin on a daily basis to keep it damp and hydrated and although it’s only been 1 week I haven’t experienced the intense attacks and can sweat normally, this has changed my life considerably, I still use sweat therapy too but please check with your doctor before doing this!
Please let me know if you require other information!
Thanks
HRC
Sean says
Wow thank you best response for me in my case so far will definitely check this out thank you
HRC says
Let me know how you get on Sean! It may not completely remove the sensation but it definitely lessens the intensity
Nick Staff says
Benadryl helped me a lot. Totally cured me after a month or two. I started off by taking two and worked my way up to 4. It kept all symptoms in check and then one day it just went away and I haven’t taken any Benadryl in over 17 months. Now my case may be different because it had come and gone in the past – and please consult an allergist before taking 4 Benadryl as I don’t know it’s affects on you and don’t want you to do anything dangerous. But I was in fairly constant pain (like 20-30 episodes a day), and it totally cured me.
Anonymous says
Hey Sean, sorry you have to go through this. This also started for me around 15 or 16. I understand how frustrating it is trying to go through school with this. Hang in there.
The biggest help for me has been sweat therapy. Try to find a local gym or health club that has a sauna. I lived in Alaska for a few years and would spend 10 min in the sauna every morning before work. I would try to go after work also and do a little working out.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor so talk to your doctor before you start any workout program or go to a sauna.
I now live in Houston, tx so for most of the year I start sweating when I step outside. It is now winter though and I am starting to have flare ups. Thankfully the winters are short here. I don’t have access to a sauna here so I am trying to clean up my diet to see if that helps.
jason says
I understand where your coming from sean, I’m 17 and am a senior in high school. I’ve had this condition since I was 11. Its gotten worse over the years. It feels like I can’t live my life like a normal teenager. I can’t go out with friends because I’m nervous of an outbreak. Sometimes I break out at work. I want to go out and do things so badly but I just have no motivation to do anything. I hope I get over this quickly cause it’s ruining my quality of life.