Cholinergic Urticaria

Anxiety Disorder + Histamine levels = Cholinergic Urticaria?

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Hi all! I recently developed cholinergic urticaria over this past summer and have been keeping up with this forum in the hopes that I could find a solution to this annoying disorder.

I’ve begun wondering if my cholinergic urticaria is possibly linked to my anxiety disorder and stress. I suffer from a general anxiety disorder (currently in the process of figuring out the correct treatment path for me) and am basically anxious every moment of every day. I don’t only break out in hives when I become overheated, but I’ve noticed that I will also get red splotches and begin to itch on certain areas of my body when I am under especially intense stress or have an anxiety attack. Furthermore, I have a hunch that my cholinergic urticaria stems from something internal (like excessive histamine levels) because antihistamines quickly make my hives go away and prevent them from occurring during workouts.

I’ve read online that anxiety and stress causes your body to release excessive amounts of histamine, and antihistamines can sometimes be taken to make you feel less anxious. Stress can also lead to a weakened immune response, so I’m beginning to think that the cholinergic urticaria and the anxiety disorder might be related. I’ve suffered from intense anxiety for years, which doesn’t quite explain why I just recently developed CU. It might have developed, though, from my body and brain being overstimulated for so long. (I’ve noticed that a lot of you on here have stated that your hives get even worse when you’re stressed.)

I am currently in the process of getting my anxiety under control, so these are just thoughts and I will follow up later when my anxiety disorder begins to improve. However, I just wanted to share my thoughts with you all since this forum has been a great help to me over the past 7 months.

-Forum Member (anonymous)

Comments

  2. Hi everyone! I have decided to post on this forum because the recent posts have helped me stay aware of this disorder. For the past two years excluding 2017, I suffer from extreme itching, burning, and stinging when the weather changes to cold temperatures. I noticed that when I am able to make my body sweat, then it opens my pores and the itchiness and burning sensation go away, however, it would return. In 2017, I did one thing different. I decided to try to understand my body more as it relates to triggers. I have discovered that my trigger is chocolate. As long as I don’t eat any form of chocolate then I don’t experience any itchiness or burning. I tested it a few times and noticed that when I ate chocolate regardless of the amount then the itchiness would surface. Some other common triggers are tomato based products, acidic foods, and the sun. I am conscious of ingredients in foods and I also ensure that I put on a sun block daily before going outside. Doing these things have almost eliminated this problem for me.

    My second issue is concerning exercising. Taking Zyrtec the day before exercising is the only remedy that I have found to prevent the extreme pain, itchiness, blotchy/whelps that occur after about 15 minutes of exercising.

    I really hope this posts helps someone!

  3. There are also low histamine diets to try eliminating certain foods that may exacerbate the problem.

  4. My terrible experience is 20 year until now.I know dairy must be cut,and protect home of geopatological radiation,hartman`s and Kerry grids.Person must be 100% positive in the head and wash skin with natural soaps,made from herbs,wich not dried skin.Also excersise,every day.