Cholinergic Urticaria

Diagnosis for Cholinergic Urticaria?

by

I have been dealing with hives and rashes all over my body for the past month or two. There is nothing in my environment that has changed, and there is not a consistent time or situation that causes them. One thing that I have wondered multiple times now is “can I be allergic to my sweat??” That is what got me here.

Is there a way to confirm a diagnosis of cholinergic urticaria? A doctor has prescribed me with an antihistamine that helps, but they continue coming back nonetheless. Any tips would be appreciated!

-Ckoko

Comments

  1. Hello Ckoko,

    Sorry to hear of your recent hives issues. With regards to cholinergic urticaria, they develop when the body temperature increases enought to elicit a sweat response. They tend to only happen when the body does that. In other words, they do not tend to happen randomly. They happen in response to heat.

    Do your hives remain on your skin daily? Or do they randomly pop up and then disappear? What are your rashes like?

    When my hives came back, I also had some eczema and other issues. I eventually found out that out of nowhere my body had developed a lot of food sensitivities (even to things I’d eaten my whole life). When I figured that out and removed them from my diet (over a long period of testing), my hives and eczema went away.

    Also, if you’re taking any new medications, supplements, vitamins, birth control, or anything like that, they’d certainly be suspect.

    • The rashes are not always there, they will pop up for awhile and be super itchy and then after awhile be gone from that spot and then pop up again another time. Usually it is just a little patch of very itchy little bumps that are almost flesh colored, but occasionally when it is really bad they will be like big patches of hives. They occur all over the place.. I have no new medications, deodorants, foods, etc..I’m pretty sure I have thought of anything that could be new. I have never had any allergies or skin difficulties at all in the past. The only time I KNOW I get them is when working out. Other than that I cannot pinpoint anything in my environment that is causing it. So that is another thing that is weird is that I have never had any skin things, all of a sudden I have this and it seems completely unexplained.

      • That’s definitely strange. Cholinergic urticaria tends to only happen when the body becomes hot (by passive or active heating). Exercise-induced urticaria/anaphylaxis happens when a person engages in physical activity (active heating only).

        I certainly hope you can find relief from your hives soon.

      • Hello Ckoko,
        As for getting a diagnosis, your doctor prescribing an antihistamine is pretty much a diagnosis of uticaria. I’ve learned through having chronic illnesses for decades and actually becoming friends with some docs that they really do want to help, however uticaria or flushing can be caused by numerous different factors. Auto immunity, allergies, cholinergic responses, or some malignant and even benign tumors. As a good friend of mine, who is an MD, explained quite simply….”Us doctors don’t like to admit to patients that we sometimes have no idea.” Fighting different illnesses my entire life taught me something though. Your skin is the ultimate diagnostic tool. I’ve had to take some pretty toxic meds for my epilepsy and I will break out in acne BEFORE my liver blood tests came back abnormal. Eventually, my neurologist realized that shortly after my breakouts, my tests would get progressively worse. He had to admit that after three or four times of this, my skin ‘set out an alarm’ and he started paying more attention to me, as a unique person, as opposed to what the lab readings showed.
        I think that the best thing for you to do is have a face to face with your doc and ask him ‘If you felt the need to prescribe me an antihistamine, what do you think is causing the hives?’ If he skirts around a point-blank question, you should simply thank him/her for their time and seek a referral to a doc who may know more about hives. That will get their attention. You’ll probably get 1. better care from them, or 2. a referral to a dermatologist.
        For anyone reading these posts, take it from a chronic sickie like me….Your skin is a visible, feeling, marker for many things. Don’t ignore it, and be good to it. Read his section on tips to manage your uticaria. Diet, exercise, and overall mental health work great, and if your uticaria turns out to be something other than cholinergic, you’ll have the healthy body and spirit to manage what comes your way. Best of wishes to you!