Hello all! I’m just adding my own experiences with this condition to the forum. It started around a year ago with no particular triggers that I can think of (the only diet change I’ve made any time recently is soy milk instead of dairy but this was long before it started happening ) aside from possibly anxiety which I have just started treatment for, although that has been a problem for most of my life.
It happens when I enter a warm place from somewhere colder, such as every single day when I first come inside the office or come home from grocery shopping (I walk and carry the bags which causes me to heat up). It also occurs when I exercise at home. In both cases it tends to last as long as an hour even when I cool myself down.
I get the rash and ‘clear’ hives (but not really the small red spots like some people get) all over my body. As I mentioned anxiety before you can imagine this doesn’t help with that since I worry about people seeing it and passing comment.
My doctor was unsure of what it is (I had a blood test which came back normal), so I’m glad that this forum has helped me pinpoint what I have due to the common experiences you all have had.
Thanks,
Keith
Keith says
Also I forgot to mention that I don’t really sweat aside from my underarms, forehead and back. Like my arms,chest and legs don’t produce sweat when I get too warm generally.
LJY says
Hi Keith!
I couldn’t help but notice where you said that you don’t normally sweat much, as I don’t either! However, growing up as a kid I was always sweaty. I went through pillows so fast as I would wake up almost every morning with damp hair from sweating so much. This quickly changed and by the age of 13 I couldn’t sweat if I wanted to! I played all kinds of sports, and even my team members would always raze me and comment about how I would never sweat. I always felt like I would get so hot that I could explode because I wasn’t sweating. My skin always felt like it was radiating extreme heat. During this time at the age of 13 I had my first CU breakout, and from then on out it’s been a never ending struggle. However, I only break out from running or hot/warm water (mostly showers). At 21 now I still never really sweat. I workout almost every day, and I can do the same workout as my husband and barely sweat while he’s drenched. I really don’t understand why this happens. I’ve NEVER broke out from working out, but at least 60% of the time I take a shower or run I break out. I also live in Florida and have experienced being extremely hot MANY times. Once in the summer I wore winter clothes, and worked my butt off for two weeks in 106° Georgia heat being a background actor. I never broke out during that, or the billions of other times I’ve been extremely hot.
Plus I still don’t understand why I don’t break out every single time, only about 60% of the time.
I’ve tried the sauna method and it personally didn’t help, but I have yet to try the steam room as I just read about it.
I’ve learned that drinking at LEAST a gallon of water a day seems to help me. I guess because it helps me sweat more…This would also make sense as to why some say that lowering their sodium levels has helped them. Maybe it helps them sweat more.
Best of luck to you!
Peter Foord Brown says
Hi All,
3 years ago this condition appeared out of nowhere. Incredibly intense itching sensation on my back and buttocks triggered by heat. No visible signs, pimples ,spots,etc. It is already noted on this site it can be controlled by keeping cool at all times. This may not suit some people. They would like to stay warm.
Actually it should not affect me I’m the “wrong age ” apparently in my sixties.
Saw the doctor and a specialist and they prescribed anti -histamine tablets ..that didn’t work.
Totally by accident or coincidence I had a gum infection and the Dentist prescribed some antibiotics, I haven’t taken any for decades. Hey presto symptoms completely disappear for 6 months.
They have returned but not as intense.
So this got me thinking …and take what I’m saying with due care and diligence as I DON’T KNOW it is purely speculation.
In my mid twenties 40 years ago I worked in West Africa. I originate from the border country of England & Scotland a cool climate even in summer …max 70%F for a couple of weeks.
Then in the tropics I was suddenly plagued with an outbreak of boils every couple of weeks for 3 months and the doctor was lancing them & informed me that my Skin bacteria was “upset”, meaning a chemical reaction to heat and sweat had changed the balance of bacteria on my skin.
I was given a special soap that I cannot recommend as it contains mercury, ( didn’t know at the time ) used it for a month and it did the trick I never suffered another outbreak again.
So in desperation I started to link the outbreaks of urticaria to imbalance or a change in bacterial and chemical make up on the surface of the skin.
Now I have to take cool showers even in Winter if I know I shall be undertaking physical activity, Gym , golf etc ( my course is very hilly and we walk don’t use buggies.)
If I know I will have a quiet day no physical activity then I can have a warm shower.
Not sure this helps , but I just wish everyone the best of luck with this condition as it has a low priority with the medical world.
Peace and tolerance to all . pete