Hello,
I’m 19-year-old male. I am not sure, but I think I have this disease (cholinergic urticaria). It started when I was 17 years old during winters ONLY. Whenever I got in a situation where I got overexcited or embarrassed or if I stand in sunlight for a long time or exercise (in winters only), my body itches. It’s mainly my back and neck like someone is poking me with pins constantly. That time I thought this is mainly because of my dry skin or unhygienic.
In my country winters stays for like 2 – 3 months only. So those winters passed. After a year I got this again in next winters but still I didn’t took it much seriously. But now after one more year, winters are starting here, and I got few attacks of itching already. So I started searching on internet and found this cholinergic urticaria disease very similar to mine.
Please guys help me… What should I do? I’m having so much difficulties. Whenever a teacher asks me a question, I get nervous and these attacks come. Even though after I know the answers I can’t speak a thing with this going on. This is just an example. My day-to-day work is getting disturbed because of this. I don’t go to gym or do much physical work. Most of the time I stay in my room and study for my engineering.
Please give me some advice how to get rid of these attacks.
-Bunny
This post was submitted by a reader.
Anonymous says
I’m a 24 year old male, in relatively good health. I have had an issue with cholinergic urticaria for the past 4-5 years. My outbreaks never have a noticeable rash/hives or anything, so when explaining it to people they look at me crazy. My first thought was dry skin caused by the dry conditions where I was going to school at the time in West Texas (very dry wind).
A family doctor prescribed me antihistamines (zyrtec) which only suppressed the symptoms but did not eliminate them. He also recommend I use vaseline on my skin to keep it hydrated (wanted me to be a living grease ball I guess). I graduated recently and now live in Dallas, Texas. I was hoping my symptoms would alleviate themselves with the nicer weather, but it did not. This is a seasonal thing and tends to happen sometime in October and lasts till March.
I am typically a very active person, so cholinergic urticaria has made me resort to laziness, as I do not want to experience the overwhelming itching sensation this disease causes. My breakouts only happen as my body heats up, leaving me no option to exercise, work in the yard, move furniture… anything. It wasn’t happening. I had to figure out the issue.
I diagnosed myself with cholinergic urticaria shortly after reading many of these posts and others on Google. Many people have similar issues with heat induced itching. I woke up this morning feeling like a total fatty, as I have refused to put myself in a situation in which I would sweat. Reading this blog and others, many have found Sweat Therapy to be a solution. I went to the gym this morning, signed up for a 3 day pass to test this out. (I was itching when I walked in and signed up as the heat in the room brought on the symptom).
As I walked into the sauna, I mentally prepared for battle, knowing this could be very overwhelming. I closed my eyes and went into a meditating state. The itching actually was not bad compared to ones I would get while exercising.. apparently elevating your temperature as rapidly as possible to break through this barrier is the best thing to do. As to exercise is gradual and therefore an elongated overwhelming itch will happen. The itch lasted no longer than 5 minutes and I was finally sweating. I sat in the sauna for 15 more minutes in complete joy that I could see my perspiration again without an itch. I then went to workout and the itch remained absent. I will continue sweat therapy as I hope to see continued progression.
Another thing I was reading that could be a catalyst for cholinergic urticaria was diet. I have been eating very poorly…. fast food, soda multiple times a day. My sodium and sugar intake (if I had to guess) would be through the roof. I am going to start eating healthier, omitting soda and other fast food items in my diet. It makes sense as this stuff does clog your pores, in which your sweat is trying to surpass causing the itch
Ali says
There are some pills that worked for some people but didn’t work for others.
The only thing that worked for everyone, I didn’t see anyone saying that this didn’t work for them, is forcing your body to sweat. When you sweat a lot you wont get a CU attack for 6-8 hours. Try going to the sauna everyday when you wake up. Trust me you’ll be amazed with the results. If there isn’t a sauna nearby then you should buy one (make sure it’s NOT a steam sauna). However a real sauna is better because it’ll make you sweat faster. Be thankful that you are new to CU. I had it for one year and I had no idea what it was. I thought I was the only freak who gets itchy all the time. Hope we all get well soon.
Ali
Bunny says
3 year bro not 1 year 🙁
Does body moisturiser like nivea works?
Ali says
No there is no type of body wash or moisturizer that will prohibit CU from attacking you, but there are some that will trigger it. This is the best body wash for me you can find it at meijer if you’re in the US
You will still get CU attacks if you use this, but I noticed that this soup doesn’t trigger CU like other soaps do. Like I said, you need to go to the sauna everyday and sweat as much as possible if you don’t want to get a CU attacks.
Embarrassed says
Embarrassed
I am in my forties and having been suffering with this similar problem as everyone here, since I was a child. Doctors couldnt pinpoint the problem. From very young its been hives, scabies, allergies to acidic foods, blood disorders, fleas, mosiquitoes and bedbugs. As Ive grown older, Ive noticed for me its a seasonal thing during winters, end of winter and sometimes into the summer. This has been an embarrassing problem all my life. I cant wear short clothing. My self esteem has been stressful.
The symptoms I get is usually during the night, the attacking itchy feelings as my body temperture heats up. When I wake in the morning I think its bed bugs or fleas or mosiqutoes although I am a very clean person and my home is usually clean as well. With these symptoms they usually heat during the day into painful blisters. The areas of my body attacked are stomach,lower back, back of thighs, under the arm area, the bra strap area, my neck just under my chin. This is very embarrassing and I cannot go to work or anywhere in public. I have had all the prescribed medications which have not worked. Ive had to over the years find whats working for me to reduce the painful blisters before the burst and become more itchy. At my age now I find that hot showers reduce the itching (the hotter the better), I dont use soap but essential oils mixed with coconut base oil to help with cleansing the affected areas, after I mix essential oils again with coconut oil for moisturising and deterring anything from biting or being itchy. This does seem to reduce the attacking itchy feeling so I have to reduce my clothing so my body doesnt heat up. I just went back to the doctor again yesterday for stronger hayfever tablets to help me sleep and not scratch, I showed her my popped blisters with the skin peeled off from my clothing sticking to them and she was like horrified and really felt for me, but said did not think they were from what my own research has been. I wasnt very happy with her diagnoses so I requested she send me to a dermatologist. After reading everyones comments I have been going through the same thing only with the blisters and left with ugly scars.
So Embarrassed.
Bunny says
I don’t know about you but hot shower doesn’t seem to help me. 🙁
jon says
Sweat therapy has helped me tremendously, because of it I haven’t had a break out in 4 months.
Bunny says
It is very cold here and sweating takes alot time till the sweating point i will get alot of CU attacks that’s why I’m afraid of sweating.
I have to itch so much before i sweat 🙁
Isn’t there any other home remedy
Ali says
Trust me you need to try sweat therapy! Maybe the first time will be tough, but you’ll get used to it and you’ll definitely enjoy your life more. Would you rather feel itchy inside a sauna for a little while and then you start to sweat and don’t feel itchy for 7-8 hours straight? Or feel itchy when you’re out in public? Even when I read about sweating I felt that there must be another way, but I couldn’t fine anything. You need to try it as well, trust me you wont be disappointed. When you sweat a lot you will feel relieved. Go to a sauna and tell me what do you think once you’re done. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it 🙂
iHateHives says
Ali, I want to thank you for your perspective on this site. I have purposely induced an attack a couple of times in the bathroom where it’s really hot and got myself to sweat. It wasn’t perfect but it was progress. Do you have any advice for creating saunalike conditions in a bathroom? I also did pushups in there to speed it up – is there anything else?
Ali says
I used to feel itchy when I take a shower but I ever since I’ve started the sauna treatment I haven’t felt itchy at all, and I take a shower before entering the sauna not after. I actually enjoy heat better than cold now. You need to go to a sauna everyday if you want to feel better, and your body will get more used to heat so even if you get itchy it will be less intense. I mean all you’re going to do is sit and wait for your body to sweat and that’s it! If there isn’t a sauna nearby then you should buy one like I did.
iHateHives says
I have managed to get it under control by taking a really hot bath to the point of sweating, so more or less a sauna. Unfortunately, buying one would be too expensive. I’m going to travel soon so it would be moot anyway.
I have managed to exercise for the past 2 days and even go to Wal-Mart without an attack. I’m taking Claritin (an anti-histamine) but it’s highly unlikely that it’s the reason for not getting it. It’s the sweating.
Anonymous says
What has helped me: Exercise, and I don’t know about you but I have tinea versicolor and sometimes get athlete’s foot which I suspect is linked to cholinergic urticaria. So using Selsun Gold and applying it topically to my skin has helped.
All the best
Bunny says
I tried moisturizer but sadly it didn’t work :(…
Just hoping winters will pass soon.
This disease ruined my winters.
iHateHives says
Yep! Sounds just like me. I’m 19 and it happens in winters for me as well.
James Villa Sr. says
I have had itchy pinching skin for 2 years and now I am at the point where I can’t sleep through the night and wake up scratching until the hived skin starts to bleed. I have bumps all over my chest and back. I take hot showers and I found some relief but itchy burning starts again. I take Zyrtec in the morning and benedryl twice and then allegra still no relief. I recently had my xolair treatment 2 shots every 4 weeks at 1500 per shot. 2 weeks and condition is not improved. I am going crazy with itching, burning and sharp pinching pain at different places where I have scratched before. I take hot showers and hot baths and felt some relief. But I will try to take saunas next. Cry for help. I am 63 and never had skin problems before. I could pull up poison ivy with bare hands and never have an out break!
Jim v.