Recently Diagnosed with Chronic Urticaria, But No Itching

Hello,

After two months of strange changes to my skin my doctor told me today that I have Chronic urticaria.  He did not elaborate on any particular type but did tell me that it may last for a long time and that several things can trigger it.

I have come home and am slightly relieved to know what is going on but also confused, as everything I read, says there is an itch and I don’t have this.

My problems started when I exfoliated my face and used a new skin product, there was immediate stinging and inflammation followed after a couple of days.  I am now presuming this was hives.  I stopped using the product which dried out my skin really badly but continued to have a very flushed face where I had used it.  Then one day my whole face went red and calmed down after about an hour but since then has felt warm to varying degrees.

I went back to the doctor who said it was dermatitis and I must hydrate and use cortisone if it didn’t settle.  Four weeks later I had another reaction, this time prickling, followed by stinging and redness down the back of my neck and on top of my arm, as well as my face slightly warm and red.  The doctor still said dermatitis.

I was noticing it happening when the heating was on for a while, or when I went out into the bright warmish (but not hot) weather, it was like my internal thermometer is turned up (on my face).

Anyhow I got a rash on my stomach today after a shower and saw a different doctor who explained the histamine response and that maybe the cream triggered it but now the skin is sensitized and my histamine response.  This all makes sense to me.

I am slightly concerned about a couple of things that don’t fit with what I am reading (I am still a bit shocked about this)Wonder if anyone has similar symptoms and patterns.

•  I don’t really get an itch, its more of a tingling sensation and this sometimes hangs around after the heat has subsided.
• It feels like my face is often red for a while after a flushing feeling, like it never really calms down and is ready to flare at any minute.  This can last a couple of days at this level and then calm right down.
• I have noticed that on all the occasions this has happened it was either after some time outside in the sunshine, again, it’s not hot, but I feel hot when I come inside.  Or it has been when I am very emotional or around the time of my monthly menstruation (sorry guys)

So, I am wondering if I have cholinergic urticaria, this will help me learn the triggers I guess.  I can’t think of any food or other substances I have changed.  I have been under chronic stress for a while now and feel it is related.

Is it possible for flares to last a couple of days in waves, it seems to be like that for me.  Things ‘heat’ up and then it all feels sensitive for a while, I almost look tanned (the flushing is more obvious than the hives on my face) The rash on my shoulder and stomach were more hive like and only lasted for an hour or so.

The heat and the prickly feeling remaining longer than the intense hive reaction is something I hope will settle.I have also noticed I am not really sweating which seems contradictory to the heat inducement, but it’s definitely a temperature thing for me

Any thoughts or comments welcome.

– Sally