So, I often get reactional rashes that appear very similiar to this on my arms and legs. They don’t occur all the time, which confuses me, but they often occur when I transition from one temperature environment to another (doesn’t matter if its hot to cold or vice versa, it happens in both), or change my clothing from something thin like jeans, to something thicker like Sweatpants.
It does not happen when I go swimming, work out, or sweat (although I don’t frequently sweat). When people see it, they tend to freak out as the welts are rather large, and the welts are usually accompanied by intense feelings of itchiness in my scalp and in the rash areas as well as an increase in internal temperature ‘feel’.
Based upon my description, would you think I have Cholinergic urticaria or something else entirely? It’s been like this for a little under two years now (I’m 21 and it began popping up shortly after I joined the military) and has never been more than an itchy nuisance really, but I just want to be sure it isn’t anything to be terribly concerned with.
-Alex
Ann says
I also get reactions when I experience temperature changes in either direction and have been diagnosed with this. Originally I had cold triggered, than cold and temp change, now also hear triggered. I stArted reacting about 2 years ago. I am on histamine blockers and declarative twice a day to control. A dermatologist diagnosed me.
Alex says
The rashes and welt are really sporadic, and don’t happen all that often, but when they do I feel light-headed and it actually makes me uncomfortable to shift temperature environments, outside of just making me quite itchy and raising my temperature ‘feel’.
Do you think it would be worth me looking into seeing a dermatologist, or would I be okay going without? Is it one of those personal discretion, “you go if you feel the need to” kind of things, or does it have a more serious tone than that? When I was in the military, the doctor I’d discussed it with didn’t seem very alarmed, so much so that he never even attempted to help me schedule an appointment with the hospital’s dermatologist, so I’m really unsure in this.
Hivesguy says
Hi, Alex. It’s tough to say if it’s cholinergic urticaria, but it doesn’t sound exactly like it to me. CU tends to rear its ugly head any time a person becomes warm enough to potentially sweat, the only exception being that some people can sweat during summers okay but their CU returns in winter. It’s possible you have another physical urticaria type (cold, vibratory, pressure, etc.).
It can be helpful to go to a dermatologist or allergist to rule out anything more serious, or to get a proper diagnosis. It also may help to pay attention to any potential allergens (food, environment, etc.) that may be causing it. Antihistamines may help in the short term (always consult a doctor first).
Alex says
Ill definitely consider it, but a primary deterrent is that I currently have no actual health coverage.
Once my employer helps me get secured, I’ll most likely go talk to a dermatologist about it, but I was just so convinced on it being Cholinergic Urticaria because it looked extremely similar and displayed many similar symptoms / occurred in many similar scenarios.