How is urticaria caused?

Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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There are many causes of hives, and the most common is related to genetics. If one of the parents has an allergic constitution, then the likelihood of allergies in their offspring significantly increases. Environmental factors also play a role in the occurrence of hives. For example, environments with a lot of dust or dust mites can trigger allergic reactions. Additionally, a humid living environment can promote the growth of fungi, which can also cause hives. The occurrence of hives is also related to food. Individuals who are allergic to proteins might experience hives when consuming high-protein foods like fish, shrimp, crabs, milk, and eggs. Furthermore, viral infections, bacterial infections, and parasite infections can also trigger hives.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
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How to treat chronic urticaria?

Chronic urticaria often utilizes antihistamine medications to control symptoms, combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and differential diagnosis and treatment. Treating chronic urticaria generally requires long-term use of antihistamines, sometimes for two or three months, or even up to six months, a year, or more. Typically, treatment involves the combination of two or more types of antihistamines. For cases of chronic urticaria where antihistamines are ineffective, immunosuppressants may be used to adjust the body’s immune state, thus controlling the outbreaks of chronic urticaria. Chronic urticaria is a long-term, slow process that cannot be resolved quickly, so it is important to try to identify the triggering factors of chronic urticaria, or to identify specific allergens. However, finding the allergen is usually challenging because many patients with chronic urticaria have conditions that are also related to their own immune status.

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Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
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Is urticaria contagious?

Urticaria, commonly known as hives, is not contagious. It is a localized edema of the skin and mucous membranes due to temporarily increased vascular permeability. Its pathological causes are not related to infection, thus it is not contagious. The specific cause of urticaria often remains unclear for many patients. Some cases are due to certain foods, such as animal proteins, seafood, fungi, and some food additives like tartrazine, balsam of Peru, and sulfites. Some cases are triggered by drugs such as penicillin and various vaccines. Others are caused by allergens inhaled through the respiratory tract or by contact with the skin; common examples include pollen, animal dander, dust, fungal spores, and dust mites, as well as some volatile cosmetics. Contact with certain items, such as insect bites, venomous insects, certain plants like nettles, or animal fur such as wool, can also trigger urticaria. Some cases may be related to physical factors such as exposure to cold, heat, sunlight, or pressure, all of which can potentially lead to the development of urticaria.

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Written by Zhang Jing
Dermatology Department
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Is there a difference between measles and urticaria?

Measles and hives are two completely different skin diseases. In terms of etiology, measles is caused by a viral infection, while hives are an allergic skin disease. Clinically, measles presents with diffuse red rash all over the body, accompanied by high fever and mucous membrane catarrhal symptoms, such as red eyes, excessive eye discharge, and so on. On the other hand, hives present with wheal-like skin lesions. Wheals refer to pale red or skin-colored raised lesions that can vary in shape and are usually quite large. They typically develop very rapidly and then subside within a few hours, with most wheals disappearing within 24 hours. Hives are also usually accompanied by severe itching.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Is urticaria contagious?

Urticaria is not contagious. Urticaria is often associated with multiple factors such as infections, food and drug allergies, insect bites, and also related to genetics, climate, and environment. If urticaria occurs, it is advisable to promptly identify the allergen and avoid further contact with it to prevent the occurrence of urticaria. Urticaria is not infectious, but it is curable and recurrent.

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Written by Li Ya Ping
Dermatology Department
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Can urticaria be contagious?

Urticaria is not contagious. Urticaria, also known as wheals or commonly referred to as hives, is caused by temporary increased vascular permeability in the skin and mucous membranes due to allergic factors, resulting in localized edema. Wheals generally subside quite quickly, typically within 24 hours. The causes of wheals, which are essentially urticaria, may include the food we eat, airborne inhalants, and skin contact with substances such as pollen, dust mites, mold mites, as well as animal dander, fur, etc. Additionally, some cases may be related to infections, and some people may have a lethal factor due to suspicious medications. Moreover, the occurrence of urticaria can also be related to other factors such as cold, heat, ultraviolet light, and mechanical stresses such as friction or pressure. Furthermore, other factors including psychological and endocrine factors can also lead to the occurrence of urticaria.