Cholinergic Urticaria – Causes, Picture, Symptoms And Treatment

Skin rashes can occur from a wide range of situations. The human epidermis, with all of its protective abilities, is quite sensitive when it comes to various circumstances. Of course many of these issues are developed from chemicals to which our bodies don’t have a resistance. However, problems such as Cholinergic Urticaria can be brought on by simple physical activity. Your own immunity system could be to blame for this hyper-sensitivity response.

Causes of Cholinergic Urticaria

There can be a number of causes for rashes and irritations of the skin. In some situations, it may be next to impossible to ascertain your particular culprit. However, other variations of Cholinergic Urticaria can be easily identified depending on your situation. In many cases, you may have to find your particular cause through a series of trial and error.

Heat – One of the most prominent forms of Cholinergic Urticaria can be developed from a reaction to heat. Children, especially babies whom have very sensitive skin, are often victims to “heat rash” due to the ambient temperatures of the room and body heat. Affected areas are usually those that have experienced an overabundance of heat such as diapered areas, bundled locations of clothing and the backsides of babies from where they are laying in a crib or carrier.

Sweat – Although sweat can be connected to the cause of heat mentioned above, it is possible to suffer from Cholinergic Urticaria due to sweating without extreme heat. Usually, this situation is developed from prolonged exposure to sweat in any given area of the body while having a hypersensitivity to the material.

Medication Related – Many drugs, whether over-the-counter or prescribed by a physician, can cause a great deal of problems for the epidermis. Many people have these allergic reactions from taking penicillin, ibuprofen, aspirin and a myriad of others. In some cases, even products such as the stool-softening Metamucil can cause skin irritations in random areas such as the arms and legs.

Parasitic Infection – Parasites can also be the cause of Cholinergic Urticaria. Although they may not be causing an illness or other debilitating internal problem, the infection could still cause a great deal of irritation in the skin.

Emotional Stress – Being mentally stressed can cause all kinds of physical problems within the body. It’s not unheard of for Cholinergic Urticaria to be developed from your emotional status. High levels of emotional upheaval can bring on the condition creating various inflammations and hives throughout your body.

Symptoms of Cholinergic Urticaria

A variety of symptoms can accompany Cholinergic Urticaria and is dependent on the extent of the irritation. Sometimes, a symptom of this affliction can worsen and turn into something worse and different than a rash on the skin. However, most situations are similar in how Cholinergic Urticaria can be identified.

Hives – Hives is a collection of small bumps that could also be filled with a liquid substance much like miniature blisters. Usually, hives will manifest within a discolored area of the skin but have been known to form without redness being a factor. Hives can also be attributed to other skin conditions such as psoriasis depending on the extent of the disease.

Redness and Inflammation – As mentioned above, redness or discoloration of the skin is a common symptom of Cholinergic Urticaria. This could also be followed with the skin being raised above normal areas of the epidermis. This inflammation can vary in size depending on the severity of the irritation or reaction.

Itchiness – As Cholinergic Urticaria can cause pain to the touch, it can also be incredibly itchy as a reaction to the cause of the problem. There are cases where pain isn’t persistent but the itching has caused one to essentially scrape themselves open from rigorous scratching of the area. This can then cause infections which lead to further complications.

Infections – Although it’s uncommon, an untreated case of Cholinergic Urticaria could lead to infections especially if the area is rubbed raw creating an open sore. If the infection continues to evolve and spread, this could lead to fevers and other illnesses indirectly caused by the onset of Cholinergic Urticaria.

Treatments of Cholinergic Urticaria

Treating most forms of Cholinergic Urticaria is quite easy. In many cases, the saying “time can heal all wounds” is quite literal. For other and more immediate needs of relief, there are many methods you can utilize. With the exception of creating open wounds, most cases of Cholinergic Urticaria can be dealt with in similar fashions.

Topical Creams – There are a variety of topical creams that can be used to quell the onset of Cholinergic Urticaria. In some extreme cases, these creams could involve steroids in order to promote cell regeneration. Otherwise, there are a multitude of brand name products as well as natural and organic alternatives that can bring almost near immediate relief.

Cooling the Area – In the event of being overheated, cooling the area of the skin may be all that is needed. As many cases of Cholinergic Urticaria only last for an hour or so, keeping those areas of the skin cooled can help relieve the problem quicker.

Cleaning – Related to cooling the area of skin that is overheated, cleaning sweat from the area can be beneficial as well. Some individuals may have a hypersensitivity to heat and sweat and keeping those areas cleaned can help relieve the symptoms.

Antihistamines – Sometimes, antihistamines are prescribed to those suffering from Cholinergic Urticaria. Depending on the severity of the complication, the antihistamines may have little effect in most cases. However, it has been known to help in the reduction of light inflammations caused by skin irritations.

Environmental Adaptations – In most cases, avoiding situations or compounds that create the onset of Cholinergic Urticaria is one of the best methods for treatment. As there is no cure for this debilitating problem, prevention should play as the primary role to combat its effects. Looser clothing, avoiding certain foods, cooling sprays and other environmental conditions should be planned out in order to avoid contracting this problem.

There are many ways that a person can experience a rash or irritation on their skin. Babies will have frequent Cholinergic Urticaria brought on by nothing more than heat in a sensitive area – such as around diapered thighs and legs. While it is ultimately easier to treat than other rashes you may experience, it doesn’t mean that they are any less annoying or uncomfortable. As always, it may not be a bad idea to have your afflicted area checked. The rash could be a product of something else that could be more serious. Remember not to panic for it may be nothing more than a reaction to sweating.

Ken Myers is a father of three and passionate about great childcare. He’s always looking for ways to help families find the support they need to live fuller, richer lives. Find out more about expert childcare by checking out @go_nannies on Twitter.