1. Community
  2. Skin and nails
  3. Urticarial Rash

Urticaria

Posted , 6 users are following.

catherine46695
catherine46695

I have just found and joined this group and pleased to know I'm not alone. I'm 57 years old and suffered from skin conditions since birth mainly excema. The excema was mainly out grown by the time I was 21 with mini flare ups (which is tended to be called dermatitis).

However, since starting the menapouse my skin has been in a terrible state which to me is a combination of both excema and urticaria. My Dr advised it was because of the menapouse the excema had come back this was over six years ago. He prescribed Cetraben and Modrasone and Diprobase which relieve the symptoms but don't cure the problem. I was also prescribed Oilatum for bathing and Oilatum shampoo and Nizoral for my scalp.

However, because the Oilatum is perfumed and very oily I had to stop using it. But I did find by chance Epaderm in my local chemist which I now shower and wash my face with and is prescribed and alternate the Oilatum shampoo and  Nizoral for my scalp.

Even keeping my skin hydrated with emollients doesn't prevent the skin from erupting about every 4 to 6 weeks. Bright red skin from my face down to my chest and hands. Very painful and itchy like having a very severe case of sunburn and you moisturise and moisturise the skin flakes off continually until it settles and you look normal and then 4 to 6 weeks later it's off again. Anyway whilst seeing a different Dr for another problem I had an out break showed it to her and told her how it was driving me crackers and she has prescribed this antihistamine which I have been researching and this is how I found this forum. I'm sure you all know we have the physical signs of this horrible condition but we tend to be ignored or treated like a 6year old.

What helps me is wearing cotton clothing as much as possible, cotton bedding, the Epaderm, Cetraben and Diprobase (not all at the same time obviously) Oilatum Scalp shampoo and Nizoral and now this new antihistamine Fexofenadine I hope. I'm only on day 2 but I'm living in hope. Best wishes to you all.

 

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Diotima
    Diotima catherine46695

    Posted

    Hi Catherine,

    i'm fan of fexofenadine for allergy. It has helped me with my urticaria (almost gone). Plus remedying my vitamin D deficiency.

    Best of luck with your skin conditions!

    • catherine46695
      catherine46695 Diotima

      Posted

      I'd never thought of a vitamin deficiency, although we do have a balanced diet. I had been taking Omega3 after reading an article by a Dr who recommended it. My husband thought I was wasting my time with it but now you come to think it's definitely worse for not taking it, I will have to try that again.Kind regardXX
  • mrsmop
    mrsmop catherine46695

    Posted

    I hope you get on well with the Fexofenadine Catherine.  One of my GPs gave me Hydroxyzine when I was itching like mad, with Pemphigoid.  It is a sedating type antihistamine, which helped tremendously because the itching had stopped me sleeping as much as anything else.

    My friend thinks that my Pemphigoid went mad once I stopped HRT.  I can't really remember, though she might be right.  I had been using it for approaching 15 years.

    Are you seeing a Dermatologist?  Have they tried any systemic drugs?

     

    • catherine46695
      catherine46695 mrsmop

      Posted

      Unfortunately, at the time I started with this problem GPs weren't referring to specialists, they had a GP that specialised in skin conditions. 

      However, after seeing this new Dr she said I can be referred if necessary. I must point out though that I have been so distressed By the condition I have offered to pay to see someone.

      i live in the UK, I sleep in cotton gloves at night to try to restrict the scratching they're also useful for the cream on the backs of my hands. I've recently bought a new washing machine (my old one died) and it has an allergy wash. This is brilliant because with my old washer I had to wash my bedding individually 3times to remove the residue from the emollients. This new machine 1wash and emolient gone saving me on electric water and soap.

      im only on day 2 with the tablets so I will see how it goes. Kind regardsX

  • norman32101
    norman32101 catherine46695

    Posted

    Have you tried to keep a diary to see if you can identify the trigger for your regular outbreaks? Is there something different in the days preceding an attack?

    Nizoral is an anti fungal shampoo, I assume that you use this intermittently? Resistance can develop.

    how often do you use Modrasone, and in what quantity? This is a steroid cream, if you heal with it and then stop the eczema may flare. Using too much cream is common, look at the 'finger tip' rule on the patient UK site.

    does sun make it better or worse, some rashes respond we'll to careful sunbathing and the warmth may even reduce itching. Bathing in the sea can be helpful if you don't have broken skin.

    often the answer to the problem is discovered by the individual, you just need the confidence to try it for yourself.

    • catherine46695
      catherine46695 norman32101

      Posted

      I've been thinking of a diary, but my routine is the same week in and week out (very boring). Re the Nizoral I alternate between this Oilatum scalp shampoo and Simple. I've found that this keeps my scalp in control with the Oilatum because there is a slight perfume in it I try to keep this to the minimum. The Modrasone I try to keep this to the severe areas because of the steroid content and no more than the size of a small pearl and no

      more than 2 to 3 days. My skin is always better in the sun and I've found that Soltan sensitive is ok for me at the moment high factor. Our sea is not that good for bathing. I know perfumes are no good for me and I avoid them and try to steer clear of people who wear the what I call chemically type ones, also air freshness and some cleaning products. Finding the right one for my shower has been hard so much so my sister cleans it for me. It's difficult I know but I have identified some triggers that affect the hands and face. But it just seems to be a never ending cycle I'm hoping these high antihistamine work I'm on day 2. Kind regardsXX

  • sheila62513
    sheila62513 catherine46695

    Posted

    A new antihistamine - maybe give that a go. The two I've tried so far made it worse plus I felt ill so must be allergic to Piriton. I also found that anything with liquid paraffin was no good (Oilatum etc)
    • catherine46695
      catherine46695 sheila62513

      Posted

      The Fexofenadine is in prescription it's 180mg, I was given Piriton a few years ago the was for when my skin erupted with someone else's perfume but it was only 5mg. It worked for that. Type the Fexofenadine in your search engine it's very interesting.kind regards
    • catherine46695
      catherine46695 sheila62513

      Posted

      The Fexofenadrine was prescribed by my GP. Type it into your search engine. The one I'm on is 180mg, I think there were 3strenghts. The Oliatum shower/bath was to perfumed and oily for me quite dangerous to be honest as well. I'm going to see what the GP says next week and hope I can get allergy tests. I'm beginning to wonder if it's going to be a process of elimination one thing I do know it's not in my head.kind regardsX
    • mrsmop
      mrsmop catherine46695

      Posted

      In about 2002/3 I was having problems with itching and, to cut a long story short, a large company paid for me to have patch testing.  It showed that, amongst other things, I was allergic to formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers, which are found in all sorts of things.  Simple products, for example, use formaldehyde releasers.  They are anti fungals, preservatives.  Now that I know what I am allergic to, my life is much easier.  I also found that Sweden and Japan have  banned formaldehyde [it is carcinogenic] , which explains why I didn't have any problems when I drove Volvos but developed them when I bought a VW.  I have driven Japanese cars since 2003.

      If you can find what you are allergic to, then you are halfway there!

      I'll see if I can find the link that I used, it was very helpful.

       

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.