Allergies and hives treatment in Zurich

Urticaria is a reaction of our skin to allergens, irritating chemicals, plant toxins or physical stimuli. The symptoms include severe itching, a rash with pustules and a circumscribed reddening of the skin. In some cases, swelling of the skin and mucous membranes can occur, so-called angioedema. A common cause is an excessive release of histamine. In urticaria as a result of skin allergies, the body's own messenger substance is increasingly released. The triggers for urticaria are manifold - the most common cause is an allergic skin reaction. The rash is divided into acute and chronic urticaria.

Acute urticaria occurs in connection with an infection, among other things. This can be a viral infection, an acute food allergy or an intolerance to specific insect venoms (e.g. bee or wasp stings) or active ingredients of medicines.
The trigger of acute urticaria can usually be determined quickly and reliably, as the skin reaction usually occurs shortly after the irritation. For example, as a direct result of a wasp sting. Acute urticaria usually only lasts for a short time, for a few hours or days.

Chronic urticaria is a little more difficult to identify. This can also be triggered by allergies, but it usually occurs as a result of mechanical and physical stimuli such as scratching, tight clothing or very high temperatures. Severe physical and psychological stress can make the symptoms much worse. We speak of chronic urticaria when the symptoms persist for more than six weeks. Interruptions (symptom-free periods) are included.

For all types of hives, you should consult a specialised doctor (dermatologist). At the Swiss Derma Clinic in Zurich, we diagnose and treat all forms of skin allergies and urticaria. By reliably identifying the trigger, the recurrence of urticaria can be avoided in many cases.

At the Swiss Derma Clinic in Zurich we examine your skin in detail. To find out the cause of your symptoms, we may ask about previous illnesses, known allergies and intolerances and whether you are taking certain medications. Food, cosmetic products or detergents can also be triggers of hives - this information is also of interest. If you often suffer from skin rashes of unknown cause, then a complaint diary may make sense.

In order to be able to prove an allergy with certainty, we will do various skin tests and blood tests with you. Sometimes there are specific antibodies or so-called autoantibodies in the blood. These are useful in the case of chronic urticaria. Autoreactive urticaria can be detected by the ASST test. The affected body parts and your descriptions can also help to find out the trigger.

The triggers of a skin allergy with urticaria are varied. The most common known triggers are:

• Plant pollen (often in conjunction with hay fever)
• Fruit and nuts if allergy is present
• House dust mites
• Animal hair (pets such as cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs)
• Fragrances (including essential oils)
• Ingredients of cosmetic products such as dyes, powder particles, certain sunscreen products
• Poisons resulting from insect bites (wasp, bee, ant)
• Chemicals
• Materials such as latex (latex gloves)
• Intense sun exposure (including solarium)
• Plants such as poison ivy (typical symptoms after contact with the leaves: rash with blistering, severe burning, reddening of the skin with itching).

Sometimes urticaria occurs exclusively due to physical stimuli and not as a result of a skin allergy. Examples are direct and intensive contact of the skin with warm or cold substances, exposure to light and movements (e.g. jackhammer) or pressure from outside.

Hot hairdryer air, or cool air can show up as a rash on the skin. Often there is also an increased sensitivity of the skin. Mechanical impact such as scratching or rubbing can also be the cause.

The treatment of urticaria is usually carried out with suitable medicines and ointments. If there is also a skin allergy, contact with the trigger should be avoided at all costs.

Depending on the cause, the following medications are suitable for the treatment of urticaria:

• Antihistamines: These preparations inhibit the effect of histamine and reduce allergy-related skin problems. Antihistamines are taken in tablet form or, in the case of very pronounced and acute symptoms, can also be administered by infusion. The decision as to whether such a medication makes sense in individual cases should definitely be made by a doctor or specialist.

• Medicines containing cortisone: So-called glucocorticoids can be prescribed for temporary use in acute urticaria. Often, an ointment containing cortisone is sufficient, but sometimes tablets or an infusion are more suitable. The dosage and the choice of active ingredient depend on the individual symptoms.

• Another option in individual cases can be immunosuppressants. These inhibit the body's own immune defence in a very specific area. Immunosuppressants are used, for example, in very severe urticaria. Such treatment is always done under careful medical supervision.

• In chronic spontaneous urticaria, anti-IgE antibodies such as omalizumab or ciclosporin have been used for some time in difficult-to-treat cases. According to the latest studies, the results are very good. In most cases, freedom from symptoms is possible within a short time.