Can Hives Turn Into Eczema

What Is Eczema Herpeticum

Herpes does not cause serious health problems for someone with a healthy immune system. However, if a person with eczema becomes infected with one of the herpes simplex viruses HSV-1 or HSV-2 they may develop eczema herpeticum.

Eczema herpeticum is a rare but potentially serious complication. It can happen when areas of the skin that eczema affects come into contact with the herpes virus.

It is most likely to result from contact with a cold sore and usually occurs on the:

Symptoms of eczema herpeticum usually appear 512 days after exposure to sores from the herpes virus. The symptoms typically present as follows:

• A cold sore may be an initial symptom.
• A blistering rash can appear over 710 days. The blisters form a cluster and may cover a large area. They may break open, be itchy or painful, weep, bleed, or have pus or yellow fluid inside.
• The person may feel unwell, with swollen lymph nodes, a fever, chills, and fatigue starting as the rash appears.

Eczema herpeticum is a medical emergency because it can lead to severe and sometimes life threatening complications, such as:

• herpetic keratitis, an infection in the cornea of the eye that can lead to vision loss without treatment
• organ failure and death, if the virus spreads to the brain, lungs, and liver
• long-term scarring

Eczema herpeticum can occur in people with any condition or injury that involves damaged skin, such as:

• contact dermatitis

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Hives Symptoms: What They Look Like

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Hives, known in the medical world as urticaria, are your skins reaction to histamine and other inflammatory signals being released into your bloodstream.

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You likely know hives for the way they appear on your skin: Theyre red, swollen welts that can sometimes be accompanied by itchiness or pain. There are a variety of possible causes for hives . They could be the result of allergies in response to foods, medication, or an infection, or they could be from another trigger, like exercise, heat, stress, or alcohol.

Red bumps on the skin can seem like a somewhat generic description. Couldnt that indicate a number of possible skin issues? How can you know if its hives youre experiencing and not something else? Heres what to know about hives and their unique symptoms.

How Can You Tell Which You Have

There are a few subtle signs to help you decide if your rash is eczema or hives.

• Eczema presents most often as dry rough pink plaques on the skin or tiny blisters, known as dyshidrotic eczema, on the hands.
• Hives typically present as wheels or larger bumps which are not often filled with fluid. Instead mast cells, a type of immune cell, release chemicals like serotonin and histamines. These collect under the surface of the skin to fight the allergen that triggered the reaction.
• While hives may cause itching themselves, eczema papules often appear as the result of dry or irritated skin.
• If you have chronic hives or eczema, your flare-ups might be linked to certain environmental conditions or triggers. Keeping a log of when the irritation occurs can help identify common threads.

• over-the-counter medications like antihistamines or hydrocortisone
• prescription antihistamines or topical corticosteroids
• prescription oral corticosteroids

10 to 20 percent of children and 3% of adults in the United States. Most cases of chronic eczema begin in childhood, and its less common for this condition to appear in adulthood without a childhood history. In some cases, eczema can resolve after childhood.

With hives, acute cases may resolve in as little as a few hours. Other times, especially in chronic cases, hives may last for weeks. Chronic hives will also come and go as exposure to triggers or certain conditions changes.

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Living With Eczema And Atopic Dermatitis

Eczema can flare up when you are under stress. Learn how to recognize and cope with stress. Stress reduction techniques can help. Changing your activities to reduce daily stress can also be helpful.

The area where you had the eczema may easily get irritated again, so it needs special care. Continue to follow the tips provided here even after your skin has healed.

How Is Contact Dermatitis Managed Or Treated

Treatment for both types of contact dermatitis is the same. Even with treatment, it can take several weeks for the rash to go away. Treatments include:

• Avoidance: If you can figure out whats causing the rash, take steps to avoid it or minimize exposure.
• Anti-itch creams:Corticosteroid creams can ease inflammation and itching.
• Oral steroids: Prednisone, a type of steroid, can relieve rash symptoms that dont respond to antihistamines or other treatments.
• Immunosuppressive medications: In severe cases, where repeated bouts of oral steroids are needed.

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Vibratory Urticaria Due To Adgre2 Mutations

Physical causes of mast cell degranulation are well known, but at least one form of physical urticaria has been associated with a specific mutation affecting mast cell function. Vibratory urticaria inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern has been shown to be due to mutations in ADGRE2. ADGRE2 is a membrane bound autoinhibitory unit on the mast cell. Mutations in this protein cause structural fragility which when disrupted by mechanical stress leads to easy mast cell activation with vibratory stimuli39.

Where I Am Now //

My rash is definitely healing, but I know I still have a long road ahead of me. I would say its about 30% healed. Its not acute to the point where I cant move or do light exercise or be present in my daily life but it is extremely itchy and takes up the majority of my thoughts throughout the day.

The worst parts are currently on my arms, neck, and back. My legs have finally really begun to heal. My stomach is the only area that really responded well to the topical steroid I used , because I believe that area was more eczema than hives.

I am not opposed to western medicine at all, in fact I think its amazing for so many different conditions and emergencies. But for me at this season in my life, I feel the pull toward the holistic so I am listening to that little, but strong voice inside of my head.

I will take an oral steroid if the rashes on my neck continue to worsen but I hope I dont have to. I am very, very much looking forward to my 3 week water fast in May and will DEFINITELY update you guys on how that works for my skin and the rest of my conditions.

My neck last night. ITCHY AF.

I will also be seeing my functional medicine doctor and an allergist soon, because I still do have a sneaking suspicion that some allergies are behind this.

The most important things for me moving forward with healing are

+ lots of rest, and unapologetically DOING ME

+ trying to keep the stress load very low

+ eating a whole foods, plant-based diet with some bone broth sprinkled in

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Eczema Coping Tips Good Hygiene

Skin affected by eczema is more vulnerable to a range of infections, including impetigo, cold sores and warts. The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus may cause a secondary infection of impetigo, and possibly contribute to the symptoms of eczema.Suggestions for washing include:

• Take lukewarm baths or showers, and avoid really hot showers.
• Dont use ordinary soap, as the ingredients may aggravate your eczema. Wash your body with warm water alone. For armpits and groin, use soap-free products, such as sorbolene cream.
• Bath oils can help to moisturise your skin while bathing.
• When towelling dry, pat rather than rub your skin.

Symptoms Of Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis causes the skin to become itchy, blistered, dry and cracked.

Lighter skin can become red, and darker skin can become dark brown, purple or grey.

This reaction usually occurs within a few hours or days of exposure to an irritant or allergen.

Symptoms can affect any part of the body but most commonly the hands and face.

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When You Have Flare

What Is Eczema Or Atopic Dermatitis

Eczema refers to various skin conditions. However, it is most often used in reference to a skin condition known as Atopic Dermatitis. Atopic Dermatitis is commonly identified by a red, itchy, dry rash. Scratching will make it worse and usually spread. If you scratch for a long time, the affected area can get dark and thick. Allergists and dermatologists often refer to this type of eczema as the itch that rashes.

According to medical studies, a child is more prone to having eczema if his/her parents have asthma, seasonal allergies, or eczema. Moreover, its been found that people with eczema are more susceptible to contracting asthma or allergies. Scientists and researchers are still trying to find the definitive link between these conditions. That said, understanding the current theory about how eczema is related to allergies can make it easier to manage your skin conditions.

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When To See A Gp

See a GP if you have persistent, recurrent or severe symptoms of contact dermatitis. They can try to identify the cause and suggest appropriate treatments.

A GP may refer you to a doctor who specialises in treating skin conditions for further tests if:

• the substance causing your contact dermatitis cannot be identified
• your symptoms are not responding to treatment

Contact dermatitis can be caused by:

• an irritant a substance that directly damages the outer layer of skin
• an allergen a substance that causes the immune system to respond in a way that affects the skin

Contact dermatitis is most commonly caused by irritants such as soaps and detergents, solvents or regular contact with water.

Difference Between Shingles And Eczema Causes

Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you have previously had chickenpox, there is a higher risk of having shingles later on in life. Even if youve recovered from chickenpox, the virus can be dormant and remain in the nervous system. Throughout the years, the virus can become reactivated and present itself as shingles.

The reason why the varicella zoster virus reactivates is unclear and may have to do with aging and a weakened immune system, hence the prevalence of shingles among older adults.

The exact cause of eczema is unknown. Because it often resembles an allergy, researchers believe that environmental factors may trigger the condition. A combination of factors may come into play with regards to the cause of eczema, including genetics, abnormal functioning of the immune system, environment, activities that cause the skin to be more sensitive, and defects in the skin barrier allowing moisture out and germs in.

Eczema has been found to run in families, so heredity may be a contirbuting factor. It is also more common in asthma patients and in those who suffer from allergies.

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How To Spot It

Different types of eczema look different. Depending on the type, your skin might swell, blister, crust, ooze, or develop round lesions. Rather than individual spots, eczema usually develops in patches that turn pink, purple, brownish-red, or gray.

Some folks with severe, long-lasting eczema scratch their skin so much that it bleeds or toughens into leathery thickness.

Eczema can strike everywhere from your legs to your eyelids. Its super common in sensitive areas like your fingers, feet, and inner elbows and the backs of your knees.

Eczema Coping Tips Avoid Changes In Temperature

Abrupt temperature and humidity changes can sometimes irritate the skin for example, going in and out of air-conditioned buildings on hot days or heated buildings on cold days.Hard physical activity or exercise that makes you sweat heavily can also trigger the itch of eczema.Suggestions include:

• In winter, dont overheat your house. Dress warmly when going outdoors and remove the extra layers as soon as you return.
• In summer, dont over cool your house. Air conditioners can dry out the air and irritate your skin.
• Avoid hard physical activity in hot weather. For example, do your gardening first thing in the morning, or in the evening when the sun is lower in the sky.

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Can Allergies Cause Eczema Rashes And Hives

Bumpy, itchy, red skin can be painful, irritating, and sometimes embarrassing. Many things cause rashes, including allergies, exposure to plants like poison ivy, certain illnesses such as chickenpox and measles, as well as over-reactions to foods and environmental contacts for some people. The most common skin rashes are hives and eczemaboth of which are linked with allergies and sensitivitiesand that is the focus of this article.

Tips For Reducing Outbreaks

• Apply cool compresses to your skin, or take a colloidal oatmeal or baking soda bath to relieve the itch.
• Moisturize your skin daily with a rich, oil-based cream or ointment to form a protective barrier against the elements. Apply the cream right after you get out of the shower or bath to seal in moisture.
• After you bathe, gently pat your skin with a soft towel. Never rub.
• Avoid scratching. You could cause an infection.
• Use fragrance-free detergents, cleansers, makeup, and other skin care products.
• Wear gloves and protective clothing whenever you handle chemicals.
• Wear loose-fitting clothes made from soft fibers, like cotton.

Recommended Reading: How To Treat Dyshidrotic Eczema At Home

Eczema And Atopic Dermatitis Treatment

Your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid cream or ointment to apply to your rash. This will help reduce itching and calm inflammation. Use it right after bathing. Follow your doctors directions for using this medicine or check the label for proper use. Call your doctor if your skin does not get better with regular use of the medicine.

Antihistamines like hydroxyzine reduce itching. They can help make it easier to not scratch. A new class of drugs, called immunomodulators, works well if you have a severe rash. Two drugs in this class are tacrolimus and pimecrolimus. These drugs keep your immune system from overreacting when stimulated by an allergen. However, they can affect your immune system. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that these drugs be used only when other treatments dont work.

Try not to scratch the irritated area on your skin, even if it itches. Scratching can break the skin. Bacteria can enter these breaks and cause infection. Moisturizing your skin will help prevent itchiness.

Holistic Methods Of Healing //

WATER FASTING: This is something I have read endlessly about all year, and it is an amazing option for people with chronic skin disorders and so many other health problems. I wrote a full post on it here that really breaks it all down. I also just booked myself a 3 week stay at True North Healing Center in Santa Rosa for May to do a medically guided water fast. This will be news to anyone in my life reading, as I literally just booked it today.

I cant yet speak to whether it will 100% work for me or not, but I have been incorporating once a week water fasts into my life and if anything they are helping more than they are hurting. I just feel like I will need a longer, more serious fast to really nip this issue in the bud.

THE MEDICAL MEDIUM APPROACH : This approach is crazy interesting. His 28-day healing cleanse is outlined in this book, but beyond that I have devoured all of his books in the last few weeks. He posts about remarkable healing stories of eczema/hives on his Instagram almost daily and its hard not to believe how much it works. It is tough for me to fully dive into the Medical Medium healing approach because it is an all raw vegan diet. I can do vegan, but raw is a lot. And not only raw, but a LOT of fruit.

When the hives spread to my face

AND ICE PACKS! I am lucky enough to have the sweetest boyfriend on the planet who legitimately wont let me sleep unless I have my ice pack.

My arm last night still pretty red / itchyyyyy.

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