Urticaria, eczema: recognizing them, treating them

« The clinical presentations of theurticaria are completely different from those of theeczemaas well as its evolution and its treatment”, specifies Pr Manuelle Viguier, head of the dermatology-venerology department at the Robert Debré hospital in Reims.

Acute urticaria, chronic spontaneous urticaria and physical urticaria are distinguished.

• Acute urticaria : it begins suddenly, overnight, and disappears just as quickly.

  « Most acute urticaria is of viral and non-allergic origin », specifies Pr Viguier.

• Spontaneous chronic urticaria evolves by flare-ups regularly for more than six weeks, due to a dysfunction of certain cells of the skin: the mast cells.
• physical urticaria is triggered by various elements such as sweatthe heatthe sunthe coldthe pressure…

There are several types of urticaria: acute urticaria, chronic spontaneous urticaria and physical urticaria. “Regardless of the type of hives, the characteristics of the rash are the same”, specifies the dermatologist.

Urticaria is manifested by :

• From buttons which appear all at once and which look like nettle stings : they form red bumps, swollen, white in the center.
• They can be accompanied, in 10 to 30% of cases, by a angioedema (swelling) of the mouth or eyelids.
• Buttons scratch Verry much.
• They disappear during the day, in less than 24 hours.

 » In case of acute urticaria attacka treatment is prescribed antihistamine to be taken at the rate of one tablet for a few days”, recommends Pr Manuelle Viguier.

Chronic spontaneous urticariait requires a background treatment.

Most of the time, thechronic spontaneous urticaria disappears in two years, hypersensitivity being potentially transient. But what to do when she resists antihistamines? “We then resort to the biotherapy like omalizumab (Xolair) details Pr Viguier. The initial prescription is hospital, but its renewal can be carried out by a city dermatologist. Treatment should be reassessed regularly. »

As for physical urticaria, the solution is to protect yourself from the trigger and to combine background treatment with antihistamines.

Although eczema like hives is itchy, that has nothing to do with it! “There are two main types of eczema, explains Professor Manuelle Viguier, thecontact eczema and theatopic eczema. »

• Contact eczema occurs after skin contact with a allergen as the nickel contained in the fantasy jewels where the buttons on some clothesa scent or one beauty producta medicationa plant…
• atopic eczema starts in childhood. It is linked to a genetic ground favoring the development of skin inflammation. It can be associated with a asthmaa conjunctivitis or a allergic rhinitis.  »

  Localizations, in children, are located at the level of the folds of the elbows, knees, buttocks, wrists, ankles, under the ears, in adults the head and neck are more often affected, informs La Pr Vigier. And, if the eczema is not treated, the lesions tend to persist, unlike acute urticaria lesions which disappear in twenty-four hours. »

Eczematous lesions are different from those of urticaria.  » It is small red blistersin badly limited platesand appearance rough. They break at scraping with an ooze and form scabs “explains the doctor.

Scratching can also lead to thickening of the skin or lichenification.

Whether atopic or contact, « The basic treatment of eczema is based on the application of a cream topical corticosteroid during crises and, the rest of the time, on the daily application of a emollient cream, the skin being dry and with the aim of limiting the use of topical corticosteroids”, specifies the dermatologist.

These two pathologies are therefore very different. They have neither the same causes nor the same characteristics. If you do not know how to differentiate them, it is best to quickly consult a doctor who will prescribe the appropriate treatment.