Tuesday, April 28, 2009 9:58 PM
Adapted from : http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068988/
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What causes chronic urticaria?A 'trigger' is thought to cause the
release of chemicals (such as histamine) from cells in the skin. The chemicals cause fluid to leak from tiny blood vessels under the skin surface. The fluid pools to form weals. The chemicals also cause the blood vessels to open wide (dilate) which causes the flare around the weals."
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What is the course and outcome (prognosis) of chronic urticaria?Chronic urticaria tends to 'come and go'. You may have times when the rash appears on most days, and then times when the rash may go away for a while. The severity of the rash and itch varies from person to person. Some things such as
heat, cold, menstrual periods, stress, or emotion may make the rash flare up worse than usual.Symptoms may go away completely after a few months, but the condition lasts several years in some cases.
In about half of cases, symptoms go within 3-5 years after it first starts.
In about 1 in 5 cases the symptoms persist 'on and off' for more than 10 years. "
-I don't post this article for fun; I've been whining about the itch and to find out I'm diagnosed with Chronic Urticaria! haiyaaaaaa