Chronic idiopathic urticaria is a skin condition characterized by recurring hives that can be itchy, painful, and disfiguring. It can also cause angioedema and depression. There is no known cure, and outbreaks can occur unpredictably.
Chronic idiopathic urticaria is an ongoing skin condition whose primary symptom is hives on the skin, typically on the face or extremities. Hives, or wheals, are usually very itchy and even painful; each can stay on the skin for anywhere from hours to more than a day, and new hives can look like clear older ones. Patients may not have them all the time, as they can come and go for no apparent reason or due to triggers such as heat or stress. Over time, people with the condition may also develop angioedema, in which painful bruising and swelling occur under the skin’s surface and in surrounding tissue. Due to the disfiguring nature of the disorder, many patients also develop depression as a secondary symptom.
The main symptom of chronic idiopathic urticaria is repeated outbreaks of hives on the skin, with the condition present for more than six weeks. These bumps on the skin can be small dots or larger patches and are typically red in color and raised from the surrounding skin. They are usually inflamed and very itchy; some patients may end up with scars from repeated scratching. Lesions can also seep fluid from capillaries under the skin’s surface. While they can appear anywhere on the body, the most common locations for hives to occur are the face, hands, and feet.
Many patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria also have angioedema. This is when there is swelling and discoloration under the skin in addition to the hives present on the skin’s surface. Often the affected areas are painful or may cause a burning sensation. Angioedema can also cause nearby tissues to swell; this is especially dangerous if there is swelling in the throat, as it can make breathing difficult.
The recurring hives caused by chronic idiopathic urticaria are often very disfiguring and embarrassing for patients, thus depression is common in many sufferers. Because the lesions often appear on the face, they can be difficult to hide, and patients may suffer from being scrutinized by others. The condition also has no known cure, as the cause is unconfirmed and treating it can therefore often be difficult. It can also come and go for no apparent reason, making it difficult to predict an attack. This uncertainty about when an outbreak can occur and whether or not it can be effectively treated can be daunting for patients.
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