Chronic urticaria may be triggered by an underlying persistent infection caused by the gut bacteria Helicobacter pylori, Streptococcus or parasites, for example.
Sensitivities or allergies can develop to certain foods as a result of the impaired gut barrier. This can cause symptoms such as hives, rashes, acne as well as GI discomfort.
Probiotics appear to be beneficial and safe for urticaria, but the evidence is inconclusive. Well-designed trials are required to test the effectiveness and safety of probiotics for urticaria as well as to test the methods that were once widely used in the clinics.
Hives and Itching with Blastocystis
Leaky gut is very often at the root of various skin ailments, including eczema and psoriasis. Hives are more often an IgE (hypersensitivity) response, with a sudden release of large amounts of histamine. It is speculated that blastocystis triggers hives via inducing an IgE response.
If you are found to be lacking in a certain nutrient, like vitamin D, which is causing your hives, talk to a doctor about finding a trusted, quality supplement. Enjoy vitamin D-rich foods. One way to get vitamin D is from spending some time in the sun, but this can be a challenge when you work indoors during the day.
An allergic reaction usually triggers hives, but they can also be caused by other situations such as stress, anxiety, or exercise. Hives are a reaction to the release of mast cells into the bloodstream, which unleashes the chemical histamine.
Hives can be a sign of several other medical or autoimmune conditions, including thyroid or liver diseases, chronic infections, or lupus. Most people with one of these conditions will have other symptoms apart from the hives.
Researchers have found that when gut health (or digestive balance) is off, the skin can become irritated. Skin irritations might include breakouts, skin sensitivity, redness, signs of aging, and more.
The usual treatment for chronic hives is prescription antihistamine pills that don't make you drowsy. These drugs ease itching, swelling and other allergy symptoms. Daily use of these drugs helps block the symptom-producing release of histamine.
Talk to your doctor about a vitamin D supplement
In the two-year study, people with chronic hives who took a daily supplement of vitamin D3 along with their regular allergy medications experienced a decrease of 33 percent in their symptoms within the first week.
Hives usually are caused by other things besides infection, although it could be from a virus. It could be from an allergen, or some sort of an allergy that you have. It could be from a hormonal change. And it even could be emotional in some situations.
The most common autoimmune conditions seen with hives include thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Type 1 diabetes. You can also experience hives if you have lupus, vasculitis, and liver diseases. If you have an autoimmune condition, you usually have other symptoms in addition to hives.
About one-half of people with chronic hives have an underlying immune condition, such as Hashomito's disease or hypothyroidism. However, many people do not have an underlying condition or do not ever find the cause.
Hives can also be a sign of a bacterial infection like a urinary tract infection or strep throat. While most bacterial infections are not life-threatening, they can become serious if left untreated.
Stress rashes often appear as raised red bumps called hives. They can affect any part of the body, but often a stress rash is on the face, neck, chest or arms. Hives may range from tiny dots to large welts and may form in clusters. They may be itchy or cause a burning or tingling sensation.
Some infections that can cause hives in children include respiratory viruses (common cold), strep throat, urinary tract infections, hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis (mono) and many other viral infections.
Z points out that chronic hives can be indicative of a variety of autoimmune conditions including thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes, as well as being obese or overweight, and hormonal imbalance. “A common factor with these conditions involves endocrine disruption and estrogen dominance,” says Dr. Z.
Discoid lupus is so-named since the rash is often disc-shaped. The rash usually appears on the scalp and face, but sometimes it also appears on other body parts. Only around 20% of discoid lupus patients also have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Discoid lupus sores are often red, scaly, and raised.
Hives that keep recurring for 6 weeks or more are called chronic hives – and they are rarely caused by allergy. They are likely related to the immune system, so an allergist/immunologist trained to recognize underlying conditions is an appropriate specialist to see.
Chronic hives don't put you at sudden risk of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). If you do get hives as part of a severe allergic reaction, seek emergency care. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include dizziness, trouble breathing, and swelling of the tongue, lips, mouth or throat.
Likewise, urticaria can be associated with malignant neoplasms such as lymphoma, leukemia and ovarian carcinoma[28].