Wheals

introduction

Wheals are skin changes that are caused by an allergic reaction in the body. They can appear anywhere on the body. They are characterized by their typical, mostly reddish color and raised structure that protrudes slightly from the skin level.
The formation of a wheal affects the top layer of skin. Occasionally, wheals can be accompanied by an itchiness.

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root cause

The Wheal formation is usually on a allergic reaction traced back. This is where the Allergen either through food, the breathing or about the skin into the body and triggers an immune reaction there.
This leads to the dispatch of inflammatory cells and the release of histamine.
Histamine is a messenger substance that dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow to the skin. The immune reaction leads to a Redness and swelling of the skin, which appear as wheals and can with a itching accompanied.

Wheals on the face

Wheals are also very common in the face and have different causes. In all cases there is a so-called wheal formation on the face Skin hypersensitivity underlying.
In some people, just brushing the skin, for example with a fingernail, leads to the formation of wheals.
As a rule, however, it is mainly allergies that can lead to the formation of wheals on the face.
Often they are Pollenwhich occur at certain times of the year and cause an allergic reaction.
But also one Sun allergy can cause the face to suddenly develop Urticaria responds. One is called urticaria Skin area, the one with many wheals is busy. In many cases, the development of urticaria is also accompanied by itching, which is caused by the influx of certain messenger substances into the allergic skin area.
In addition to the allergic substances that can lead to the formation of wheals on the face, a special stimulus such as cold lead to the formation of wheals on the face. Wheals can develop, especially in winter when there is a constant temperature change from outside to inside.
By Temperature change Induced wheals usually disappear as soon as the body is no longer exposed to the allergic substance. If the allergic reaction persists, it is best to have a doctor do a skin allergy test.

Wheals on the neck

Wheals on the neck are mostly triggered by an allergic reaction or by hypersensitivity of the skin. Rubbing e.g. can lead to the formation of a wheal.
Sometimes a wheal on the neck can also trigger a very strong allergic and systemic reaction. This dreaded reaction of the body can ultimately occur to all substances in the environment or in the food. A reddening of the skin on the neck, which is accompanied by the formation of wheals, is then caused by other symptoms accompanied. This includes Racing heart, sweat, Drop in blood pressure, Tightness and shortness of breath. This reaction of the body is also called anaphylactic reaction denotes and represents a medical emergency that must be dealt with quickly.

In many cases, wheals on the neck are not life-threatening and the allergic reaction only manifests itself in the formation of wheals. In order to find the cause, it is important to pay attention to whether there was contact with a certain substance shortly before the skin reaction on the neck.

Wheals on the abdomen

A Wheals on the abdomen indicates that the body is allergic to some substance. The reaction can arise, for example, through contact with animal hair or after eating nuts or other allergens. Even after taking medication, wheals can form in the abdomen. The best treatment is to avoid contact with the triggering substance. If this is not possible, preventive drug therapy can be initiated to prevent the immune reaction from developing as strongly.

Symptoms

If it is an allergic reaction, it can lead to the formation of wheals as well as other, sometimes serious ones Symptoms come.
If you are allergic to a certain substance, the body can use a Reddening of the skin react. This is often followed by the formation of wheals at the same point, possibly also with one itching connected is.
Stronger allergies can also cause severe itching or Scratchy throat come.
If the course is very severe, wheals can also cause a severe allergic reaction, a so-called anaphylactic reaction cause (anaphylactic shock). This is potentially life threatening and must be treated as an emergency as it can be accompanied by a drop in blood pressure, palpitations, shortness of breath and cardiovascular arrest.

Wheals on the back

The formation of wheals on the back is also due to an allergic reaction or hypersensitivity of the skin. The occurrence of wheals on the back is rather rare compared to other parts of the body. However, if a skin reaction occurs at this point, a local allergy is likely. This is usually triggered by a certain substance that is on the skin at this point.
Sometimes wheals are also triggered by certain washing lotions or shampoos.
Often one or more wheals develop after insect bites. As soon as the insecticide has broken down, which can take a few hours, the wheals usually disappear again.
Sweat can also cause hives, especially on the back. In this area you usually sweat a lot and the resulting wheal formation shows that the skin is hypersensitive. A so-called sweat allergy, which is one of the so-called pseudo-allergies, can develop.

diagnosis

A visual diagnosis is often enough to identify wheals as such. This is mainly due to the typical shape and structure that characterize a wheal.
However, the cause of the wheal formation cannot be named. Since it is mostly an allergic reaction, an allergy test can help to find the cause.
The so-called prick test has been carried out for this purpose for a long time. During this skin test, various possible allergic substances are applied to the skin through an adhesive strip. After a short time, the skin area that has come into contact with a substance and to which there is an allergy begins to react. If the areas remain inconspicuous, i.e. they show neither redness nor swelling, it can be assumed that there is no allergy to the substance applied.
As a rule, substances with which humans often come into contact are tested. These include pollen from various plants or animal hair allergens.

Read more on the subject below Allergy diagnostics

therapy

Wheals can be treated symptomatically as well as causally. A combination of both is recommended but not always possible as the cause of the wheal formation is still unknown. A search for the cause should then take place, which includes, among other things, an allergy test.
Wheals can be treated symptomatically with ointments or gels, such as the Fenistil gel available in pharmacies.
If wheals affect large parts of the body, systemic treatment with tablets can also be used. By taking the drug, the effect of the drug is systemic, i.e. throughout the body. For example, Fenistil® can be used as drops or tablets.
Cetirizine, a so-called antihistamine, is also used to treat wheals. Very strong wheals on the body can also be treated with cortisone. It should only be used if there is an accompanying systemic reaction in the sense of an incipient anaphylactic reaction.
Treatment with cooling cloths placed on the affected area of ​​the skin can also help symptomatically.
Inhalation treatment can also be successful, particularly with inhaled substances that lead to the formation of wheals. For this purpose, a pot should be heated with water and then inhaled slightly cooled.

How long does it take for the wheals to subside?

How long wheals stay in the skin area depends on the one hand on the type and severity of the allergy and the exposure, i.e. the time that those affected are exposed to the allergy-causing substance.
Wheals can develop within a few minutes and can last for several hours to days.
If you persist longer, a doctor should be consulted. He would then prescribe an antiallergic drug and, if necessary, conduct an allergy test.
Wheals caused by cat hair can be gone after half an hour, namely when there is no longer any contact with the allergen.
During drug treatment with Fenistil® or Cortisone The wheals usually form very quickly, usually after a few minutes. After an allergic reaction with the formation of wheals, the therapy should be continued for 2-3 days, otherwise these will often regress again. The dose can often be reduced over time.
Wheals are triggered by what is known as the body's immediate reaction. I.e. If there is an allergy to a certain substance, the wheals actually appear immediately afterwards. A delayed reaction hardly ever or rarely occurs. This makes the search for the cause a little easier, because you can find out what you came into contact with in the last few hours. This is easy with food, medication, etc., but with pollen flying through the air or fungal spores, the search for the cause is more difficult despite the immediate reaction.

Wheal therapy

The so-called Wheal therapy primarily has nothing to do with the treatment of allergy-induced wheals.
This is a method, where a specific drug right under the first Injected skin layerwhich then makes it swell like a wheal.
The resulting wheal is a small one Medication depotthat can then work in the body. Almost always, pain reliever drugs are injected directly under the top layer of the skin so that they can be delivered piece by piece to the painful area of ​​the body.
Wheal treatment with a pain reliever is particularly useful for back or joint pain. The side effects of this treatment technique are minor, but can sometimes manifest themselves in local irritation of the injection site.
To be considered a disadvantage is relative rapid breakdown of the drugwhich may also be associated with a recurrence of the pain. Wheal treatment is still performed today by pain therapists and orthopedic surgeons for back pain. Some general practitioners also carry out wheal therapy.