In: Taylor and Kelly's Dermatology for Skin of Color. Hereditary angioedema: Acute treatment of angioedema attacks. In: Adult Telephone Protocols: Office Version. An overview of angioedema: Clinical features, diagnosis, and management. American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Has anyone else in your family ever had this kind of skin reaction? Do other family members have any known allergies?.Has your overall health changed recently? Have you had any fevers or have you lost weight?.Have you started taking any new medications or started a new course of a medication you've taken before?.What prescriptions, nonprescription medications and supplements are you taking?.Have you tried a new food for the first time, changed laundry products or adopted a new pet?.Have you ever had a similar skin reaction before?.Do your skin lesions go away completely without leaving a bruise or a mark?.Do your skin lesions mainly itch, or do they burn or sting?.Have you noticed anything that makes your symptoms worse or better?.What did your skin reaction look like when it first appeared?.When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?.Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as: Can I wait to see if the condition goes away on its own?.Do I need prescription medication, or can I use nonprescription medications to treat the condition?.What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?.Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?.What are other possible causes for my symptoms?.Do I need any tests to confirm the diagnosis?.Even better, take the original bottles and a list of the doses and directions.įor hives and angioedema, questions you may want to ask include: List any medications you're taking, including vitamins, herbs and supplements.List your signs and symptoms, when they occurred, and how long they lasted.Here are some tips to help you get ready for your appointment. In some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to a skin disease specialist (dermatologist) or to an allergy specialist. You're likely to start by seeing your primary care doctor. When outdoors, seek shade to help relieve discomfort. Apply sunscreen liberally about a half hour before going outdoors. Avoid wearing clothing that's rough, tight, scratchy or made from wool. Wear loose, smooth-textured cotton clothing.Some people may also benefit from bathing in cool water sprinkled with baking soda or oatmeal powder (Aveeno, others), but this isn't a solution for long-term control of chronic itching. Find relief from itching in a cool shower or bath. Covering the affected area with a cold washcloth or rubbing an ice cube over it for a few minutes can help soothe the skin and prevent scratching. Consider whether you might prefer a type that doesn't cause drowsiness. A nonprescription oral antihistamine, such as loratadine (Alavert, Claritin, others), cetirizine (Zyrtec Allergy, others) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl Allergy, others), may help relieve itching. Use an anti-itch drug available without a prescription.Some studies suggest that stress or fatigue can trigger hives. If you think a medication caused your rash, stop using it and contact your primary care provider. These can include foods, medications, pollen, pet dander, latex and insect stings. If you're experiencing mild hives or angioedema, these tips may help relieve your symptoms: If you have had a serious attack or your attacks recur despite treatment, your doctor may have you carry a penlike device that will allow you to self-inject epinephrine in emergencies.Įxplore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. For severe hives or angioedema, doctors may prescribe a short course of an oral corticosteroid drug - such as prednisone - to reduce swelling, inflammation and itching.įor a severe attack of hives or angioedema, you may need a trip to the emergency room and an emergency injection of epinephrine - a type of adrenaline. If you have the type of angioedema that runs in families, you may take medication to relieve symptoms and keep the levels of certain proteins in your blood at levels that do not cause symptoms. If antihistamines are not effective, your doctor might prescribe a drug that can calm an overactive immune system.
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