Skin Hives and Flu Virus

by Danny
(Lancashire, England)

Skin Writing on Arm

A while back, I caught a flu type bug that made me ill for a couple of days and I also got horrible nettle type skin hives all over my body. The skin hives were severe for a few days and I could not properly dry myself without feeling like I was being stung by insects. I am allergic to all nuts but I actually thought at the time that this may be from a new product in the house such as a shampoo or something that I'd grown allergic too. However, it came at the exact time that I was ill and I never experienced anything ever like these skin hives beforehand.

It is now over three years since and the skin hives have calmed down from the severe state but I still get them if I rub myself against anything such as catching my arms when eating at a table, moving boxes and even scratching myself with my fingernails. I use calamine lotion when the hives itch badly. Other people only seem to get these hives as an allergic reaction to something, but I have them all the time and they can be brought up by simply scratching the skin lightly or pressing down on the skin with any object. I am not allergic to myself or any other products which would cause the skin hives.

Most websites say the skin hives should disappear in about six weeks. My hives have lasted over three years. I have seen two doctors for other things and asked about them about my skin problem and they put me on antihistamines which didn't do anything but make me sleepy after months of use and the doctors do not seem to tell me much else about my skin hives problem.

Is this something I should worry about? Is it actually going to go one day or is this flu-bug I caught one of a kind that just messed me up in this way? I would love to hear anything that would shine light on the subject.

Above is a picture of my arm. I drew a horizontal line with four vertical lines with a plastic pen end about 30 minutes before it was taken and the lines are still visible but faint. I then drew WTF (my apologies, it was only thing that came to mind) with a brass house key which came up exorcist style and was very itchy. Thanks for reading.

From the picture and your description it sure looks and sounds like you have developed a dermatographism skin problem. The cause is difficult to pinpoint but I have heard of many cases where hives that were brought on by exposure to a virus can trigger this problem. In time it may go away completely or just become a mild hives condition for many years. It is difficult to say. I would suggest you discuss with your doctor other antihistamines that may work better for you and/or look into natural hives treatments.

Comments for Skin Hives and Flu Virus

Click here to add your own comments.
Visit this PICTURES OF RASHES PAGE.

Jun 01, 2018

Hives and Probiotics
by: Belly

I was caring for somebody who wasn't well with some sort of bug when I came down with a fever - night sweats, nausea, and migraines. I was too sick to go to the doctor and so I just let it run it's course but a few weeks after I began to suffer with hives constantly. I was told they should only last 24 hours and it was probably an allergic reaction but they were there to stay. Mine lasted for three years. I could not wear clothes for longer than four hours because of waistbands and straps. I could not carry bags of shopping either, especially plastic bags. I kept being told that there was too much heat in my body and I suffer with pressure. The hospital kept giving me antihistamines but they only ever worked for a few days or two weeks at the most. I found Chinese herbs medicine worked better but only for one or two weeks longer than the antihistamines. I felt like the dermatologist that I got to see at the hospital was frustrated with me.

There were lots of strange things going wrong with me and not just urticaria and angioedema. The dermatologist was not very helpful. Everything I ate or drank brought me out in swellings. I ended up with a long list of things I was allergic to. Living on quinoa and coconut.

It got to a stage where I thought it has been three years now, nobody can help, I am still losing weight and so I started taking good quality Probiotics. I stuck with the probiotics from the health shop and in time I was suffering less, the hives were smaller, until one day they stopped completely. I was able to eat the things I did before as well. I stopped researching on the Internet and putting myself through test after test, even biopsies. I gave up trying to get to the bottom of what was causing them but I know how difficult it is not to keep looking on the Internet when you are suffering so much. The suffering caused me so much stress and anxiety. I could not hold down a job and I needed to take my clothes off after four hours and to cool my body down and ease the itching with a cold shower. The doctors were stressing me out more with their ignorance. I cannot thank the probiotics enough for giving me my life back.

I still suffer with my hands but only slightly, I get blisters taking caps off bottles especially plastic ones but that's all. I hope the probiotics help you too and everyone else who suffers with pressure and allergy related swellings. My heart goes out to you all. Stay positive and Good Luck!

Click here to add your own comments.
Visit this PICTURES OF RASHES PAGE.

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Dermographism Questions and Answers.

Share this page:

What’s this?

Facebook Twitter

Disclaimer and Privacy Policy

Visit this PICTURES OF RASHES PAGE