Cronic Spontaneous Urticaria?

[Guest Posts]

Have burning, soreness & redness on sternum, face including eyelids & neck for over 5 months, all very dry including hands which go red from the knuckles down to tips also a tightness almost like a rubber band around my throat, was suspected dermatomyositis, proved negative. Dermatology state it’s Cronic Spontaneous Urticaria?. I’m sceptical as I feel they just don’t know what’s triggered it. Put on Fexofenadine Antihistamines 4x daily plus 1x Montelukas. No change and feeling desperate.
Thank you, Paula

[Dr Faheem Latheef]

Dear Paula,
Thanks for your message. Although it is difficult to comment without seeing you, I would agree that there are few points that would suggest that this may not be urticaria. Typically urticaria is not dry or scaly (more suggestive of a dermatitis) and you would expect some response to the treatment you have had already. As it’s clearly still very active I would encourage you to go back and see your Dermatologist to review your skin and maybe reconsider the diagnosis or do some more investigations such as taking a skin biopsy to help confirm the diagnosis. Hope that helps.