Insanely irritant skin when I'm hot?

Question

First of all, there is no patches of red until I scratch.

Sometimes for some reason, when a stimulus surprises me/changes my mood (happy to sad, happy to embarassed etc), I feel like I am melting, and I feel like the blood is dilating in my body right up to my skin and it itches like hell, and is so bad that most of the time it results in an instant mood swing to which makes me turn insane and I start punching things/myself/shouting etc because it's unbearable and makes me want to jump out of my own skin.

Sometimes it goes when I make my body temperature very cold via exterior sources, like putting ice on my back or having a very cold shower. But this doesn't always work, I think it just numbs the sensation and it goes by itself. It eventually goes away but I need to be cold and withstand/ignore the feeling until it goes, when I acknowledge it, it gets worse. As if someone is rubbing infinite stinging nettles just underneath the surface of my skin, or bathing me in poison ivy...
So basically it's an emotional response which results in massive itching.
Any clue what this is and how to get rid of it?

Eisbär · Accepted Answer

Yea, sounds like Cholinergic uticaria, aka, "heat rash" or "hives." If that is what it is, you can take an anti-histamine, such as Allegra or Claritin, and if notice some relief, but not total, I believe it is safe to take up to three per day.

Also, if you are prone to hives, this also means you could be prone to dermograhpism, which is hives caused by scratching or pressure. (I have that, and even slight scratches can cause big red welts on my skin if I am not careful, or didn't take an anti-histamine--if I take two or three anti-histamines each day, without forgetting, I am usually fine).

For either or both cholinergic uticaria and dermographism, doctors generally prescribe taking a H1 antihistamine, like Allegra, Claritin, or if okay with causing some drowsiness, Zyrtec. (I don't like Zytec, because of that reason, and I think Allegra is best, but each person is different, so one might work better for others, and vice versa. Benadryl also is an anti-histamine, and a strong one, but makes me super sleepy, so wouldn't recommend taking that, unless it's before bed time, and don't have to wake up early, since it also makes me super groggy next morning).

Per Derm Net, "cholinergic urticaria is a common physical urticaria that is caused by sweating. It is sometimes referred to as heat bumps, as the rash appears as very small (1-4mm) weals surrounded by bright red flares."

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Insanely irritant skin when I'm hot?

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