Skin Conditions
Hives (Urticaria)
Hives, also known as Urticaria, are raised red to white bumps that can resemble mosquito bites. Hives are actually very common and up to 20% of the population may have an episode of hives. Sometimes there is an obvious cause of hives, but other times there is no identifiable trigger.
Hives can occur in response to an allergic reaction from eating a food or taking a drug. Some people can have a chronic form of hives and are triggered by cold temperatures (Cold-Induced Urticaria) or pressure on the skin (Pressure Urticaria).
There are some patients that have chronic hives (more than 6 weeks) without an obvious trigger or allergy. These patients can have hives either daily or on and off for years. A thorough evaluation should be made to make sure there is no underlying reason for the hives. If no reason can be found, then patients can be offered a treatment program usually involving a combination of antihistamines as well as other medications tailored to that patient to decrease the severity and frequency of the hives.
For those patients that have severe hives that have not responded to oral medications we offer several different treatment options with highly specialized biologic drugs.
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Eczema is a chronic skin disorder. Patients suffer from very itchy and dry skin. Some patients can have a food allergy causing the eczema. If there is a food allergy causing the eczema, we can do allergy skin testing in the office, help determine the food and give advice on how to avoid the food. We can also give suggestions on using certain non-irritating soaps, detergents, moisturizing agents and medications.
Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a skin rash caused by direct contact with an irritant or an allergic substance, such as metals, fragrances, preservatives, topical medications, rubber chemicals, or plants. A careful medical history and skin examination are essential to identify potential triggers and determine whether patch testing is appropriate. When indicated, we perform comprehensive patch testing to identify the specific substances responsible for your rash. We then provide individualized recommendations on allergen avoidance, safe substitute products, skin care, and treatment strategies to help relieve symptoms, prevent future flare-ups, and restore healthy skin.
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