Urticaria and elimination diets

November 19, 2001

Your doctor probably mentioned urticaria or hives. Urticaria presents itself as area of pale red, raised, irregularly shaped, itchy areas on the skin. These hives (also called welts, weals, or wheals) can range from pencil eraser size to several inches, and are usually flat-topped.

Allergens (substances you are allergic to) trigger the release of histamine in your body. Excessive amounts of histamine cause fluid to leak into the affected area, resulting in symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes, or hives.

If there is no obvious cause for the urticaria, most physicians I've worked with will suspect food allergy, since foods are one of the most common causes. Because urticaria can be life-threatening, and the person is usually allergic to more than one food, doctors often prescribe a strict elimination diet.

If the urticaria stops with the strict diet, that is good evidence that foods may be the cause.

The doctors I've seen use this method have added foods back slowly, one at a time until the patient developed urticaria again. They then recommended that the patient permanently eliminate the last food added before the reaction. Once the urticaria cleared, they continued to add more foods one at a time until the foods most likely to cause urticaria were tested in this way.

An Allergist or Otolaryngic Allergy specialist is trained in this method of treatment, but some other physicians may be able to use it successfully also.

[See our Advertising Policy]