Urticaria Day 2022: promoting a better quality of life

28th September 2022

Urticaria Day 2022: promoting a better quality of life

That time of year has come around again. Every year on the 1st of October, we raise awareness for Urticaria Day. By marking the occasion we want people to speak up about their life with the condition, and how we can make it an easier burden to bear.

This year is all about a “better quality of life”. While chronic urticaria is a physical condition, we don’t always pay attention to the effects it can have on our mental health. The focus of Urticaria Day 2022 is about how we can deal with the mental health challenges that arise and support those who need it.

If you’re not aware of urticaria and its far-reaching effects, we’re here to give you all the information you need.

What is urticaria?

Urticaria is a skin condition that you may also know as ‘hives’. You can notice it by its characteristic pale red weals that it leaves on the skin. It might not seem serious, but the intense itching that comes along with it can take a real toll on a person’s day.

This can be present on a specific part of the body for some, but for others it can spread across larger areas. And, while it can be acute and temporary, for many it is a chronic condition that flares up repeatedly. If you want to read more, we’ve talked about Urticaria Day in previous blogs, which you can find here, here, and here.

What is Urticaria Day 2022?

As we said before, this year’s theme is a “better quality of life”. Because even though it’s a skin condition, it can affect all aspects of a person’s life. As anyone living with the condition will attest to. They can compromise your ability to work, stop you from doing physical activity, or strain your relationships.

This is how it can affect a person’s mental health. People with chronic urticaria may feel isolated because their friends and family don’t understand. Or, by preventing someone from physical activity, it might stop them doing something they love. If the aim is to improve quality of life, then mental health has to be a part of the conversation.

The Urticaria Day website has some fantastic short videos that show just how chronic urticaria can affect our lives. From disturbing sleep to increasing anxiety, these videos are well worth showing someone who doesn’t understand how you feel.

What can you do?

The reason why Urticaria Day exists? To raise awareness. So if you want to do something to help, spread the word! There are a number of ways the organisers suggest you can help out. Why not look to see if there are any events in your local community? Just search “Urticaria Day” and your area and see what comes up. Take a look at social media, too.

Speaking of which, if you can’t take part in an event, you can still post about it on social media. The Urticaria Day organisers ask you to use the #UrticariaDay2022 and #UDAY2022 hashtags to join in with the conversation. Just showing that you’re paying attention can go a long way. And let your friends and family know all about it and how serious it can be.

For anyone suffering with acute or chronic urticaria, just know that you’re not alone. Urticaria Day 2022 is here to show you how much people care. If you’re ever concerned about your condition, talk to a skincare or allergy specialist to discuss the right course of treatment for you.

We’re a comforting shoulder for anyone with urticaria. We raise awareness about this condition every year because we acknowledge the effect it has on people. To discuss your urticaria, you can book an appointment with us, or simply give us a call on 02031 433 449.

Urticaria Day 2021: everything you should know about this skin condition

29th September 2021

Urticaria Day 2021: everything you should know about this skin condition

It’s almost October 1st again, which means Urticaria Day is just around the corner. This day is a great time to highlight a condition people don’t talk about enough.

So we thought today we’d answer some frequently asked questions about this common ailment, as well as sharing how you can get involved in this year’s event, building awareness and sharing your support.

What is urticaria?

Urticaria is a skin affliction which you might more commonly know as hives, weals, welts, and nettle rash. It involves raised, extremely itchy rashes and bumps on the skin.

These rashes might be present on an isolated part of the body or spread across larger areas. They can also vary from being a few millimetres in size to being around the size of a hand. 

The condition has two varieties: acute and chronic urticaria. The former is when the rash clears completely within six weeks, while the latter is if the rash persists for more than six weeks.

Who does it affect?

Urticaria is a common condition that affects around 1 in 5 people at some point in their lives. Most frequently, it’s experienced by children, women aged 30-60, and those with a previous history of allergies.

What causes it?

Urticaria appears when something triggers the body to produce high levels of histamine and other chemical messengers. This causes the blood vessels to open and leak – causing redness and itchiness, respectively.

Triggers might include an allergic reaction, infection, heat/cold exposure, or certain medications. Caffeine, alcohol, stress, and warm temperatures can also make symptoms worse.

Can it be treated?

If you experience urticaria, and your symptoms don’t go away within 48 hours, you’ll want to speak with your GP. The same goes for anything you find distressing, distracting from your daily life, or appearing in combination with other symptoms.

In milder cases, rashes will usually clear on their own within a few days. But you can always take over-the-counter antihistamines to relieve some of the itching and discomfort.

What is Urticaria Day?

Taking place every October 1st since 2014, Urticaria Day is all about building awareness, establishing communities, and showing solidarity with those struggling with urticaria. 

A lot of people find their symptoms distressing, embarrassing, or isolating, making it even more important to encourage widespread education on the condition, its cause, and its prevalence.

To get involved, why not share your experience with others? If you haven’t experienced it yourself, you could take some time to learn the key facts or share information using #WorldUrticariaDay.

Urticaria is an incredibly common condition that will impact many of us throughout our lives. And because of this, it warrants greater conversation and awareness. To read more, you can check out some of our previous posts in honour of Urticaria Day here and here.

If you believe an allergy might be triggering your urticaria flare-ups, or are suffering any other symptoms of a reaction, get in touch with the London Allergy and Immunology Centre to book an allergy test. Call us today on 02031 433 449. And to show your support for Urticaria Day, head over to the official website to find out how you can help.

Urticaria Day 2019 – The psychological effects of urticaria

1st October 2019

Urticaria Day 2019 – The psychological effects of urticaria

October 1st marks the sixth annual Urticaria Day; a day to spread awareness about this surprisingly common condition. Most of us probably know the physical symptoms of urticaria – or hives as you might call it. But there can also be significant psychological effects of urticaria. 

Urticaria often presents as a rash, with patches of red, raised bumps appearing on the skin. While a lot of the time these rashes will disappear in a few days, in 30% of people an attack will recur over months or even years. When the problem persists, it can have a big impact on someone’s mental wellbeing, causing embarrassment, anxiety, or being a distraction from daily life.

Embarrassment

If someone suffers from urticaria, it can lead to a lot of embarrassment. If they have a rash on their arm, they may be scared to walk down the street in a T-shirt – even if it’s the peak of summer. They don’t want the attention being drawn to them and may be ashamed about the rash. It’s especially hard if passersby aren’t educated on the condition as they might stare at it, leaving the sufferer feeling even worse. 

A sufferer may even feel so self-conscious about their hives they become hesitant to leave the house or continue their daily activities. 

Anxiety or depression

Urticaria can cause a sufferer’s self-esteem to plummet. It may trigger anxiety about being out in public or even feelings of depression. If these are already struggles they face, a bout of urticaria could make them even worse.

If someone is ashamed or embarrassed about their rash, they’ll likely turn these feelings inward and blame themselves. It could be detrimental to their mental health in all sorts of ways.

Distraction

If someone’s worrying about their rash or constantly itching it, they won’t be able to properly focus. At work, a sufferer may be distracted and end up falling behind. Or a student at school may struggle to focus in class. 

Urticaria can have plenty of effects aside from the obvious physical ones. That’s why Urticaria Day is so important. It lets sufferers know they’re not alone and helps educate everyone else so we can all be a bit more supportive and understanding. After all, this year’s slogan is “Who cares? UCARE!”. And whether we directly suffer or not, we should all care about urticaria and its far-reaching effects.

If you think you’re having a flare-up of urticaria, arrange an appointment with one of our UCARE (Urticaria Centre of Reference and Excellence) experts. Get in touch on 02031 433 449.