What is the diagnosis and treatment for contact urticaria?
Sometimes it is easy to recognise contact urticaria and no specific tests are necessary. In most cases the rash rapidly clears up completely once the offending substance is no longer in contact with the skin. RAST tests (a blood test) where available, can be used to confirm allergy. Skin prick test and scratch patch tests confirm the diagnosis of contact urticaria but do not differentiate between allergic and non allergic mechanisms. Patient should have an understanding of the nature of their urticarial reaction (non-immunological vs immunological). Patients with immunological contact urticaria should wear medical alert tags and be aware of the potential life-threatening reactions of the condition. The main aim of treatment is to avoid the substances that cause the urticarial reaction, and find suitable alternatives. Medications that may be used to minimise the reaction include antihistamines and adrenalin for more severe reactions.
