Everything You Should Know About Papular Urticaria

Symptoms

Papular urticaria usually appears as itchy, red bumps or blisters on top of the skin. Some blisters can appear in clusters on the body. The bumps are usually symmetrically distributed, and each bump is usually between 0.2 and 2 centimeters in size.

Papular urticaria can appear on any part of the body. The bumps and blisters can disappear and reappear on the skin. After a blister disappears, it sometimes leaves behind a dark mark on the skin.

Symptoms usually appear in the late spring and summer. The lesions of papular urticaria can last for days to weeks before clearing up. Since the rash can disappear and reappear, symptoms can recur for weeks or months. The bumps can reappear because of new insect bites and stings, or continued environmental insect exposure.

Sometimes secondary infections appear because of scratching. Scratching the itchy bumps and blisters can break open the skin. That increases your risk for infection.

Causes

Papular urticaria is not contagious. It can appear because of an allergic reaction to the presence of insects. Some of the common causes of papular urticaria are bites from:

  • mosquitoes
  • fleas (the most common cause)
  • mites
  • carpet beetles
  • bed bugs

Risk factors

The condition is more common among children between the ages of 2 and 10. Papular urticaria is not as common among adults, but it can occur in anyone.

See a doctor

You may want to see a doctor so that they can rule out other medical conditions. Your doctor may do a skin examination or skin biopsy to determine the cause of the bumps and blisters.

If a secondary infection is present because of scratching, then it may be necessary to see a doctor immediately.

Treatment

Several treatment options are available for papular urticaria. Most of them address the symptoms of the condition.

Medications your doctor may prescribe or recommend include:

  • topical steroids
  • oral anti-inflammatory corticosteroids
  • systemic antihistamines
  • topical or oral antibiotics

Over-the-counter options include:

  • calamine or menthol lotions and creams
  • oral antihistamines

These treatment options may be appropriate for children. Talk to your doctor about treatments that are safe for your child. Your doctor can also help you determine the correct dosage.

Prevention

You can take several measures to prevent papular urticaria from occurring. The first is to eliminate the source of the problem. The second is to regularly check for insect infestations and treat them.

  • Use pesticide and insecticide treatments to reduce populations of mosquitoes and other insects around your house.
  • Use flea control medications and treatments on pets and livestock.
  • Use bug sprays on children and adults that are safe and recommended by a doctor.
  • Wear protective clothing when outside or in areas with large insect populations.
  • Limit the amount of time you spend in areas with a lot of insects.
  • Consider using insecticide-treated bed nets and clothing in areas with many mosquitoes.
  • Eliminate bed bug infestations in the home.
  • Regularly inspect pets and livestock for fleas and mites. Take immediate action to treat them.
  • Give pets frequent baths.
  • Wash all bedding and cloth items that pets sleep on to reduce risk for infestations.
  • Vacuum the entire indoor area of your home to pick up fleas, flea eggs, and other insects. Carefully dispose of the vacuum bags to avoid reintroducing the insects into the environment.
  • Avoid keeping chickens or pet birds in the home because of the risk of mites.

Outlook

Papular urticaria is likely to recur. The condition can return because of continued exposure to the allergen. Children can sometimes outgrow it by building a tolerance.

After repeated exposure, the reactions may stop. This varies from person to person, and it can take weeks, months, or years to stop.

Papular urticaria is not a contagious disease. It usually appears as itchy, red bumps and blisters on the skin after an insect exposure. There are several treatment options for the symptoms, but the condition can resolve on its own over time.

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