Effective Treatment Options For Urticaria Pigmentosa

Photochemotherapy

Photochemotherapy is a type of ultraviolet radiation that can help with symptom management for urticaria pigmentosa. The treatment can be administered to the whole body or to localized areas only, and patients typically have treatments two or three times a week. Before treatment, patients may need to take pills or soak in a special solution. Photochemotherapy itself involves the patient standing in a cabinet full of ultraviolet bulbs. The bulbs are turned on for up to half an hour, and the cabinet normally has air conditioning to keep the patient comfortable. Patients wear safety goggles during treatment to protect their eye health. Photochemotherapy can cause side effects, including sunburn, itching, skin dryness, and tanning of the skin. In addition, the treatment may prematurely age the skin, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. As a precaution, patients undergoing photochemotherapy should have their skin examined by a dermatologist to screen for skin cancer. Some patients have reported nausea following treatment.

Avoid Picking At Lesions

Patients with this condition should do everything possible to avoid picking at lesions. Doing so can produce hives and blistering of the skin, both of which can be painful and result in scarring. To avoid picking at lesions, patients should take any antihistamines they have been prescribed; this will cut down on the itching that contributes to picking. Patients should also keep their skin as moist as possible, and a lotion or ointment can be applied up to four times a day. To avoid scratching the skin at night, patients may wish to consider wearing gloves to sleep. If an area has been heavily scratched, an infection may develop. Signs of infection include swelling, redness, warmth, pain, or discharge. Patients who believe they may have an infection should visit their doctor as soon as possible.