“My Skin Itches Like It’s Burning” | Sensitive 20s Cholinergic Urticaria
"My Skin is on Fire": The Pain of 20s Cholinergic Urticaria
Many people I meet in the clinic say this.
"Doctor, my skin feels like it’s burning."
In this one sentence, extreme pain along with hard-to-explain frustration is contained as it is.
Particularly among sensitive 20s patients, there are not a few cases where daily life is greatly threatened due to cholinergic urticaria. It’s easy to think it’s just a phenomenon that appears when sweating or body temperature rises, but in fact, complex principles of constitutional imbalance and neurological sensitivity located deep in our bodies are hidden.
\n\n| \n "Even with a little movement, the whole body stings as if pierced by needles, and it hurts beyond itching. I can’t even dream of exercising with friends or dating. Is there something wrong with me?" \n |
Whenever I hear such pleas, I come to fathom how exhausted the patient’s mind must be.
Many people regard cholinergic urticaria as just a simple skin reaction to ‘external stimuli’ and are busy putting out the symptoms at the moment. However, according to what I observed in clinical practice, such an approach is difficult to be a fundamental solution. It is even more so for young patients with sensitive sensibility.
Beyond Simple Skin Reaction: Hidden Principles of Cholinergic Urticaria
\n\n| \n Recently, I met Park Ji-young (pseudonym) in her early 20s. Even with small stress, her face turned red, and even when it was a bit hot, her skin trouble worsened, such as red spots breaking out all over the body along with itching as if ’skin was burning’. At first, she tried to solve it by avoiding exercise and staying away from hot food, but gradually symptoms started to appear even in trivial emotional changes or warm indoor temperatures. Even if it subsided for a moment, it worsened again at night, making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. She was even more frustrated by the words that there was no special abnormality on the examination. \n |
Like Ji-young, in the chronicity and worsening of cholinergic urticaria, besides simple external stimuli, subtle ’constitutional imbalance’ and ’neurological hyperreactivity’ inside our bodies are deeply involved. Then why does this ’alert system’ operate hypersensitively particularly for this young generation? I often compare this principle to our body’s ’hypersensitive alert system’.
Understanding Cholinergic Urticaria, the ‘Hypersensitive Alert System’ Inside the Body
\n\n
| \n **Cholinergic Urticaria, the ’hypersensitive alert system’ inside the body** Our body perspires for temperature regulation, and at this time, a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine is secreted. Cholinergic urticaria occurs due to the body’s excessive reaction to this acetylcholine. A normal body reacts appropriately when temperature rises, but in cases of having a lot of constitutional heat or the autonomic nervous system being accelerated due to stress, this alert system operates too sensitively. Just as a fire alarm rings loudly even at small smoke. Particularly, stress breaks the balance of the autonomic nervous system and makes the skin even more sensitive. Such constitutional tendency and neurological hyperreactivity act complexly, inducing extreme itching and rash even at trivial stimuli. \n |
This understanding is the core of the important perspective I observe and interpret cholinergic urticaria in clinical practice. From a Western medical perspective, it can be seen simply as a reaction to stimuli, but I believe in our body’s fundamental recovery power and often confirm through various patients that the wisdom passed down from ancient medical books is valid even in this era.
I find that clue in patients’ [VOC] and interpret the signals the body is sending to read hidden patterns.
Simply taking antihistamines to suppress only symptoms is like pulling out batteries when a fire alarm rings. There may be temporary effects, but it cannot solve the fundamental problem.
Then how can we stabilize this ‘hypersensitive alert system’?
Customized Strategy for Fundamental Recovery
The answer lies in the ‘individualized customized management strategy’. I think it’s most important to closely grasp each patient’s constitutional characteristics, lifestyle habits, and current neurological state. Goal is not simply suppressing symptoms revealed on the outside, but balance recovery of the body and nervous system. For this, like a ‘customized story’ tailored to each patient’s body state and life context, I encourage the body’s unique healing power through herbal treatment and simultaneously suggest specific guides viable in daily life. This process is like adjusting the sensitivity of the hypersensitized alert system and regaining the stability of the entire system.
\n\n| \n **Daily life cholinergic urticaria management tips:** 1. Pay attention to temperature changes: Avoid sudden temperature changes and reduce the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors when using air conditioners or heaters. 2. Water intake: Sufficient water intake is helpful for temperature regulation and skin soothing. 3. Stress management: Find peace of mind through meditation, light exercise, and sufficient rest. Stress is a main culprit of symptom worsening. 4. Clothes without irritation: Wear soft cotton material clothes that are well-ventilated to minimize skin irritation. \n |
Such lifestyle management is important, but if symptoms are already serious, professional help is necessary. I often see cases where people try to solve it themselves and rather worsen symptoms.
Wise Choice for Self: Walking with an Expert
\n\n
| \n Rash self-diagnosis and treatment are prohibited! Cholinergic urticaria has diverse symptoms and often has complex causes. Self-diagnosing based on internet information only or relying on unverified folk remedies can worsen symptoms even more or miss the appropriate treatment timing. Be sure to meet a medical team that can closely look at the entire body and establish diagnosis and treatment plans suitable for individual constitution and state. \n |
Eventually, overcoming cholinergic urticaria is a journey of regaining harmony of our body and mind beyond simple skin problem solving.
The patients I face in clinical practice are those who have the will to understand themselves even in pain. When I listen to the voice of the body and interpret that voice together, the path of recovery finally opens.
I will work together so the scream “My skin itches like it’s burning” changes to the relief “Now I feel like I can live.” Even today, I am walking with patients in the clinic.
I hope this post presents small comfort along with courage toward recovery to those suffering alone.
Remember that your own body has enough power to heal sufficiently. I am a companion who will find and awaken that power together.
