Does angioedema cause skin swelling?

Angioedema is swelling in deeper layers of the skin or lining tissues. It may appear suddenly, feel tight or warm, and sometimes occur with hives or itching. The swelling can affect one area or several areas at once. Common triggers include an allergic reaction, a medicine, an infection, or an inherited tendency; sometimes no clear trigger is found. Skin swelling alone does not identify its cause, so a clinician may ask when it began, what you had eaten or taken, and whether similar episodes happened before.

Move away from a suspected trigger if you can do so safely, and note any new food, medicine, sting, or product used before the swelling. Follow an existing allergy action plan exactly. Do not stop a prescribed medicine unless a healthcare professional advises it, but contact the prescriber promptly if swelling began after a new drug. A cool compress may ease discomfort. Avoid scratching and seek medical advice for new, recurrent, or unexplained episodes.

Call emergency services immediately for swelling of the tongue, mouth, or throat; trouble breathing or swallowing; a hoarse voice; faintness; confusion; or rapidly worsening symptoms. These signs can indicate airway involvement. Seek same-day medical assessment when swelling is spreading, painful, associated with vomiting or dizziness, or not settling, especially if you have no known trigger. See the pages on Angioedema and Skin Swelling for more detail.

Ask what may have triggered the episode, whether you need an allergy action plan, which medicines are safe for you, and what symptoms mean you should use emergency treatment. Tell the clinician about previous swelling, hives, breathing symptoms, and any family history of similar attacks.