Category: 4. Hives

  • Hives and stress

    One trigger for acute hives may be adrenalin, the American Academy of Dermatology explains. Research has linked persistent stress with a mild underlying infection in people with chronic urticaria, and experts are interested in finding out whether these issues have a shared underlying mechanism. Managing stress through meditation, exercise, or counseling may help some people with chronic hives manage…

  • Home remedies

    Tips for reducing hives symptoms include: using a soothing lotion or cool compresses to ease the itchiness wearing loose, light, cotton clothing avoiding scratching choosing soaps, moisturizers, and other cosmetics for sensitive skin avoiding overheating by taking cold showers and using a fan avoiding sun exposure avoiding exposure to known triggers There is some evidence that…

  • Treatment

    The best approach to treatment depends on the cause and whether the issue is acute or chronic. Acute urticaria If symptoms are mild and occur after exposure to an allergen or irritant, home remedies can usually soothe the itchiness until the rash disappears. Options that a doctor may recommend include: non-sedating antihistamines, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec)…

  • Hives vs. other rashes

    Hives are a kind of rash. If someone has hives, the rash typically has these features: It is raised and itchy. There may be swelling under the affected skin. There may be papules or plaques. The affected areas of skin can expand and join together. The rash may be pink, red, or skin-colored. The center turns…

  • Hives on different parts of the body

    Hives can appear anywhere on the body, such as the: legs arms trunk face Hives on the legs Some people have “papular urticaria” in reaction to insect or spider bites. It usually affects children who have not yet developed immunity to these bites. The lesions can develop anywhere, but commonly occur on the legs. Below are some…

  • Symptoms

    Hives often has these features: The characteristic raised skin lesions can appear in any area of the body. The lesions often appear in batches. They tend to be itchy. They may be pink, red, or skin-colored. If a person presses in the middle, the coloring may fade. The bumps usually last no longer than 24 hours,…

  • Underlying health conditions

    Some examples of health conditions that can cause hives include: viral infections, such as the flu, the common cold, glandular fever, or hepatitis B bacterial infections, such as some urinary tract infections and strep throat intestinal parasites, such as Giardia lamblia autoimmune hypothyroidism autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s disease, celiac disease, and type 1 diabetes any other condition that causes inflammation of blood vessels…

  • Physical triggers

    A physical factor other than an allergen can cause hives. Here are some possible triggers: sunlight exposure scratching or rubbing the skin pressure, from a tight belt, for example extreme temperatures or changes in temperature a high body temperature, due to sweating, exercise, anxiety, or a hot shower adrenalin, which the body releases during exercise and…

  • Allergens

    Hives can develop when the body reacts to an allergen. When an allergic reaction occurs, the body releases a protein called histamine. Next, tiny blood vessels called capillaries leak fluid. This fluid accumulates in the skin and causes inflammation and a rash. As fluid accumulates under the skin, small bumps form. The reaction can occur if a…

  • Causes

    Hives can develop as a reaction to: an allergen another physical trigger, such as extreme temperatures an underlying health condition Sometimes there is no clear reason why they occur. In the case of chronic hives, some experts believe that it may result from an autoimmune reaction, but they are still unsure.