If the cause of hives can be identified, the best treatment is to avoid the trigger or eliminate it:. Some cases of hives last for more than six weeks and can last months or years. This condition is known as chronic hives. If the cause cannot be identified, even after a detailed history and testing, the condition is called chronic idiopathic urticaria.
Chronic hives may also be associated with thyroid disease, other hormonal problems or, in very rare instances, cancer. Even this condition usually dissipates over time. In physical urticaria, the hives have a physical cause, such as exposure to heat, cold or pressure. Inflammation of the blood vessels, or vasculitis, can also cause hives.
These hives are more painful than itchy, may leave a bruise on the skin and often last more than a day. Find answers with an allergist. Hives Hives, also known as urticaria, affects about 20 percent of people at some time during their lives. On this page. Whether your allergist suggests a treatment available only by prescription or an over the counter treatment will depend on several factors, including how uncomfortable the hives are making you.
Find expert care. Find an Allergist. Symptoms Symptoms can last anywhere from minutes to months — or even years. While they resemble bug bites, hives also known as urticaria are different in several ways: Hives can appear on any area of the body; they may change shape, move around, disappear and reappear over short periods of time. Allergist Stanley Fineman, MD. Is It Hives or Angioedema? The following symptoms may indicate angioedema: Swelling in the eyes or mouth Swelling of the hands, feet or throat Difficulty breathing, stomach cramps or swelling of the lining of the eyes The best way to identify your symptoms is to talk to an allergist who can diagnose and treat both hives and angioedema.
Diagnosis In some cases, the trigger is obvious — a person eats peanuts or shrimp , and then breaks out within a short time. Management and Treatment Researchers have identified many — but not all — of the factors that can cause hives. Here are a few of the most common causes: Some food especially peanuts, eggs, nuts and shellfish Medications, such as antibiotics especially penicillin and sulfa , aspirin and ibuprofen Insect stings or bites Physical stimuli such as pressure, cold, heat, exercise or sun exposure Latex Blood transfusions Bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections and strep throat Viral infections, including the common cold, infectious mononucleosis and hepatitis Pet dander Pollen Some plants Antihistamines — available either over the counter or by prescription — are a frequently recommended treatment for hives.
Rubbing or scratching: Avoid harsh soaps. Frequent baths may reduce itching and scratching — beneficial because itching and scratching can make the hives feel worse.
Constant pressure: Avoid tight clothing. Pressure hives can be relieved by wearing loose-fitting clothes. Temperature: If you develop hives when exposed to cold, do not swim alone in cold water and always carry an epinephrine auto-injector. Avoid exposure to cold air and use a scarf around your nose and mouth in cold weather.
If you must be out in the cold, wear warm clothing. Sun exposure: Wear protective clothing; apply sunblock. Medications: Notify your physician or pharmacist immediately if you suspect that a specific medication is causing your hives.
Chronic hives Some cases of hives last for more than six weeks and can last months or years. Physical urticaria In physical urticaria, the hives have a physical cause, such as exposure to heat, cold or pressure. Common triggers include: Rubbing or scratching. This is the most frequent cause of physical urticaria. Symptoms appear within a few minutes in the place that was rubbed or scratched and typically last less than an hour. This is due to irritation of the skin.
Extreme heat or cold, overexposure to the sun, excessive sweating , or clothes rubbing the skin during exercise can all result in an outbreak.
This rash rarely spreads beyond the original location. This condition is when hives occurs due to scratching or vigorously rubbing the skin. A hives outbreak occurs when high levels of histamine and other chemical messengers are released into the skin, causing a rash and other symptoms to surface. The high levels of histamine cause blood vessels in the affected area to open up and start to leak. The resulting fluid in the tissues causes swelling and itchiness.
Different triggers might cause a person to have an outbreak of hives. Some common causes include:. Aspirin and ibuprofen, some blood pressure medication ACE inhibitors , and codeine are medications commonly associated with hives. If a person breaks out in hives, it is important for them to know what has triggered the reaction.
Certain things can make the symptoms of hives worse, including:. Hives affect around 15 to 20 percent of people at some point during their lifetime. They are more likely to occur in women and children than men. In the majority of cases, people use home remedies to treat hives and do not seek further medical attention or intervention. Effective home remedies to treat hives include:.
Some people with chronic hives have reported reduced symptoms when taking vitamin D supplements. In more severe cases of hives, medical treatment may be preferable. Some over-the-counter options include:.
The severity of a hives outbreak can vary from person to person, and while most people will be able to manage their symptoms at home, there are some cases where seeking medical attention is advisable. A doctor will examine the rash and ask questions to try to determine the cause. Blood tests and allergy tests may be used to rule out certain causes. Hives is usually very treatable and does not cause complications on its own.
However, in more severe cases, angioedema may occur. Hives or urticaria is a common skin reaction to something like an allergen a substance that causes allergies.
The spots can appear anywhere on the body and can look like tiny little spots, blotches, or large connected bumps. Individual hives can last anywhere from a few hours to a week sometimes longer , and new ones might replace those that fade. Hives that stay for 6 weeks or less are called acute hives; those that go on longer than 6 weeks are chronic hives.
In some cases, a person has hives and angioedema, a condition that causes swelling around the eyes, lips, hands, feet, or throat. Very rarely, hives and angioedema are associated with an allergic reaction that involves the whole body or anaphylactic shock. The red welts of hives happen when mast cells in the bloodstream release the chemical histamine, which makes tiny blood vessels under the skin leak.
The fluid pools within the skin to form spots and large welts. This can happen for a number of reasons. But in many cases the cause is never found. Most often, hives are associated with an allergic reaction, which can make the skin break out within minutes.
Common allergies include:. Hives due to physical causes such as pressure, cold, or sun exposure are called physical hives. It can be hard to figure out what causes chronic urticaria, though it's sometimes linked to an immune system illness, like lupus.
Other times, medicines, food, insects, or an infection can trigger an outbreak. Often, though, doctors don't know what causes chronic hives. Someone who also has angioedema might have puffiness, blotchy redness, swelling, or large bumps around the eyes, lips, hands, feet, genitals, or throat.
0コメント