What Are Hives? What Causes Them to Occur?

Hives are raised pink swellings under the skin. They are often in patches and can occur all over the body including inside the mouth, nostrils as well as ears and eyes. Hives are very painful because they burn and itch. The medical term for hives is urticaria. They are also called welts, that pop up all over the body.

I have suffered from hives for many years now, since my early childhood. After going through numerous test and a process of elimination of different foods, blankets etc in my home it finally came down to the doctor stating I was allergic to caffeine.

The doctor may prescribe to you a prescription for Atarax which I've taken and it works very well for hives. It tends to cause drowsiness but it instantly relieves the panic one may experience, when they are completely broken out. There are also some other medications you can buy over the counter to help.

The medications that can be used to help soothe the hives are Allegra, Vistaril, Zrytec and Claritin. Some other items you may wish to try that worked well for me is Benadryl and oatmeal with milk baths. Taking oatmeal and patting it down on the hives with milk can actually soothe the skin of the irritations.

Hives usually last from a few hours up to 24 hours. They can be very dangerous if you have a bad case of them and depending on what your allergic to. I have had times when my eyes were completely swollen shut as well as my throat, which caused restriction with my breathing.

There are many things that can cause hives. Some of the most common culprits are fish, nuts, peanuts, eggs, medications, ,old, pollen, hay fever and sometimes certain infections can trigger the outbreak of hives as well as stress.

Determining what causes your hives will be a challenge. Once you have went through the process of elimination and determine what it is your allergic to, the best thing to do is to avoid that item as much as possible. But should you have an outbreak and have no medication within your reach, there are things you can do.

First thing to try is cool compresses. This helps to relieve the itching as well as calm you down. Using Calamine lotion on the hi8ves will also help to stop the itching and burning that's caused by the hives. There are many food allergies and other skin reactions that can cause hives.

According to medicine web hives are actually caused when the bodies tiny veins leak fluid under the skin and they get trapped causing the body to swell. Getting overly stressed and sun burnt can sometimes cause a person to break out in hives.

If you break out with hives and it's the first time you've ever had them, then it's best you look at your home first. Have you bought a new blanket? Maybe your using a new soap or shampoo? All of these things can cause an allergic reaction and a break out of hives.

Hives can be very dangerous if not treated properly. If you or someone you know is suffering from an outbreak of hives and you see they are having difficulty swallowing or breathing it's time to seek medical attention.

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Author: Candus Poyner

www.medicinemd.com