What You Need to Know About Hives



Hives, also known as urticaria, is a common skin condition characterized by raised, itchy red welts on the skin. The welts are caused by an allergic reaction to something in the environment or in the body. Hives can range from mild to severe and can last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks or even months.

The most common cause of hives is an allergic reaction to something in the environment such as pollen, dust mites, animal dander, food or medication. Other causes of hives include stress, extreme temperatures and infections. In some cases, hives may be caused by an underlying medical condition such as thyroid disease or lupus.

Treatment for hives depends on the cause and severity of symptoms. Mild cases of hives may resolve on their own and require no treatment other than over-the-counter antihistamines such as Benadryl or Claritin to help reduce itching and swelling. Severe cases may require prescription medications such as steroids or antihistamines to help reduce inflammation and provide relief from itching and swelling. In some cases, your doctor may recommend light therapy if your hives are caused by an underlying medical condition such as lupus or thyroid disease.

It’s important to avoid triggers that can cause your hives to flare up including certain foods like shellfish, peanuts or eggs; medications; stress; extreme temperatures; tight clothing; perfumes; soaps; detergents; pet dander; pollen and dust mites. If you’re not sure what is causing your hives you should consider keeping a diary of what you eat during flare ups so that you can identify potential triggers more easily.

If you experience any signs of infection along with your hives such as fever or pus-filled bumps it’s important that you seek medical attention right away since this could be a sign of a more serious condition like cellulitis which requires prompt treatment with antibiotics in order to prevent further complications from developing .

Overall, it’s important that if you experience any signs of hives you speak with your doctor about potential treatments options so that they can determine the best course of action for managing your symptoms effectively .

Tags:

Hives, Urticaria, Allergic Reaction, Environment, Body, Stress, Extreme Temperatures, Infections, Medical Condition, Treatment Options, Over-the-Counter Antihistamines Benadryl/Claritin, Prescription Medications Steroids/Antihistamines, Light Therapy, Triggers Foods/Medications/Stress/Extreme Temperatures/Tight Clothing/Perfumes/Soaps/Detergents /Pet Dander/Pollen /Dust Mites, Signs of Infection Fever /Pus-Filled Bumps, Cellulitis Prompt Treatment Antibiotics.,

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