Also known as urticaria, hives are raised welts that form on your skin. They usually appear reddish, pink, or mimic the color of flesh. They can sometimes cause a stinging sensation of pain. In most cases, you will develop hives due to allergic reactions to irritants in the environment, food, or medication. Most cases of hives are acute, and you can treat them successfully with allergy medications. Sometimes, they go away on their own, even without a prescription. However, all cases that come with severe allergic reactions are a significant medical concern that needs the attention of an allergist specializing in hives in Gilbert.
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Causes
Hives are usually caused by allergy reactions to something you have come into contact with or ingested. When you develop an allergic reaction, your body produces histamines into your bloodstream. Histamines are chemicals released by your body to protect it from infections and toxic substances. In the case of an allergic reaction, the histamines can cause itching, swelling, and many other symptoms associated with hives. Common allergens that cause hives include medications, animal dander, insect bites, pollen, and food.
Hives also come about as a result of something else unrelated to allergies. You can easily develop hives due to stress, illness, infection, tight clothes, and exercise. Prolonged exposure to cold or hot temperatures and irritation from excessive sweating can also cause hives. Due to the numerous triggers, it is difficult to determine the actual cost in most cases.
Symptoms
The most obvious symptom associated with the condition is the welts that form on your skin. They can be red or the same color as your skin. They can also vary in size and shape. If you have hives, you can experience itching. In some cases, they may grow in size, adopt different forms, and spread to other parts of the body.
They may disappear and reappear throughout the outbreak and some can last anywhere between 30 minutes to an entire day. They may turn white and change shape and form to create a more extensive raised area when pressed. They can form on any part of your body.
Contact emergency medical services if you have hives on your tongue or around the throat or experience trouble breathing during an outbreak.
Types of Hives
The most common types of hives are allergic reactions caused by an allergen you are sensitive to. Common allergens that cause hives include:
- Foods like eggs, milk, and nuts
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Insect stings and bites
- Medications such as ibuprofen, cancer medicines, and antibiotics
- Dust mites
You can treat mild cases of hives resulting from allergies using short-term or long-term allergy medications. Avoiding the trigger can also help.
Anaphylaxis can also cause different types of hives. It is a severe allergic reaction that comes with life-threatening symptoms. Hives experienced during anaphylaxis can also come with intense swelling, dizziness, and nausea or vomiting. If you suspect anaphylaxis, you should contact emergency medical services.
To summarise, hives are raised welts that form on your skin, primarily resulting from an allergic reaction. The primary symptom of hives is the welts that form on your skin. They can change in size and shape and spread to other parts of the body throughout the outbreak. The most common hives are caused by and allergic reactions due to allergens in foods, medications, and other triggers, and hives caused by anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction with life-threatening symptoms.