Hives are also known as urticaria in medical terms. It often refers to red, itching and raised areas on the skin and appears in different forms. They could range any where between a few millimetres to several inches throughout the body. Hives can either be round or can form rings or can be in the form of large patches. Hives can occur on any part of the body namely trunk, arms or legs.
The red and swollen bumps, patches, wheals or welts are another name for hives. They have a tendency to appear and disappear suddenly. One of the most common symptoms that is associated with hives is that of itching. Many people even complain of a burning or stinging sensation. These are a common reaction to every stimuli. Allergic reaction can be the major cause of hives, but for most cases, the reason for outbreak is not known.
Get rid of hives
What causes hives?
Hives are produced by a chemical substance called histamine as well as other compounds that are released from specialized cells known as mast cells. This histamine causes fluid to leak from the blood vessels, thus leading to itching and swelling of the skin.
Hives are a common phenomena. Though disturbing and irritating to look at, they resolve usually on their own over a few weeks. Certain hives are generally caused by allergies by such items like food, insect stings and other medications. A large majority of cases are not allergic, and no reason is ever known for their cause. This also brings about frustration among the sufferers by not knowing themselves as to what could be cause for hives in them. Nonetheless, hives do not lead to medical life threatening complications.
It is more difficult to find out how urticaria or hives occur in our body. It is important to note that allergic conditions do not lead to Urticaria. Some of the causes of hives are:
- allergens. Many number of allergens can be identified as the main reason for the cause of urticaria. An urticaria is individual hypersensitivity and these factors may not ascertain urticaria in urticaria-prone people.
- Urticaria and alcohol: The symptoms of analphylaxis occur in many patients following ingestion of beer or wine.
- Environmental factors – urticaria may be induced by exposure to house-dust, buffalo dander, house dust, pollen, change in temperature are some of the environmental factors.
- Other factors that lead to hives are drugs such as penicillin, allergens and other emotional factors.
Treatment of hives:
Most cases of hives are treated by relieving away the symptoms that are the cause of the hives; and thereafter the skin condition fades away by itself. The most common of oral treatments are the antihistamines.
Therapies for curing hives include the application of cream or lotion that help numb nerves and reduce the itching sensation. Though these are annoying and disturbing, they are mostly temporary.
Hives can often be difficult to treat. There are no proven treatments for controlling the attacks. In certain cases it is difficult to ascertain the appropriate medications because such a skin condition is intermittent and the outbreaks disappear without any treatment.
