Hives are very common among adults and children and almost everybody experience it in some point of their lives. It is very significant and advantageous to know more about hives. Read on and learn these five very useful and simple facts on hives.
- What are hives?
Hives are common skin problems which are also known as urticaria or wheals. They are swollen skin reactions which are very itchy and reddish in color. They appear as rashes on the skin consisting of circular welts of varying sizes.
- What are its common symptoms?
You can easily tell if you have hives if skin eruptions suddenly occur in your skin which looks like mosquito bites, only they are itchier and cause discomfort. The welts have the tendency to change shape and size and may last for a few minutes, hours, and in some cases the whole day. Another symptom is angiodema or the swelling of the lips, face, and tongue accompanied by a burning sensation.
- What causes it?
Hives have many causes and the most common include the medication people usually take like antibiotics, penicillin, codeine, and aspirin. In addition, it can also be caused by allergens found in foods like shellfish, shrimps, lobsters, beans, nuts, strawberries, tomatoes and many more. Moreover, insect bites, bee stings, pollen, dust articles, chemicals, cosmetics, and ointments can also cause urticaria.
- What are their treatments?
If you want immediate relief from hives, you can rub ice directly over the infected area or apply a cold compress for a few minutes to numb the skin and relieve the itching. Another effective treatment is to avoid eating food that causes you hives, especially those you are allergic to. Further, you can take antihistamine or apply calamine lotion on your skin to lessen the itching and reddening of hives.
- How can it be prevented?
Preventing hives is very easy and you can start by keeping your surroundings clean. You can also protect yourself from insect bites by wearing appropriate clothing and applying insect repellant especially when going outdoors. In order to prevent hives from worsening, you must apply the necessary remedy and treatment immediately and control yourself from scratching them.
The five simple facts on hives presented above are enough to keep you aware of what it is and its causes, symptoms, treatments and how to prevent them. Always remember these simple facts on hives so you will know what to do in order to avoid hives and how to keep yourself safe from it. Although hives are considered harmless skin irritations, it is still important to know facts about them.
