1. Unmistakable Hives
Hives, also called urticaria, appear on the skin as red, hot, itchy welts. They often appear and disappear on the arms, legs and trunk. Hives are very itchy, feel hot to the touch and create swelling over the entire body. The skin is not scabbed or broken as with other rashes, but hives are a type of skin rash. Most people find hives disappear as quickly as they appeared, with no clear reason. They are generally harmless, but irritating. About 15 percent of people have had at least one episode of hives in their lifetime. Hives that last longer than 6 weeks are chronic.
2. Relief Is Possible
To soothe the skin, try a cool shower or bath. Wear loose cotton clothes to help keep the skin cool and avoid wool and polyester, which tend to retain heat. Over-the-counter antihistamines are the first course of treatment. There are several topical creams and lotions that can help numb nerve endings and ease the discomfort. Menthol, camphor and pramoxine have cooling properties that soothe the itch of hives.
3. Root Causes
Causes for hives are hard to pinpoint, as 80 percent of hives have no known cause. There have been links to several medications, such as codeine, NSAID's and aspirin as a potential trigger for hives. Unless there is a direct cause and effect relationship between an activity and the appearance of hives, it is very difficult to determine if an allergy is at the heart of the problem.
4. Overactive Reaction
Hives occur when there is too much histamine released from the mast cells in the skin. When the body is flooded with histamine, the blood vessels leak fluid, which builds up in the skin. The large release of histamine is very similar to an allergic reaction, where the body releases a large amount of histamine in defense against a perceived threat. An allergic reaction is when the body is over-reacting against something that is harmless. Keep in mind that, although the reaction is the same, most cases of hives have no relationship to allergies at all.
5. When to See the Doctor
If over-the-counter medication does not help, and the hives remain for more than 6 weeks continuously, it's time to see the doctor. He may recommend a course of oral steroids in severe cases. Keep in mind these types of drugs cannot be used long term, and are only a temporary solution.
