What You Need to Know About Hives

 

Overview

If you’ve had red or skin-colored bumps that appeared and disappeared quickly, then it’s unlikely to be simple bug bites. The skin rash could be hives, and the itching from hives may range from mild to severe. Hives, also known as urticaria, affects about 20 percent of people at some time during their lives. Scratching, alcoholic beverages, exercise and emotional stress may worsen the itching.

Hives Symptoms

  • Raised itchy bumps, either red or skin-colored

  • “Blanching” (when pressed, the center of a red hive turns white)

Hives Triggers

  • Some food (especially peanuts, eggs, nuts and shellfish)

  • Medications, such as antibiotics (especially penicillin and sulfa), aspirin and ibuprofen

  • Insect stings or bites

  • Physical stimuli, such as pressure, cold, heat, exercise or sun exposure

  • Latex

  • Blood transfusions

  • Bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections and strep throat

  • Viral infections, including the common cold, infectious mononucleosis and hepatitis

  • Pet dander

  • Pollen

  • Some plants

Hives Management and Treatment

  • Avoid known triggers

  • See an allergist, who is specially trained to look for triggers to your hives and may recommend medications to prevent the hives or reduce the severity of symptoms. Whether your allergist suggests a treatment available only by prescription or an over the counter treatment will depend on several factors, including how uncomfortable the hives are making you.

There is so much more to lean. VISIT: acaai.org

 
 
 
Cyndi Burt