What are hives?
Urticaria or Hives are a common form of disorder on skin. Usually, it is a consequence of allergic reaction. It is a reaction caused due to the release of histamine, a chemical from allergic cells called mast cells of skin in response to some allergy. In most people, hives occur due to some external stimuli. The factors that act as stimuli may include:
- Food
- Medicines
- Infection
- Insect bite
- Cosmetics
- Contact with heat or cold situations
What do hives look like?
It is very important to differentiate hives from normal rash. If you observe the following signs on your skin then you might be under the attack of hives.
- Red or pink raised skin
- Small red bumps similar to mosquito bite
- Red spots joined together to form marks of various sizes
- Quick disappearance of welts
- Severe itching on affected area
- Burning and pain in some cases
Are hives contagious?
An itchy, red swelled spot skin may appear infectious but that is not true. Hives are not contagious. Hives is a result of allergic reaction. People sensitive to certain kind of food, drugs, or pollen are prone to hives. Hives may occur on anywhere on the body. Like face, tongues or lips. Hives do not appear on foot soles and palms.
How long do hives last?
- Hives usually disappears within 24 hours or they may take 6 weeks to go away.
- Chronic hives may last more than six weeks. You must consult the doctor in case of chronic hives.
- Time span for first time Hives is not known either it will disappear within few hours or it will stay longer. Only time will decide either you have chronic hives or acute hives.
Types of Hives
There are many types of hives which attack people differently. Hives can be
Acute:
- They are caused due to food allergies or unknown reasons
- They last for less than six weeks
- They appear within minutes after getting exposed to allergens
Chronic:
- No definite known cause
- Each attack remains there for 6 weeks or more
- Must consult Doctor for proper treatment
Drug Induced:
- Hives due to intake of aspirin or anti-diabetic drugs
- Usually appear immediately after consumption of any such drug
Physical:
- Scratching, exposure to heat or cold, exertion or exercise may trigger these kind of hives
- It normally takes less than 30 minutes to go away.
- It is also named as dermatographism.
Cholinergic:
- Activities like exercise that results in sweat or heat in body causes this kind of hives
- become visible on upper part of the body and small in size
- it also takes not more than 30 minutes to disappear
Aquagenic:
- As the name suggest, hives caused by water or chemicals in it.
- Hives appear in 15 minutes after skin contact with water
- It vanishes away within 2-3 hrs
Solar:
- Sensitivity to sun may result in solar hives
- Disappears within an hour
- Complete avoidance from sun or the use of sunscreen / antihistamine are recommended to treat solar hives
Localized:
- Plant’s pollen, food and chemicals cause localized hives
- Only certain part of body remains effected with hives
- Red spots can be observed all over
- Healed in few hours
Allergic:
- Due weak immune system allergic hives may occur
- Sensitivity to certain kind of cosmetics, detergents, drugs and medicines causes hives
- Rash, itchiness and irritation can be experienced during allergic hives
Hives, an allergic reaction causes itchy, raised pink or red skin, and sometimes swelling in it. It may appear beneath the skin. There is no set treatment to cure the hives permanently. In general antihistamine treatment is prescribed by most doctors. However, the most effective way is to adopt natural prevention methods if your skin is vulnerable to hives.
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