Hives: A Skin Reaction

Hives are a common type of skin reaction also known as urticaria. They tend to appear in swollen bumps or welts which are red and itchy. They are more common, and tend to occur due to allergic reactions. For example, environmental aspects such as pollen or dust can lead to urticaria. Furthermore, being allergic to certain foods may lead to a reaction of these itchy welts. Usually one may realize that they have hives if they experience swelling or wheals which are when the welts continue to reappear in different areas of the body and tend to irritate.

Stress is also something that can cause hives or cause it to worsen. It is vital that one avoids anxiety and taking on too much stress as that may lead to such situations which can become very annoying to go through. When feeling stress, the body may start to produce a powerful chemical called histamine which triggers inflammation and itchiness. Such feelings are also associated with hives.

In terms of treatment, there are no ways that will make them go away instantly, as that requires time. However, there are short term relief methods such as applying creams such as benadryl or calamine lotion. These allow for soothing and reduce any feelings of itching in order to decrease the redness on skin. Furthermore, one can take more action through applying a cold washcloth on affected areas, avoiding too much sunlight, wearing clothes of cotton material, and taking a cool shower. Doing so, avoids extra skin irritation and helps one to stop itching. Even though doing all this can be annoying, it does aid one's comfort to an extent.

Usually, hives tend to only last for 1-2 weeks, and its severity tends to decrease after just a few days. However, if it is a chronic case it may last up to six weeks. If it lasts more than this time, then it would be time to seek medical attention.

Even though people tend to worry when seeing rash-like things, most of the time, hives are not something to worry about in particular. First off, they are not contagious by themselves, so one does not have to worry about staying away from people. Although, if they were caused by infections such as strep throat then they are contagious due to the infection. Otherwise, you would have nothing to worry about, as they are not serious and do not require treatment. If you have acute hives and tend to experience symptoms of anaphylaxis though, that could become serious. Anaphylaxis symptoms include: breathing difficulty, swelling in the mouth, fainting, vomiting, and weakness. If one ever experiences such symptoms, they must seek medical attention as soon as possible.

We believe that hives are not something to worry about if one does not experience anaphylaxis. Additionally, we prioritize the importance of destressing in order to maintain good health, and avoid the complications of hives. Hives can cause irritation so it is best to avoid them in any way possible. Overall, one should prioritize self care and even though some of its causes are unavoidable there are methods to soothe urticaria.