Urticaria is very common and affects around 86 million people worldwide. Most people don’t even recognize urticaria until it’s referred to by its more common name – hives. One out of five people have hives at some point in their life.
Hives can be acute or chronic. Acute hives generally last no longer than two weeks. Chronic hives are defined as hives that last six or more weeks. It affects about 1.7 million people in the U.S. Women are twice as likely to develop chronic hives. Premium Allergy knows that hives can be quite uncomfortable, but we’re here to help you feel better again.
Here’s the problem with hives. Many things cause them, and some of the triggers aren’t easily treated.
There are also idiopathic cases of hives where a cause remains unknown. Finding a treatment for idiopathic hives is difficult. Treating the hives to manage the symptoms is the best you can do.
Hives can be small and no larger than the tip of a felt pen or as big as a salad plate. They’re raised bumps or welts that are usually very itchy. You might get one hive or patches of them. If they’re grouped in one location, you have localized hives, which may be a reaction to something in the environment, such as a specific weed pollen that comes into contact with your skin.
Many cases of hives disappear on their own. They may come back. Start watching for patterns. It’s also advisable to make an appointment with an allergy doctor if certain situations apply to your hives.
You know you have a ragweed allergy. Hives now appear when it’s ragweed season. As this can be a sign of worsening allergies, see an allergy doctor to find treatments that ease the reaction your immune system has to the allergens triggering your allergies.
You find that you struggle to get a full night’s sleep because the itching keeps you awake all night. If your hives are impacting your life, it’s time to get help determining what’s causing your hives and what treatment is most effective.
This is another aspect of quality of life, but your hives embarrass you. You’ve stopped going to Yoga classes because you don’t want people to see your red, itchy skin and you can’t hide your hives. You’re missing work because you don’t like how you look. It’s hot and humid outside, but you’re stuck in long pants and a long-sleeved t-shirt. Make an appointment to find a solution that makes you comfortable being around people again.
You find that over-the-counter remedies aren’t helping. You take antihistamines or use a cream or lotion and the hives remain. It might be time for prescription medications. A doctor can go over your medical history and decide the best path forward.
If you find hives keep returning, it’s important to find out why. There has to be an underlying cause triggering the hives. An allergist helps identify triggers and find suitable treatments.
If you’ve had hives for six weeks or longer, you need to work with an allergy doctor to find the cause. Hives are unsightly and itchy. That affects your quality of life. If you’re staying covered up to avoid people seeing and commenting on your red, bumpy skin, see an allergy specialist.
Many cases of hives are annoying but not dangerous. Some are dangerous. These are the warning signs that indicate when hives are severe and require immediate medical action.
If abdominal pain accompanies hives, it’s a good indicator of a food allergy. You need to be seen by a medical professional specializing in allergies.
Two of the symptoms of anaphylaxis are difficulty breathing or swallowing. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that builds quickly after exposure to the allergen.
Not only does the swelling in the throat make it hard to breathe, but it also triggers a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Emergency care is essential. If you know of your allergy, an EpiPen can save your life before paramedics attend to you.
If you develop hives and begin to feel dizzy, it’s a sign of a severe allergic reaction. Seek medical attention.
If your heart starts skipping beats or beating at an irregular rhythm, it’s a warning sign that something is wrong. A rapid heart rate is also a warning sign and requires immediate attention. It might not be much as stress can do this in some people, but it’s not worth risking your health and safety to wait it out.
If your face, lips, or tongue swell at the same time hives appear, it can cause a blockage of your airways. It’s a sign of a severe allergic reaction to something. Get to urgent care immediately as this is often caused by anaphylaxis.
An allergy doctor has experience diagnosing and treating hives. Not only will you have a better understanding of what causes your hives, but you also have an allergy expert to come up with an effective treatment plan. You return to your usual routines and no longer have to worry about itchy, red welts.
During the appointment, plan to share everything you can about your medical history. If you keep a journal of possible triggers and times when the welts occur, bring that. Once you cover your history and experience with welts, the allergy doctor looks at your skin.
An allergy test is a good way to diagnose what triggers your allergies. Blood tests that measure the level of protein found in your blood after an allergic reaction are one option, but intradermal or skin prick tests are more effective at pinpointing exact triggers.
Once it’s determined what causes your hives, you’ll work on an action plan. Antihistamines may work, but you might benefit more from immunotherapy. If you experience stress-induced hives, finding ways to better manage your stress is key to stopping hives from appearing.
Premium Allergy helps you identify what’s causing your hives by pinpointing triggers through allergy tests. From there, you can discuss the best treatment options for hives. You might find allergy shots are extremely effective, or it might be best to make lifestyle changes where you avoid products containing latex. Give us a call to schedule an appointment.
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