Hives - Causes and Treatment

Hives can be described as itchy welts that can be seen on the surface of the skin. These welts can vary greatly, since they may be the size of a penny or the size of dinner plate. They are also temporary marks that disappear after the condition is gone. Although the hives are extremely irritating and uncomfortable, they are normally harmless to the individual unless they affect the throat by swelling. They can, however, be managed with the use of various kinds of antihistamine medications or the person may learn how to avoid the triggers. There are many different things that can trigger these outbreaks. In some cases, no triggers are identifiable. Based on information from the American Academy of Dermatology, approximately 10 to 20 percent of the United States population will develop a case of hives at least once. These hives can appear on virtually any part of the body. For example, an individual may have hives on their legs, hives on face and hives on their arms.

Causes

While there are multiple triggers that cause hives to appear, some common causes include allergens, various kinds of foods, medications, environmental factors, infections and immune disorders. In either case, every individual is different. For example, some people may get hives by eating fish, eggs, shellfish, milk, berries, nuts or chocolates.

Treatment

There is a wide range of treatments that can be used for hives. The treatment used is normally based on the cause and the severity. Some of these treatments include placing cool wet compresses on the affected areas to soothe the itching, taking baths in oatmeal, applying aloe vera gel to soothe the discomfort and adding cornstarch to the bath water.

In addition to home remedies, a physician may recommend penicillin, antibiotics, diuretics, sedatives, and ibuprofen for chronic cases.

Hive Away for Relief of Skin Allergies.

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