Hives or urticaria as its known along the medical corridors is a non-contagious medical condition characterized by swollen, pale red patches. According to hives and skin allergy experts, the condition comes about due to allergy but other conditions such as stress can also bring it up.

Types of hives

There are many types of hives. The most common being:

Acute urticaria: Also known as angioedema, these are hives or swelling that last for less than 6 weeks. They are caused by medicines, latex, infections, insect bites, diseases, and foods. The most common foods that cause the condition are: eggs, tomatoes, soy, fresh berries, milk, and soy. When it comes to medicines, aspirin, ibuprofen, and high blood pressure medications have been shown to bring about the condition.

Dermographism: It’s also known as physical urticaria and it affects up to 5% of the population. According to allergy doctors, the condition is triggered by simple things such as objects stroking your skin. While the resulting condition can last for years, it normally goes away on its own without requiring any medications.

Cold hives: There are two types of cold hives where one condition is rarer than the other. People suffering from the rare condition start experiencing hives over their entire body about 9 hours after exposure to cold. Those suffering from the more common condition start experiencing the symptoms almost immediately after exposure to cold.

Diagnosis and treatment of hives

When you have the symptoms of hives it’s wise that you visit an allergy doctor. Some of the signs you should look out for are: swelling of the face, lips, tongue, wheezing, trouble breathing, dizziness, and tightness in the chest. The doctor will take your history in order to determine what might have caused your condition. It’s also common for the professionals to undertake skin and blood tests to determine the things that you might be allergic to.

When it comes to treatment, most allergists treat the condition using antihistamines in order to ease the symptoms. If you have been suffering from chronic hives, you may be prescribed a combination of steroids and biologic drugs. For severe conditions, an injection of epinephrine is usually recommended.

Conclusion

Allergies are common and can be fatal in severe cases. To protect yourself, visit an allergy clinic regardless of how minor the symptoms are: It’s always said that prevention is better than cure. To avoid the condition, stay away from the triggering factors.