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Hives, often known as urticaria, is a skin condition that leads to itchy welts. It results from an allergic reaction to a substance or food a person may have touched or consumed.
The welts often appear as itchy spots that turn into swollen, variable-sized welts. These welts emerge and disappear at random.
Acute hives are harmless and go away on their own; however, chronic hives last for weeks and recur frequently. It can cause severe allergic reactions and need medical attention. Many patients get relief with anti-itch drugs (antihistamines).
The two types of hives are as follows:
Hives appear as red spots on the skin. Other symptoms of hives include:
Hives are often caused by an allergic reaction to a substance, such as a drug or food, or an environmental irritation. Hives are usually an acute (temporary) condition that can be treated with allergy medicines. In most cases, the rashes disappear without any treatment.
They are typically caused by an allergic reaction to anything a person has eaten or come into contact with. When a person experiences an allergic reaction, their body starts to produce histamines in the bloodstream. A person's body creates histamines to protect itself from illness and other outside threats.
However, some people may experience histamine-related side effects like swelling and itching. When histamine and other immune system chemicals are released into a person's bloodstream during an allergic reaction, it causes welts. It is unknown why chronic hives occur or why short-term hives can often become long-term conditions.
Hives can often be triggered by allergens such as pollen, drugs, food, animal dander, and insect bites. Other factors that can cause hives to include:
To diagnose hives, the doctor will conduct a physical examination, enquire about symptoms, and look at the skin. The doctor can also recommend the following tests:
The primary treatment for hives is medication. Doctors may prescribe anti-itch drugs known as antihistamines to treat hives. The doctor may suggest the following treatments to treat hives:
People who have allergies are at higher risk of getting hives. The factors that can increase the risk of hives are as follows:
In most cases, hives do not cause any serious problems. But if a person experiences chronic hives, they need medical treatment.
If hives are caused by allergic reactions, they can cause swelling of the airways and lungs. It can lead to a life-threatening condition; in such cases, a person must carry injectable epinephrine.
Reviewed by Dr. Ajita Bagai Kakkar, Associate Director - Dermatology, Lasers and Aesthetic Medicines, Dermatology.
Max Healthcare is home to 5000 eminent doctors in the world, most of whom are pioneers in their respective fields. Additionally, they are renowned for developing innovative and revolutionary clinical procedures.
Max Healthcare is home to 5000 eminent doctors in the world, most of whom are pioneers in their respective fields. Additionally, they are renowned for developing innovative and revolutionary clinical procedures.
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