Identifying And Preventing Hives
Posted on March 19, 2009
Filed Under Allergies | Leave a Comment
Hive prevention is probably very important to you if you’ve ever had a case of hives. After all, they can be very uncomfortable. They are red, ugly and, worst of all to most people, incredibly itchy. Many people just like you suffer from them, but that probably doesn’t make you any happier about it. So, why not learn what causes hives? That way, you can do your best to stop yourself from getting them again.
What are Hives?
First, it’s important to be able to recognize a case of hives. What are they, exactly? Well, they’re a series of clustered bumps on your skin, which are known, individually, as wheals. The best thing to equate a case of hives to is clusters of mosquito bites, only without the mosquitoes. They are just as itchy and just as uncomfortable, but, since there are more of them at once, they’re worse.
Wheals come in all shapes and sizes. They can be small, like bug bites, and come in large groups, or they can be huge (up to four inches across or so). There’s no obvious method to the madness, as far as size goes.
Each case of hives is very different because, aside from size, different wheals also look different in general. Sometimes, the smallest of them show up in patches that make them blend together and look like one larger one. Other times, the individual wheals might actually be large red spots with white centers. They’re all equally uncomfortable, though!
When Will I Be Rid of These Hives?
Hives aren’t predictable as far as shape and size, so it’s probably not surprising that they aren’t predictable as far as time goes, either. Some people get them for an entire day. Others are lucky enough to only have them for a few minutes. If you’re among the people that get them all the time or for longer than a day at a time, you need to seek medical help. Chronic hives don’t go away on their own.
Causes of Hives
What causes hives can vary, but it generally relates to some sort of allergy. Plants, fungi and bacteria make up a group that can cause an allergic reaction that includes hives. Also, chemicals on your skin can cause a similar reaction. Sometimes, the allergic reaction needs a little bit of help to happen. If you get a cut on your skin, for instance, it can allow the fungi or chemicals to penetrate your skin, creating a case of hives.
If you have an allergic reaction to a certain food substance, it can also cause hives. Your doctor can run tests to try to figure out what food substance is creating your hives troubles. You might be able to figure it out on your own, too. Either way, once you know, you can use that information to your advantage. Don’t eat the food and you shouldn’t get the hives.
Finally, general stress can cause you to develop hives, too. Stress changes your inner body chemistry. Anything that does that can cause a lot of unpleasant symptoms. So, if you are stressed out, you may get hives since you will be suffering from a chemical imbalance in your body.
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