What Are Skin Hives?
Hives, otherwise known as urticaria, are itchy welts which appear on the surface of your skin. These welts are characterized by white or red swollen area of skin. Hives can change quickly in appearance, and can be caused by a variety of factors.
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Facts
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Hives are caused by the release of histamine in your body. This causes the capillaries in your skin to dilate in certain areas, resulting in redness and allowing fluid to collect. The fluid is what causes the swollen raised appearance of urticaria.
Causes
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Potential causes include allergic reactions to foods (such as nuts, strawberries or shellfish), food additives, medications (such as penicillin or antibiotics) or airborne allergens (such as duct or animal dander). Hormones released during pregnancy can cause hives as can some medical conditions (like thyroid disease).
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Symptoms
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Symptoms of hives include oval or round swollen areas that can range from 2 millimeters in size to covering an entire limb. Coloration can be white or red. The areas are itchy with varying intensity.
Treatment
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Treatment includes antihistamines (such as diphenhydramine, hyroxyzine, loratidine or cetirizine). If these are not effective or if it is a severe case, a corticosteroid like prednisone may be needed.
Prevention
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A secondary component of the treatment plan includes identifying the underlying cause. This is the best way to prevent further outbreaks. There are, however, cases of chronic hives with no identifiable cause.
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