How to Treat Hives Caused by Allergies

Hives can be caused by allergies, stress and infections. These red, itchy bumps on the skin are most often caused by an allergic reaction to food or drugs. While they generally go away without treatment once the source is removed, some symptoms require immediate intervention.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Understanding Hives

1. Discover hives (or urticaria) can appear on any part of the body in various sizes. These itchy, swollen spots are red and most often are acute reactions to a food, latex or drug.
2. Realize that hives can be acute or chronic. While acute often resolves without treatment, one must treat chronic hives for control of itching.
3. Understand that allergies can cause angioedema (swelling of the skin) in conjunction with hives. Angioedema is known to be caused by aspirin, ibuprofen, pain medications containing codeine and certain blood pressure medications.
4. Recognize that allergens such as pollen, insect bites and animal dander can cause hives.
5. Find physical factors such as heat, cold, stress and exercise in the list of potential causes for hives.
6. Discover that hives can flare up and go away off and on for several days to weeks. They may last for a few minutes to hours.

Prepare to Treat Hives

7. Learn the identifiable trigger of hives and eliminate it. Since some drugs or foods take several days to leave the body, an allergist may treat the hives with antihistamines.
8. Understand the use of an oral corticosteriod drug may be necessary to treat an outbreak of hives.
9. Determine the triggers that cause hives and avoid substances that produce the allergies.
10. Evaluate the possibility of diet contributing to hives. Keep a diary of all foods, including detailed ingredients on labels. Many allergy-producing substances are not seen without reading the fine print.
11. Treat hives with comfort measures such as a cool shower, application of cool compresses, wearing loose-fitting clothing and keeping activities to a minimum.
12. Take immediate action for medical intervention if hives result in an asthma attack. This may require a brief period of hospitalization to get the symptoms under control.
13. Gather information such as time of onset, activity, location on skin and actions taken for treating the hives. Contact your physician if symptoms don't resolve within a few days.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a family history of hives, previous allergic reactions or medical conditions such as lupus, you may be more likely to have hives or angioedema (swelling).
• Angioedema near the eyes and lips require immediate attention. Swelling in the throat or tongue can be life-threatening.

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