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The Horrible Hives

© Shannon Evans

You were just fine an hour ago. But now all of the sudden reddish-pink, splotchy, bumpy nodules are bulging all over your skin. They are starting to itch incessantly. The more you itch the worse the reaction. Have you contracted a rare skin disease? Is it fatal? Are the bumps all over your body or are they localized? You might even become more alarmed if you notice swelling on your face or hands. Is it hard to breathe? AAHHHH! What is happening to you?

The good news is what you are experiencing is probably not a rare skin disease, but a case of the hives, or urticaria. Try to remember if you ate anything out of the norm, started a new medication, or came in contact with a foreign substance. Are you under a lot of stress or maybe too much sun tanning? There can be several different reasons for a hives reaction. Fortunately, for most of us, as long as a trigger factor can successfully be identified, a second case of the hives can easily be avoided; and this skin metamorphosis will probably never happen again.

Ten to twenty-five percent of us will endure a bout of hives at least one time in our lives. Most cases of hives are called acute urticaria and usually last only twenty-four hours. The hives can either cover the entire body or be restricted to only one area.

Three percent of hives cases are known as chronic idiopathic urticaria. This simply means the condition has appeared daily or at least consistently for more than six weeks (chronic). There is also no identifiable trigger factor (idiopathic) causing the skin reaction. The constant inflammation and irritation associated with chronic idiopathic urticaria easily impedes and distracts from normal daily activities. Some research suggests that about half of all chronic idiopathic urticaria cases are related to an autoimmune disorder. That possibility is definitely worth discussing with your doctor. Fortunately, most cases of chronic urticaria, or chronic hives, will typically clear up, although resolution might take months or even years. Once the hives are gone, the skin should have no discoloration or permanent damage.

The inflammation and welts characterizing hives are typically an allergy-related histamine reaction in the epidermis. The list of possible factors causing a hives reaction is overwhelming. The following list represents the most probable reasons for this condition:

CAUSES

1. Foods - The most likely foods to produce an allergic hives reaction include nuts, chocolate, milk, strawberries, other berries, celery, fish, tomatoes, eggs, acidic fruits, and alcohol. Food additives and preservatives can also be culprits. Be especially leery of tartrazine (yellow dye #E102), and benzoates, which are used to cure meats. If you notice any swelling or trouble breathing you are probably having an anaphylactic reaction and should seek medical attention immediately.