Hives (hives, urticaria): symptoms, causes, and treatment

Definition

What are hives (hives, urticaria)?

Urticaria, or more commonly known as hives, is a skin condition that is a rash and protruding and itching (bumps). Hives, which are otherwise known as hives, can appear on one part of the body or spread over a larger area.

This condition is not a dangerous disease, but it can make the patient feel uncomfortable while sleeping or throughout the day because of the itching sensation that appears.

How common are hives (hives, urticaria)?

Hives or urticaria are common and affect more women than men. This condition can occur in patients of any age. Hives can be treated by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Urticaria is divided into two types, namely acute and chronic. Acute hives are also known as short-term urticaria. This is a common condition.

This condition occurs in about 1 in 5 people at any given time and can be experienced once in a lifetime.

Meanwhile, chronic urticaria is also known as long-term urticaria. This condition is generally less common. Urticaria usually occurs in children, women between the ages of 30-60 years and people with a history of allergic reactions who have symptoms of hives.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of hives (hives, urticaria)?

Common symptoms of hives are:

• Red or white scars on the face, body, arms or legs
• Scars of all sizes and shapes
• Itchy rash.

These symptoms recur often and suddenly, sometimes lasting months to years.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should call your doctor if these conditions:

• Does not disappear in 48 hours
• Severe
• Interfering with daily activities
• Accompanied by other symptoms
• Does not work against treatment

You need to seek emergency help immediately if you:

• Feel dizzy
• Experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Feeling the tongue or throat to swell.

Cause

What causes hives (hives, urticaria)?

Histamine and other chemicals that enter the bloodstream can cause hives.

Hives or hives usually appear when there is an allergic reaction to some trigger, such as a pet allergy, pollen, or latex.

When exposed to allergens, the body releases histamine and chemicals into the blood, causing itching, swelling, and other allergy symptoms.

Here are some of the causes of hives that make your skin itchy.

1. Food allergies

According to Debra Jaliman, MD, a dermatologist from New York, hives can be caused by allergies to certain foods or drinks, such as eggs, shellfish, peanuts, or berries.

Red bumps due to hives can appear immediately after a person eats allergen foods, but some may take several hours before symptoms appear.

In addition, hives can also be triggered by several food additives, including artificial coloring and preservatives. The solution to preventing hives due to food allergies is to avoid food or drink that is the trigger.

If you are already exposed to hives, immediately consult a doctor to get a prescription for drugs.

2. Outside air

The appearance of bumps or hives due to insect bites or exposure to pollen is also common. However, what is often not realized, hives can also be caused by sun exposure, cold temperatures, or strong winds.

Even so, that doesn't mean you have an allergy to cold temperatures or to outside air because of the bumps and itching you experience.

According to Marilyn Li, MD, an allergist and immunologist from Los Angeles, the bumps and itching that appear due to air can be due to skin conditions that are sensitive to various weather outdoors.

In addition to avoiding the itch triggers, your doctor may prescribe an antihistamine to treat hives due to changes in weather or temperature. That way, you can enjoy both summer and winter without worrying about recurring hives.

3. Certain diseases

Hives are not just itching and bumps on the skin. The reason is, hives can also signal a more serious health problem.

Patients with lupus, lymphoma, thyroid disease, hepatitis, and HIV all have symptoms of itching similar to hives. However, the type of hives or urticaria is classified as chronic so it can be treated with the help of medication.

According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, 50% of chronic urticaria cases are caused by autoimmune diseases, which are when the body's immune system attacks its own body tissues.

Thyroid disease is one of the autoimmune diseases most frequently reported by sufferers of chronic urticaria, followed by complaints of rheumatism and type 1 diabetes.

4. Sweating

Sweat basically doesn't cause itching. However, a sweaty body indicates that the body is experiencing an increase in temperature. For some people, a rise in body temperature — either from exercise or a hot shower — that makes you sweat can trigger hives.

When you sweat, your body produces acetylcholine, a chemical that blocks cell breakdown. This acetylcholine can interfere with the development of skin cells so that the skin becomes irritated and triggers a rash.

5. House dust mite allergy

Allergies to house dust mites can also be a cause of hives. Piles of dust that have accumulated in the corners of the house provide a comfortable home for these microscopic bugs.

Dust is a collection of leftover particles of various kinds, ranging from shed dry leaves, dead skin cells, soil, insect carcasses, food scraps, fiber, and other garbage.

Mites also live on dead skin cells that you shed every day. That is why, one of their favorite areas is the mattress, sheets, between the edges of the mattress, pillows, even in your child's doll collection.

6. Stress

Research shows that stress is the culprit of many physical and mental illnesses, including urticaria. Excessive stress makes you more susceptible to skin problems, such as hives, because of your weakened immune system.

Stress and anger can cause the body to release histamine. As a result, the body responds to inflammation by causing red bumps like hives.

Stress is usually followed by other symptoms such as excessive sweating. If you are in an environment that is hot, humid, or if the air is not circulating properly, sweat will get trapped in the layers of your skin and cannot evaporate.

As a result, this condition will cause prickly heat on the skin that feels itchy. Prickly heat is harmless, but it usually takes at least two weeks to completely disappear from the surface of your skin.

If you experience chronic urticaria due to heat or illness, immediately consult a doctor for further treatment. Your doctor may recommend a prescription for an antihistamine to reduce symptoms.

Meanwhile, if it is possibly caused by stress conditions, control your stress with several ways such as exercising, breathing exercises, or meditation.

Risk factors

What puts me at risk for hives (hives, urticaria)?

Some of the things that are risk factors for hives include:

• Gender. It is reported that the number of women who experience this condition is 2 times greater than that of men.
• Age. Young adults are more at risk of developing this condition.

Complications

This condition can also be a complication of other diseases. One of the autoimmune diseases most commonly associated with chronic hives is thyroid disease. Thyroid disease itself is a disorder of the thyroid gland that causes hormonal imbalance.

In research, it was found that about 45-55 percent of people with chronic urticaria do have autoimmune problems. People who have autoimmune diseases also tend to have urticaria that is much more severe than most people.

Apart from thyroid disease, there are several other types of autoimmune diseases that show symptoms of urticaria, such as rheumatism, type 1 diabetes, lupus, Celiac disease, and vitiligo.

Hives or urticaria itself is a reaction that occurs when the body attacks specific antibodies that are produced by the immune system. So, your immune system turns to attack itself. That is why urticaria is closely related to various autoimmune diseases.

However, experts do not fully understand why a person's immune system can attack itself, causing hives.

Medicines & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How are hives diagnosed (hives, urticaria)?

Hives can be diagnosed in advance (pre-diagnosis) using a physical exam and some related questions. You may be asked to write down your daily activities, medicines, herbs and supplements that you take.

You may also be asked what foods and drinks you consume, where the hives appear, and how long it took for the sores to disappear. To confirm, blood tests and allergy tests can be done.

How to treat hives / urticaria?

Generally, hives don't need to be treated for up to several days. In some cases, antihistamines can be used to relieve discomfort and steroid tablets can be used to treat severe cases of urticaria on a short-term basis.

The following are various hives that are commonly prescribed by doctors:

1. Antihistamines

Taking antihistamine pills as a hives medicine is an effective way to prevent itching. In addition, antihistamines also block the release of histamine by the body which triggers symptoms of hives. Usually doctors will prescribe various antihistamines such as:

• Loratadine (Claritin)
• Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
• Fexofenadine (Allegra)
• Desloratadine (Clarinex)

If the four types of antihistamines are not helping enough, the doctor will usually increase the dose. In addition, doctors will also try other types of antihistamines that have a drowsy effect so that the itching feels a little relieved by sleeping.

Some drugs to relieve hives that cause drowsiness include Chlorpheniramine (CTM), hydroxyzine pamoate (Vistaril), and doxepin (Zonalon).

Don't forget to talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have other medical conditions, or are taking certain medications.

2. Calamine lotion

Calamine lotion can help relieve itching by providing a cool effect on the skin. You can apply calamine lotion directly to your skin by:

• Shake the lotion so that the mixture is evenly mixed.
• Pour lotion on a cotton ball.
• Apply a cotton ball to the hives and let it dry.

3. Anti-inflammatory drugs

Oral corticosteroids such as prednisone can help reduce swelling, redness, and itching. These drugs are usually prescribed to control chronic hives and are only used for short periods of time.

The reason is, this drug has various serious side effects if consumed for a long time.

4. Antidepressants

The tricyclic antidepressant doxepin (Zonalon), usually used in cream form, can help relieve itching. This medicine may cause dizziness and drowsiness so that your itching may be slightly distracted by sleeping.

5. Omalizumab (Xolair)

Omalizumab is usually given by injection into the skin. This medication will be prescribed if you have severe hives that last for months or for years. The most common side effects are headaches, dizziness, and inner ear pain.

Even so, the most important thing in treating urticaria is to understand the factors that cause it so that you can control it.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies to treat hives (hives, urticaria)?

Apart from using hives from a doctor, you can also do a variety of home remedies. Reporting from Healthline, here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with urticaria:

1. Cold compress

Applying ice or cold water to the affected area can help relieve irritation and itching. You can compress it by wrapping ice cubes in a towel and compressing the itchy area. Leave it on for about 10 minutes and repeat if it still itches.

2. Avoid products that can irritate the skin

Some types of soaps can dry out your skin, which can make your hives itch even more. If you have hives, try to use a soap for sensitive skin.

Usually this type of soap is odorless and uses many other chemicals that can cause irritation. Apart from soap, you also need to avoid various skin lotions and moisturizers that can trigger irritation. Again, try to choose products specifically for sensitive skin.

3. Wear loose clothes

Wearing loose clothing allows the affected skin to breathe and keep body temperature cool. Conversely, wearing tight clothes can actually make the skin feel even more itchy and even irritated because the skin is pressed with the clothes you wear.

In addition, choose clothes from cotton that absorb sweat to avoid excess moisture. The humid environment makes the bacteria on the skin grow and the skin becomes itchier.

It is important that you know the causes of hives. From there, you can also avoid the triggers that cause your itching condition to appear.

Other things that must be considered when experiencing this itchy condition:

• Avoid scratching or using harsh soaps
• Record when and where conditions occurred, what you were doing, and so on. This can help you and your doctor identify risk factors
• Avoid triggers

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.