Hives

There are several types of rash, such as hives (urticaria), which might appear for a short period of time or persist for a long time and decrease the quality of life of the patient.

Hives (urticaria)

Hives are a skin rash that appears as bumps, welts, or splotches, and they result from an allergic reaction against some substances.

There are two types of hives (urticaria):

• Acute hives (urticaria), which means that the condition lasts for less than six weeks.
• Chronic hives (urticaria), which means that the condition occurs at least twice a week for more than six weeks.

Hives is a common skin condition; about 20% of people have it at least once, and about 1-3% of people have chronic hives (urticaria).

Causes of hives (urticaria)

• Acute hives often occur due to an allergic reaction as a result of touching specific things or eating specific foods. In this case, specific immune cells in the skin get triggered and release chemical substances, including histamine, which is the cause of hives. Acute urticaria might also occur due to other factors, such as having some infections, stress, or pressure on the skin, and the cause might not be known sometimes.
• According to chronic urticaria, it usually doesn’t occur due to an allergic reaction but as a result of viral or bacterial infections or having some health conditions like lupus. In some cases, the reason isn’t known as well.

Symptoms of hives (urticaria)

Acute hives symptoms:

• Raised skin welts or bumps, which might be red.
• Severe itching.
• Angioedema (swelling under the skin).
• Paleness in the hives center when pressing on it.
• Painful swelling in the eyes, lips, and inside of the throat.
• In some cases, a severe allergic reaction might occur, leading to swelling in the airways, which sometimes might lead to an obstruction, and it’s a life-threatening condition.

Symptoms of chronic hives are similar to the acute ones; in addition to that, they might shift in size, disappear and appear every few days, and occur due to heat, stress, or exercising.

Diagnosis of hives (urticaria)

• Physical examination.
• Blood tests when needed.

Treatment of hives (urticaria)

• Specific medications.
• Avoid the allergens.
• Reduce stress.