Medical term: Urticaria
What are hives?
Hives are transient (they come and go), red skin swellings that are extremely itchy and may burn or sting. They are a result of your immune system “overreacting” to something. They can last for a number of hours or even days. As one area of hives disappears, a new area can appear just as unexpectedly. They can vary from the size of a small thumbtack to the size of a dinner plate. 10-20% of all people have to deal with hives at some point in time.
What causes hives?
It can be hard to determine what exactly causes hives to appear. Individual hives are a result of blood plasma leaking out of your blood vessels and into you skin - this happens when your body’s immune system releases a chemical known as histamine. Hives are triggered by different things in different people, but the most common reasons for hives are:
- General allergic reactions
- Sensitivity to chemical in foods - Common foods such as eggs, milk, chocolate, fish, nuts, berries and tomatoes can cause a person to develop hives
- Bug bites
- Medications - anything ranging from antibiotics, sedatives, antacids, and ear drops to vitamins, laxatives and pain medication; especially aspirin and acetaminophen
- Infections - the common cold can cause hives
It may be hard to tell exactly what causes your hives. Be aware of when you get them. If you pay close attention, you may be able to figure out what triggers an outbreak.
