An unexpected outbreak of itchy red or white bumps on the surface of your skin is almost surely a classic case of hives. Though not usually menacing to your health, hives are a bothersome reaction to endure and can last up to a week. Serious bee stings or insect bites are an exception to the usually low risks and often require emergency medical attention. You can otherwise treat hives a number of different ways.
Your body fights threatening foreign substances by releasing histamines. Regardless of the irritant which triggered the release of histamines, a build up of too much in one area of your body will almost always result in hives. Things like plant pollen, animal dander, insect bites, penicillin, aspirin, and a wide variety of foods are among the usual culprits.
As stated above, the symptoms of hives are quite uncomfortable although nothing to be overly concerned with in terms of safety. They are described as both mild and severely itchy, swollen, red and white bumps located in one certain section of skin. Hives can also appear or disappear without any notice.
There are several different triggers for hives outbreaks that can be treated using conventional medicines, though it isn’t really necessary to see your doctor unless the hives linger for a prolonged length of time. If you do need to seek medical attention, your doctor will examine your medical history as well as question what irritants you might have been recently exposed to. This is an important part of the diagnosis as hives most likely can’t be treated effectively without knowing the source of the irritation.
Should you end up with hives that also restrict your ability to breathe, or cause nausea, fever, or abdominal cramps, it is possible you are experiencing anaphylactic shock and must seek the attention of a physician immediately.
You can also treat hives using aromatherapy techniques like German chamomile oil. Massaging a few drops of this oil into the affected area can almost instantly sooth a maddening itch.
An alternative form of treatment would be consuming foods and liquids that are known to cool the body. It is the belief of Ayurvedic specialists that hives are triggered in overheated areas of the skin. Watermelon, cilantro, and coriander milk are all good selections for treating hives.
When possible, natural treatments for hives are usually the best. OxyHives comes highly recommended by homeopathic doctors and is a great solution for those who want a “home remedy” without having to actually make it themselves! Click here to learn more about OxyHives and how it can help you.
July 27th, 2009
Hives are a problem that many people face. There are different hives causes and many of them may come as a surprise to you. Allergic reactions, infections, diseases and general stress are among the most common causes. You can’t decide on a hives treatment plan for your condition until you figure out what caused it.
Food, medication or other allergies can cause your body to respond by giving you skin hives. These can occur within minutes or even a few hours. It usually only takes a few minutes for food allergy-related hives to appear. In rare cases, they can take up to a few hours, though. Each case of medication allergy-related hives is different.
For those allergic to a medication, some will have hives spread across their back after the first dose has absorbed into their body while others will not show signs of an allergy with hives until a couple of weeks late. Chronic hives cases make up about ten percent of the problem, with acute hives cases making up the rest. Pollen, mold and dust mites are among the most common allergies that cause hives, aside from medications and foods. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are among the most common medications that cause hives.
Hives can also be caused by stress, which can be either chronic or acute. You might not think that you are stressed, or you might only be under a little stress. You might even feel really calm. However, no matter how calm you think you are, your body might be producing stress-related hives. Stresses don’t have to be negative, but even positive things can spend too much energy and cause hives.
Bodily infections are another problem that you could have, which might cause hives to show up on your skin. When the body responds to fight off something as an allergy or even an infection it most commonly produces a fever and even hives. Hepatitis, UTI’s, ulcers, and bacteria are just a few of the infections that are likely to cause hives.
Diseases can be another major cause of hives. Once again this is because the body is trying to fight off something and is a signal that something is internally wrong with you. Commonly, disease-related hives are caused by kidney or liver disease or autoimmune disease. Another common thing that can cause hives is high or low thyroid function. If the body attacks its own healthy skin cells, which is known as autoimmune disease, it can also create hives.
No matter what hives causes you face, remember that there are treatment options that you can try. You just need to spend a bit of time to find the right solution. If you can’t identify the cause of your hives, or if you have an especially bad case, not just a simple allergy, talk to a doctor about potential treatment options.
May 24th, 2009
One thing that’s worse than a case of hives is chronic hives. It’s the skin condition that doesn’t want to go away and when it finally does, it wants to come back for another visit. Commonly caused by an allergic reaction which appears on the skin, treating hives can be a real challenge.
Unless you can determine the cause of your hives condition, it will be difficult to find relief and prevent future outbreaks. Typically hives are the result of the body’s reaction to something present within the body itself or to a factor in the environment. Somtimes a cause is never determined.
For chronic hives, when symptoms last for a week or more and recur often, food is usually not the cause as the effects would be shorter in duration. Longer lasting cases of hives, as much as 2 months or more, should be evaluated by a doctor. You may have a medical condition that needs to be treated. Research has suggested that chronic cases of hives may be due to an auto-immune condition where the immune system attacks the skin. But, there are other reasons you may suffer from long-lasting hives symptoms.
You may be surprised to learn, a seemingly unrelated infection might be causing certain hives conditions. Ongoing sinus infections, bladder infections, athlete’s foot and other low-grade infections may be a factor in a chronic hives condition. Any symptoms you have should be discussed in detail with your medical professional for evaluation. And, it’s important to know how to prevent the condition from worsening.
Most people who have hives suffer uncontrollable itching symptoms. In fact, the itch is probably the sensation associated most often with skin hives. Finding the right hives treatment to control the itch, and put and end to scratching that makes the condition worse, is key to relieving symptoms associated with hives.
Among the most popular forms of treatment are antihistamines. Traditional over-the-counter medications, prescribed drugs and natural remedies are all viable options for controlling the itching and other common symptoms of hives. Some treatments work better for certain people than others so you may want to try an alternative remedy if your first choice didn’t work well for you. Most antihistamines are fast-acting.
When you suffer from chronic hives, it’s important to seek out the necessary hives treatment. Whether it be taking medicines from the drugstore, trying natural remedies or seeing a doctor, controlling your symptoms and finding relief is the top priority.
April 27th, 2009
Are you suffering from itchy, swollen bumps and redness on various parts of your body? If so, you may be suffering from a hives rash. Skin hives can appear almost instantly and are commonly caused by an allergic reaction or high levels of stress.
A skin rash resulting from a hives outbreak can take on many appearances throughout the day. Sometimes the swollen areas tend to run together and may look like one giant patch over a large area of skin. Other times they will appear in smaller clusters of tiny bumps. No matter what they look like, the existence of a hives rash can make you miserable.
For anyone who suffers from hives, finding a quick and effective hives treatment is usually a top priority. Some folks are lucky and see their hives clear up almost as fast as they appeared. For everyone else, though, it’s important to understand the options available.
Among the most common treatments for a hives rash is an antihistamine. Products such as Benadryl or Claritin are available without a prescription and can provide relief from itching and swelling. Be aware that many such medicines do cause negative side effects so be sure to examine the labels carefully before you decide to take them.
A growing number of people are turning to natural remedies to treat and cure a number of conditions and hives is no exception. All-natural alternatives are becoming widely available in health food shops as well as on the Internet. One such treatment is a homeopathic remedy called OxyHives.
Preventing a hives rash in the first place is better than dealing with the discomfort of the condition and finding an appropriate treatment. While it’s not always possible, many former sufferers find that by avoiding their particular hives trigger they can have fewer outbreaks in the future.
April 15th, 2009
Most people have had skin hives at some point in their lives and go searching for a hives treatment as a result of their misery. If you get them often, they can be especially annoying, itchy and sometimes painful. Many people take medications to try to cure hives. These days though, more and more people are becoming health conscious and opting for more non-traditional treatments.
So, why not get rid of hives the natural way? After all, you might avoid some of the harsh side effects that come with conventional medications. First, though, you need to understand a couple things about skin hives and what causes them.
1. There are two main causes of hives: general stress and allergies. In certain cases, you don’t need any treatment at all for hives. All you need to do is reduce the stress in your life or find out what you are allergic to and stay away from it. If you’re allergic to common foods such as peanuts or dairy products, just don’t eat those foods and you should be fine.
Unfortunately, it’s possible to be allergic to things that just aren’t avoidable, like perfumes or airborne chemicals. If this is the case for you, you might need to find some form of treatment for your hives.
2. Hives can come along with other symptoms, especially if they’re caused by an allergic reaction. They can also come in different sizes and stay for varying lengths of time. If you just get a few small hives lasting for a couple of hours once or twice a year, for example, you might just put up with them. However, if you get hives on a daily basis or hives that are accompanied by other symptoms such as trouble swallowing or tightness in the chest, you should seek medical treatment.
Most people could care less what causes hives. What’s really important is, how to get rid of hives once you have them. Here are some hives treatment ideas you might try:
1. Changing your diet can be a great natural way to get rid of your hives. Eating healthier foods can boost your body’s immune system and make it more able to defend against an outbreak of skin hives. Also, eating healthier foods can give you better general health.
2. Antihistamines such as over-the-counter Benadryl are typically used for treating allergic reactions. But there are natural alternatives that you may find favorable. For example, Quercetin, a natural antihistamine is found in common foods including green vegetables, apples and onions. Including these foods in your diet may help.
3. Finally, other natural remedies for hives commonly used include various essential oils. Many of them relieve itching and soothe the skin. Sandalwood, for example, has been used for several generations by Native Americans. In addition you might find relief with chamomile or lavender.
To learn more about natural remedies for hives, take a look at my review of a highly effective but natural and homeopathic hives treatment formulated to provide relief from red, itchy swollen hives in a completely safe manner.
April 8th, 2009
