What causes hives?

Question

And how do you get rid of them?

I suddenly have hundreds on my arms. Pretty itchy, but not painful. I am pretty sure they are being caused by stress. HELP MEEEEEEE!

Answer 1

Hi Jit Bag

Here are the answers you need.

Cause
The most common cause of hives is a histamine reaction that is triggered by allergies, especially to certain foods, such as strawberries, fish, shellfish, peanuts, soy, beef, citrus fruits, milk, and eggs. Drugs such as penicillin and exposure to chemicals, including those in common household products such as laundry soap, can also cause hives. To ensure long-term relief from hives, such factors must be screened for and addressed.


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Natural Cures

Aromatherapy: Chamomile essential oil applied topically can help relieve symptoms.

Diet: Identify and avoid all foods to which you are allergic or sensitive. To minimize the occurrence of hives, eat a varied diet and avoid eating the same foods more than more than once or twice each week.

Flower Essences: Rescue Remedy Cream® applied topically can also help.

Herbs: Drink parsley or peppermint teas. Peppermint oil taken orally can also help.

Homeopathy: The homeopathic remedies Apis mel., Nat mur., and Urtica Urens. are all useful for treating and preventing hives.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. I suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments.
*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy treatment. Remedies for Treating Chlorinated Bath Water, offers clear instructions and recommendations.

Nutritional Supplementation: Hydrochloric acid secretions in the stomach are usually low in people with hives. Vitamin B complex deficiency is also common among hives patients. Therefore, supplementing with betaine hydrochloric acid (HCL) and vitamin B complex is highly recommended. Pancreatic enzymes taken three to four times daily on empty stomach, especially during the initial attack of hives, is also helpful, as are bromelain and vitamin C (also taken away from meals).

During a hives outbreak, take two tablets of bicarbonate soda in water, and sip every 15 minutes until symptoms ease.

To prevent a recurrence of hives, supplement with bioflavonoids and pantothenic acid, vitamin B complex, vitamin B6, and essential fatty acids.

Topical Treatment: To the affected area, apply a mix of calamine lotion with beta carotene liquid, or a vitamin A capsule squeezed together with zinc oxide. If neither of these remedies is available, applying plain unflavored yogurt to the affected area might also help ease symptoms.

Fresh coriander juice applied topically can also help relieve itchiness and inflammation.


Best of health to you

Cheers

Answer 2

In around one-third of cases, the cause of hives is unknown. Some factors known to cause hives include:

Medications – such as antibiotics, aspirin and codeine
Foods – such as shellfish, eggs, nuts, peanuts, chocolate, cheese, tomatoes, soy products and strawberries
Some food additives
Infections – including bacterial, viral or parasitic
Certain underlying conditions – such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rubella and hepatitis
Emotional stress
Certain plants
Sunshine and heat
Cold temperatures
Exercise and sweating
Bee and wasp stings.
Diagnosis methods

Hives can be commonly mistaken for insect bites or some other types of skin rashes. Diagnosis methods can include:

Medical history
Physical examination
Allergy tests, such as skin prick tests
Elimination diet, under medical supervision, to identify the allergen if certain foods are suspected.

Treatment options
For most people, each attack of hives will build in severity and intensity, if their sensitive immune system is repeatedly exposed to the same trigger. Avoiding the known trigger is an important management technique. Treatment for severe or recurring hives may include:

Checking that the rash isn’t caused by an underlying disorder
Medications, such as antihistamines and corticosteroids, to reduce the immune system response
Avoidance of known triggers
Avoidance of factors that exacerbate the condition – such as sunshine, heat and hot showers.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Hives are a form of allergic reaction...it is a natural bodily reaction and you cant get rid of it unless you reduce contact to the things that cause them. I get them, especially spontaneously, but i figured out that a quick and drastic change in temp. causes them, and wool gives me hives as well. But, there is no way to stop them, it's an immune respond, like all allergic reactions.

Answer 4

Generally they are caused by a food allergy, Example some people get hives if they eat a lot of strawberries. They should leave if you avoid the food that is causing them. One can put calamine lotion on them to help remove the itchiness.

Answer 5

This could be from an allergic ration to something, a smell, something you brushed up against, stress. Something happen in you life to create stress. A food you ate that was new. think.

A Benadryl tablet, one to start with may help. Ask you doctor or if you can't get to one try the Benadryl. I don't like suggesting anything but, this is over the counter and may work for now.

Answer 6

allergies and stress,mostly
antihistamines and time are most common cures.

also see below from medline..

Many substances can trigger hives:

Medications
Shellfish, fish, nuts, eggs, milk, and other foods
Pollen
Animal dander (especially cats)
Insect bites
Hives may also develop from:

Infections like mononucleosis or illness (including lupus, other autoimmune diseases, and leukemia)
Emotional stress
Extreme cold or sun exposure
Excessive perspiration

Answer 7

you most likely have a irritant to something, over the counter clartin or bendryl ( providing you can take those products) should help with the redness and itching...if it continues you may want to see a doctor

Answer 8

allergic reaction. Find out what causes allergy and eliminate that.