Question about how to determine cause of hives?

Question

If I am taking meds daily to control/prevent the hives, how can I find out what is causing them??!! (finding out by eliminating certain foods for a period of time). Know what I mean? How can I see whats causing the reaction if I continue the meds?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I have been suffering for months! Thanks!

Answer 1

It is sometimes hives are idiopathic, which means there is not known cause of the hives. I've had chronic uticaria since 2000 it went away until 2005 and now I hive constantly. There is a lot of great information about the medical tests you can have run, special diets, eliminations (soap, foods, etc.) at www.chronichives.com and [e-mail].

Mine are caused by an auto-immune disorder and have nothing to do with what I eat or drink, the weather, stress, etc. although they can all trigger the hives.

I, too, take a cocktail of drugs which are taken like a well choreographed dance to manage my hives. But, I mapped my triggers because I still get breakthrough episodes where my body is covered and have a hive somewhere on my body almost daily.

What you do is keep a journal of literally everything you come in contact with, what your hives are doing and how long they last. For example, there are certain household cleaning chemicals that will trigger an explosion even while on the meds. Exteme heat, extreme cold, cats, mold, dust, certain soaps and laundry products will set me off. For some people, merely the pressure of a closed shoe will do it.

Idiopathic chronic uticaria is the hardest to map because anything and everything can be a trigger. Check out the sites and become a member of [e-mail] because you will get all kinds of ideas as to what your triggers may be.

Hang in there, I know how painful, dibilitaing and frustrating hives can be. E-mail me if you need support or information, I answer when I have use of my hands.

Good luck. PS Did anyone tell you the wonders of oatmeal. I use oatmeal soap, collodial oatmeal packs in the bath and oatmeal moisturizer. It really helps with the itching and soothes the skin, too.

Answer 2

There are thousands of things that cause allergic reactions, everything from dust, mold and pollen, to different grasses, weeds, and plants, to different foods, to certain kinds of medications. A full allergy test will help to give you clues to caused that particular reaction. But a lot of it is trial and error, the body changes over the years, and things that u were never allergic to before will suddenly give u an reaction, and things that used to cause a reaction will suddenly won't. For an example, from my own allergy test I found out that I have over 300 allergies. Some minor, some major. For me what causes hives is sulfa, an antibiotic, that in certain medication, and soaps. In addition to that I also get hives from wool, certain common grasses, hemp, and oat dust. So to truly figure out what gave u that allergic reaction u will have to think about everything u came in contact with. Everone is different, what causes hives for one, may just ichy watery eyes for another. Best wishes on finding allergen.

Answer 3

There's a very simple thing that people do when they think they have a food allergy. You can either go to the doctor for a prick test, or come off the meds and introduce one suspect food per eight days. Every eight days intrduce another food that you think may be the cause of the hives.

Answer 4

nerves or stress can be a big factor. other than that, think of what soaps, shampoo,laundry soap, softeners and lotions and perfumes you may have used that are different. anything that comes close to your skin. those things don't usually cause hives but can be the cause of contact dermatitis.