Hives

Hives are red, raised, itchy bumps on the skin's upper layers. In pictures of hives, one can see their redness and how they can cover parts of the body in no particular pattern. Although there is no known specific root, the causes of hives mostly have to do with reactions to allergens in a particular food or drug and stress. When one has eaten or taken nothing out of the ordinary yet has a reaction, they may begin to wonder when can stress cause hives. The answer is that chronically stressful situations are not only one of the biggest causes of hives, but those with prolonged anxiety can set forth a hormonal imbalance resulting in chronic hives that can last up to six weeks.

When a case of hives is considered fairly mild, the best treatment is to give them time to go away on their own. Although it takes no time for them to show up, it can take a day or two for them to fade away. A hives treatment for stronger cases is often a dose of antihistamine. With severe hives, or angioedema, a doctor may prescribe prednisone. Hives that show up in the throat or make it difficult to breathe warrant a trip to the emergency room. Severe allergies to shellfish or peanuts have been known to cause this reaction in some individuals.

Of all irritations of the skin, hives can be one of the most inconvenient or painful. It’s important to find out what causes hives in an individual so that they can do away with a repeat of an outbreak. For many, keeping a consistent food journal can eventually help to pinpoint any food allergies that may cause hives. Zoloft and many other drugs have also been known to cause hives in individuals. If situations of severe stress are the trigger, removing oneself from the circumstances or learning deep relaxation exercises should be considered. Since chronic hives causes a hormonal imbalance in many sufferers, regular exercise is something that can work quite well to restore unbalanced levels back to normal.

Because hives is a reaction to histamines in the bloodstream, anything that can have an allergy can experience hives. A person who asks what causes my dog's hives has the same answer as to what causes a person's hives. It can be a food allergen, medicine allergen, stress or even a reaction to sun exposure, cold exposure or even a viral infection somewhere in the body. The best bet is to have a doctor check it out.