Allergy sufferers have many symptoms to try and avoid. In fact, many of the common allergy symptoms are the same for all types of allergies. Whether it is food or dog skin allergies, similar symptoms will occur. Many allergy sufferers who have not had a severe reaction wonder, what do hives look like? This article will cover all aspects of hives causes, their appearance, and why they appear.
What are Hives?
When you have an allergic reaction to something, histamines are released to battle the invader (allergen). When this happens the histamine is released by cells under the skin which causes fluid to leak out of the skin cells. This is what causes the raised, red bumps or rash. Hives are the common name for raised bumps due to an allergic reaction but they are also known as urticaria (medical term). If hives persists for more than 6 weeks we call it chronic urticaria. Acute and chronic urticaria look exactly the same.
What Do Hives Look Like?
Hives (or urticaria) can occur anywhere on the body and are usually round (or oval) welts on the skin. They are normally red, and are raised bumps all over the surface of the skin. They normally appear on the arm and leg region, but as stated before, they can appear anywhere. Hives are often itchy or burn. They are frequently red, but they can also be a variation of shades.
Skin hives have a very irregular longevity. They can appear on the body and be gone within fifteen to twenty minutes. There are reactions where they last up to a couple hours as well. There are also many types of hives that appear. What do these hives look like? They are also very distinct and have a different appearance or shape for each type.
Types of Hives
There are two different types of hives. Below we will discuss what do hives look like and the unique characteristics of hives and what causes them.
- Ordinary Hives - This particular type of hive appears rapidly and with no apparent reason. These are raised, red, and swollen. They are generally itchy and normally come and go (can last 15 minutes to a few hours). There are some episodes where they last a couple of weeks as well. If the hives last for longer than six weeks, they then become considered chronic. These can last a surprisingly long time (months to years!).
- Physical Hives - Physical hives arise when something stimulates the epidermis (skin). Most commonly they are due to scratching. Other things that can cause physical hives include: sunlight, temperature (hot or cold), pressure, exercise, and water. They are generally red and raised (similar to the above mentioned).
An easy at home hives treatment is to take some over the counter allergy medicine. Benadryl works quite well and is available at your local drugstore. Be sure to always have it around during allergy season. Topical treatments such as creams and ointments for hives will help symptoms of pain and itch.
If necessary, by going to the doctor you can identify the types of hives you are suffering from by having some tests run. Since hives and their symptoms may come and go it is important to give a thorough description when your doctors asks “What do hives look like when they appear?” The answer to this question will help your physician find your hives’ cause(s).
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