What Are Hives And How Are Hives Treated ?


by Innovine - Date: 2010-01-03 - Word Count: 314 Share This!

What are Hives?

A sudden outbreak of red, itchy, welt type patches on a person's skin known as hives. The medical term for hives is urticaria. A person's body can be having a reaction to a particular allergen, such as certain foods or medications, or they could appear for an unknown reason.

When you experience hives, they might sting or have a burning sensation. They tend to appear on your entire body, commonly found on your arms and legs. Hives could be any shape or size. Some join forming a larger patch. A person can have them for a few hours, or several days before they begin to fade.

You might notice that hives have a tendency of changing sizes quickly, or disappearing from one area and reappearing in another, within the matter of minutes. It is very helpful if you take photographs of the outbreak, so that you can show a medical provider.

How are Hives Treated?

Most of the time an outbreak of hives disappears without having any type of treatments. However, if you have a major reaction, it is recommended that you seek treatment.

There are several remedies that a person can use as treatments; here are a few treatment options that you can follow:

• Medications. These can be given to help decrease the swelling, itching, or redness you might be experiencing. Medications can also be given to help prevent your body from forming more welts. Certain over-the-counter medicines that are recommended are Claritin, Allegra, Zyrtec, or Clarinex. Children might need steroids to overcome hives.

• Cool or lukewarm baths. This helps to decrease the itching symptoms. Adding oatmeal to your bath water might also help.

• Do not irritate the hives. By rubbing, they can cause your skin to become irritated even more.

• Avoid what triggered hives. If you know what triggered the outbreak, avoid it.

If you are experiencing a severe outbreak, be sure that you seek emergency assistance.

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