Darrick Robles Hives, also known as nettle rash, actually got their name from the stinging nettle: urtica means stinging nettle in Latin, urticaria means the disease in medical jargon. It is a common skin disease – not least because there are a number of different causes.
Symptoms of hives
In the case of hives, the skin reacts with redness, wheals and itching . The itching may be felt before a rash appears. The location, shape, and size of the rash can vary widely. What is typical of hives is that after they disappear, no traces remain on the skin.
Depending on the course, a distinction is made between acute hives and chronic hives . The acute urticaria goes away after a few days. If the symptoms last longer than 6 weeks, it is chronic hives. It can last for years or even decades.
Causes of hives
Hives can have many different causes . The rash usually occurs when irritants enter the body, causing the body’s cells to release histamine. The skin opens up and absorbs blood, causing the itchy rash. This can be the case, for example, with allergies, infections or taking medication.
Certain foods can also cause skin irritation . Pressure , cold, sunlight, exertion, stress or contact with water can also irritate the skin. Sometimes the specific trigger cannot be determined at all, which of course makes the treatment of hives more difficult.
diagnosis of hives
The typical clinical picture of the red, itchy wheals often makes it easy for the doctor to diagnose urticaria. However, in order to plan a meaningful hives treatment, the exact form of the urticaria must be identified. For this purpose, the patient is thoroughly questioned .
If an allergy is suspected, an allergy test can help to find the trigger of the hives. If it is suspected that certain foods are not tolerated, a low-pseudoallergen diet followed by provocation tests can be carried out for several weeks. For a while, the patient abstains from industrially processed food, which is critical for nettle rash, in order to then test each food step by step for individual tolerance.
You can do this yourself for hives
If you suffer from long-lasting urticaria, you can support the hives treatment with your own behavior. In a diary you can record when which symptoms occurred, what you ate and drank and, if necessary, what medication you took.
If you have been able to identify diet-related triggers for your symptoms, you should avoid these critical foods . This often includes things that contain a lot of histamine, e.g. E.g. strawberries, sauerkraut, fish or aged cheese. A cold shower or a cooling balm can help against the itching .
Treatment options for hives
Hives are harmless and will go away on their own. However, this can take many years. The treatment of hives depends on the severity of the symptoms. Standard therapy includes the administration of antihistamines . In more severe cases, treatment with cortisone may be necessary.
Here’s how Med-Healths can help with hives
If you have itching, red skin or a rash, you can get advice from our doctors via video call. In this way you can find out whether it is actually urticaria or another disease. If necessary, we can also issue you a prescription as part of a hives treatment or refer you to a specialist.
The following symptoms indicate an allergic reaction – in these cases you should immediately consult an emergency doctor:
- Rapid spread of the rash
- Extreme itching
- Existing food allergy
- Swollen lips or tongue
- difficulty breathing
- circulatory problems
- Itching that starts on the scalp and spreads to the face
