Hives are known as Urticaria in medical terminology. These are red or pink welts that rise on any part of the skin causing itching and redness. Hives can be seen for several weeks or few hours before they fade away completely however new hives appear as old hives fade. The size and shape can vary from person to person like they can be of a pencil tip size or can spread over large areas of the body by merging several hives at time covering half of the abdomen. The intensity of itching varies. In few cases, the hives burn and sting apart from being itchy. Hives are very common. About 10-20 percent of the total population undergo development of hives at least one their lifetime. They usually form on the skin but sometimes hive form in the soft tissue of the mouth, eyes and throat. Hives are the result of an allergy to a particular allergen. They are caused by the production of histamine in the body. Histamine is released by mast cells when the immune system tries to fight a foreign intruder. The release of histamine causes inflammation in the skin. Hives are not contagious. Hives are characterized by itchy red swelling of facial features. Hives can cause a reaction that involves the whole body, not just the skin. In severe cases, the swelling can be in mouth, nose or throat causing difficulty in breathing. This is called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that can cause difficulty breathing and lead to death.
Hives can be removed by intake of antihistamines such as diphenhydramine marketed as Benadryl, taken in doses of 25 milligrams and chlorpheniramine marketed as Chlor-Trimeton, taken in a dose of 4 milligrams. These medications can cause drowsiness; hence they are preferably taken at bedtime. Loratadine available as Claritin in market does not have side effects like drowsiness. Another over-the-counter drug cetirizine marketed as Zyrtec is mildly sedating. Other antihistamines that are available in prescribed form include cyproheptadine, fexofenadine, levocetirizine and hydroxyzine available under different brand names like Atarax, Allegra, Xyzal and Vistaril. For severe or chronic urticaria, there are medications like prednisone and Medrol. Both oral antihistamines and corticosteroids have side effects, such as drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation and the inability to urinate. Antihistamines, especially the older ones such as diphenhydramine, can have more severe impact on elderly people.
There are several other treatments for hives removal like acupuncture, treatment by ultraviolet radiation, antifungal antibiotics, agents that suppress the immune system, and tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline, nortriptyline and doxepin. There are several acupressure points on the body to treat hives. Apart from UV and anti depressants, there are topical therapies like creams and lotions containing ingredients like camphor, menthol, diphenhydramine, and pramoxine that help in removal of hives. Diet plays an important role in controlling hives. Hives nutitiona nd supplements should be carefully selected. Also there are traditional herbal treatments like herbal tea and homeopathic medicines required for curing hives that can be used to cure hives.
Few things that can help in treating hives are cooling the skin as it will help to shrink blood vessels, decreasing the amount of histamine that reaches the skin. At the same time it is important to avoid the heat as heating causes dilation, increasing the amount of histamine that reaches the skin. Application of milk of magnesia can be very effective for soothing hives. Use of antihistamines drugs like benadryl, Zyrtec, Allegra, Xyzal, Claritin, Atarax and Vistaril can be helpful in treatment of hives.
