Hives - Causes
As you?ve probably figured out by now, hives is one of those health matters that?s easy to recognize, but difficult to determine what caused it in the first place. An outbreak can occur because it?s in your bloodline, or because you bumped into something you?re allergic to.
The physical manifestation of the hives is caused when blood plasma, in response to the production of histamine, leaks into your skin from small blood vessels. The histamine is released from special cells that are near to those blood vessels.
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In the majority of case, hives will eventually disappear on their own ? with no need of any type of medication, prescription or otherwise. There are some cases though, when you may need some medical attention. This could be especially so if your hives are located on your neck and constricting your breathing. You may also want to seek medical attention if they fail to disappear in a reasonable time.
While medical experts can?t pin point the exact cause of hives, they can provide several general categories that seem to trigger them.
Allergic Reaction. There are times when an allergen can cause an outbreak of hives. This could be anything from pollen or pet dander. Even an insect bite may trigger a case of the hives. For some people, something as simple as being in contact with latex can cause an outbreak.
Foods. Fish, mollusks, shellfish, eggs, chocolate, nuts, tomatoes, berries, soy, milk, eggs and wheat are just some of the more common foods that set off hives in many individuals. Fresh foods are more likely to cause an outbreak than cooked foods, but that?s not written stone. Even preservatives can cause an outbreak.
Medicines. Sometimes even medications ? substances that theoretically are supposed to make us better ? trigger an outbreak of hives. Medications for high blood pressure, ibuprofen and other painkillers are common culprits.
Autoimmune. An autoimmune disease is when your body becomes confused and starts attacking itself. Sometimes an autoimmune reaction can present itself as a case of persistent hives. It?s rare, but it happens.
Physical factors. There is a handful or two of other, less common causes of hives. Sometimes something as simple as exposure to the sun, or to the extreme hot or cold. Sweating, pressure ? even vibration has been known to cause hives.
But then there are still those times when you just can?t pin down the cause of your hives. More than half of all the cases of hives go unsolved.
Stress can also be a huge factor in triggering hives. This means that when your body is experiencing a stressful situation, you may discover things that normally don?t cause hives, just might.
