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Allergies Allergy Treatment

Wheals of Fire: Getting Help with Hives

Basic food allergy is a common trigger of hives. Tree nuts, including brazil nuts, walnuts, cashews, and almonds, or legumes such as peanuts are common causes of allergic reactions. Allergies to seafood, particularly shrimp, lobster, crawfish, and mollusks, are also commonly reported. Eggs, milk, soy, cheese, wheat, strawberries, and tomatoes are all known to cause hives in susceptible individuals.

Rarely, preservatives or additives in foods cause hives. People can be sensitive, for example, to tartrazine, yellow dye #5, or other coloring additives found in many processed foods such as candies and puddings. Keeping track of what you eat each day with a food diary can help an allergist pinpoint the foods that trigger hives outbreaks.

Allergic reactions to medications are a commonly reported cause of hives. Penicillin, cephalosporins (semi-synthetic penicillins), aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, opiates and muscle relaxants may produce acute reactions in susceptible individuals. If you begin a new medication and develop hives or red blotches on the skin, report the reaction to your prescribing physician immediately, before taking another dose.

Other triggers include various ingredients used in the manufacturing of cosmetics and fragrances, as well as bee or wasp venom. People with an insect allergy may develop a serious reactions if stung. It is important to seek medical attention promptly if you suspect you are having an allergic reaction.

What role can the environment have on the development of hives?
Environmental triggers, such as animal dander, dust mites, pollen, mold spores, and reactions to chemical irritants or odors, can also cause hives in sensitive individuals.

Some individuals who have "physical urticarias" develop hives in response to various physical stimuli in the environment. This type of hives is usually long-lasting and likely to recur. Pressure, vibration, cold, heat, water, exercise, sunlight, temperature changes, and other physical stimuli can provoke hives.

Does stress/anxiety cause hives?
Stress, anxiety, excitement, and emotional situations can all cause changes in the body's nervous system, making them capable of producing hives in certain individuals. These outbreaks are generally short-term and resolve on their own.

When can hives be a sign of underlying disease?
Patients with chronic hives may have an underlying disease that has gone undiagnosed. Certain health conditions such as a thyroid disorder, hepatitis, viral infection, or even cancer can produce hives. Children with viral infections are especially susceptible to hive outbreaks. Hives have also been associated with parasitic, fungal, and bacterial infections. Interestingly enough, there's evidence that women are more likely to suffer hives in the premenstrual period, or around the time that they're going through menopause.

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