What are the causes of hives? People suffering from the Hives or Urticaria will feel their skin swell and turn red. You may also feel itchy when your body reacts to allergens without any reason. Allergens are harmless, but our bodies consider them to be threats. This abnormality is still unknown, and there is no cure for allergic reactions other than prevention. When you experience hives, you will feel a burning sensation. Hives can appear throughout your body. These are simply a rash that develops due to an allergic reaction.

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Symptoms of Hives

Whenever you react to a substance that you are allergic to, you will start experiencing various symptoms, which is the body’s way to indicate that something is wrong. These symptoms are severe itching, stress, change in temperature, painful swelling inside the throat, eyelids, and lips, etc. This condition can be acute or chronic. In a chronic condition, the symptoms become autonomous. However, researchers and immunologists are not yet aware of the real reason for this.

Causes of Hives

When your body considers a harmless substance a threat and signals the body about the threat, it overreacts. Allergens are normal substances such as pollen, latex, some fruits and vegetables. When that substance enters your body, it will signal the antibodies (also known as lysosomes, immune cells, and T-cells).

These cells signal the immune system about the intruder. After that, the body releases histamine and various other chemicals. Due to the secretion of histamine, the inside layer of the skin starts to inflame, and fluid accumulates for protection. Below you can find some of the causes and triggers of the hives.

1.    Medications

There are various types of medication that many immune systems do not accept and treat as a harmful substance. This can trigger an allergic reaction, for instance, ACE inhibitors (for high blood pressure), aspirin (and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAID), and some antibiotics.

2.    Food Items

This is another common cause of hives that triggers the immune system of the body to react—a lot of food items included in this list. However, the items differ among people. For instance, some are allergic to peanut butter, and some react to strawberries. Here are some of the examples of food items that commonly trigger hives:

• Wheat products
• Strawberries
• Eggs
• Food additives
• Shellfish
• Nuts
• Peanut butter
• Rice

3.    Infections

Various infections, such as bacterial or viral, can also trigger hives and cause allergic reactions within the body. Some examples of health conditions that trigger hives include the common cold, influenza, hepatitis B, glandular fever, strep throat, and urinary tract infections, etc.

4.    Temperature Change

Sometimes when your body temperature suddenly changes, your immune system considers this as a threat and starts reacting. This will trigger the symptoms of hives.

5.    Animal Dander

Many people are prone to the dander of animals, such as horses, cats, and dogs. When they come in contact with these animals, they start sneezing, triggering other symptoms.

6.    Latex

Latex is a material that comes from the rubber tree contains protein. This protein is synthetic, and when you inhale or even touch the material for so long, your body starts to react to those protein particles.

7.    Pollen

This is another common allergen that the body does not accept. You might have noticed that many people start sneezing when they are in the garden with flowers. Even though pollen is harmless to the body, the immune system treats it as a threat.

8.    Insect Stings and Bites

When insect bites or sting the surface of the skin, it starts to turn red, itchy and painful for a long time.

9.    Plants

Some plants can also trigger an allergic reaction and develop hives. For instance, oil from leaves of the oak, ivy, and nettle tree can cause a reaction.

Other Causes of Hives

Below you will find more causes of hives:

• Exercise
• Scratching
• Water on the skin
• Exposure to sunlight
• Chronic diseases such as lupus or thyroid diseases
• Dust mites
• Intestinal parasites
• Cockroaches and wastage
• Various chemicals

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Conclusion

It is hard to find the main reason for the reaction. That is why an immunologist will help you in understanding the main cause and finding the best solution to avoid that allergen. If you are looking for an immunologist, you can contact us at 212-319-5282. Dr. Boyan Hadjiev will consult you about your condition and will provide you complete assistance.

Dr. Boyan Hadjiev is a top NYC immunologist who is an expert in identifying and treating diseases related to the immune system. Contact Dr. Hadjiev with a telemedicine live video call session or in person office appointment.

For more information visit our website: https://DrSneeze.com/

Sources:

https://acaai.org/allergies/types-allergies/hives-urticaria
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/hives-urticaria-angioedema#1
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157260#types
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-hives/symptoms-causes/syc-20352719