Nearly one in five individuals will experience an episode of urticaria (hives) in their lifetime. Hives are considered chronic when they last more than six weeks, whereas acute hives will fade within 24 hours and are often replaced by new hives lasting less than six weeks. While many people with certain autoimmune diseases are more prone to chronic hives, the cause is frequently unknown.
Let’s examine how you can spot and manage chronic hives.
Symptoms of Chronic Hives
Hives can occur anywhere on your body and may present differently in each person. Symptoms may include:
- Red and raised welts or bumps on your skin varying in size from a pinprick to larger than a softball
- Itchy skin
- Swelling
- Blanching (identified as the center of the hive turning white when pressed on)
Hives are generally diagnosed by a healthcare professional’s assessment of your symptoms. An allergy specialist may rule out causes to determine if there is an identifiable source of the hives. You may receive one or more of the following tests:
- Allergy test. Likely to be a skin scratch test, the allergy test will determine if the hives are caused by contact with an allergen.
- Blood test. The blood test will check if you have high levels of antibodies and proteins, which help you fight off bacteria, allergens and other foreign substances your body might react to.
- Skin biopsy procedure. The biopsy is used to evaluate for other causes of hives.
- Urine test. A urine test may rule out a bacterial infection as the source of hives.
Because chronic hives often have no known source, the tests may not reveal a cause but rather rule out certain causes like allergies or autoimmune diseases.
Management of Chronic Hives
Chronic hives usually go away on their own, but certain medical and home treatments can help manage the symptoms.
Because chronic hives may not have a known source, treatment may take a broad approach. Medical remedies for chronic hives may include:
- Allergy medications
- Allergy shots
- Steroids
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Cyclosporine
While chronic hives may not have a known cause, treatments like allergy medication can help reduce swelling and inflammation.
Home treatments to soothe symptoms may include any combination of the following:
- Over-the-counter anti-itch cream
- Cool compresses
- Cool bath or shower
- Loose-fitting clothing (tight clothes may irritate the skin)
- Hypoallergenic lotions to moisturize but do not irritate the skin
Home treatments may not cure chronic hives, but they can make them more manageable and allow you to enjoy your walks on Sullivan’s Island Beach without severe itching.
If your chronic hives last more than a week, look infected or severe or are frequently recurring, it is recommended to see an allergy specialist to rule out allergies, autoimmune disorders or other causes.
Call Charleston ENT & Allergy today to speak to an allergy specialist about managing chronic hives.