Hives are raised and itchy rashes that can appear on one part or spread across various areas of your skin. Hives can be as small as a few millimeters but can also grow bigger. Hives West Los Angeles are very itchy and more than a cosmetic concern. They can be acute or chronic without problematic symptoms, but in some instances, they could lead to life-threatening complications like airway blockage due to swelling in your throat. Here are measures you can take to manage hives and avoid such complications.
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Observe the hives
If the hives aren’t accompanied by worrying signs like difficulty breathing, you can observe and narrow down their cause or aggravating factors. Try controlled exposure if you suspect certain factors like food, including additives, medication, chemicals, plants, latex, or environmental factors like heat or cold. If you notice that the hives worsen after such exposure, it is best that you avoid them to avoid developing or aggravating the hives.
See a specialist
Hives often result from an allergic reaction, including insect stings. They could also be a stress response. In other cases, they could indicate an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, thyroid disease, or rheumatoid arthritis. A thorough medical examination is necessary to confirm or rule out such concerns since they are serious health problems. Addressing such medical concerns can help deal with chronic hives. The hives’ root cause may not be established despite thorough medical checks. This is because some have no apparent medical cause, but the specialist can prescribe medication or offer recommendations to manage the hives and avoid flare-ups.
Home remedies
Hives are itchy, which can be quite disruptive. The tricky part is that you’ll only worsen the situation if you give into it and scratch. Certain home remedies can help relieve the itch besides anti-itch medication. You can improve the situation by avoiding overheating, keeping the skin moist, applying a cold compress, and wearing loose, breathable, and skin-friendly fabrics like cotton.
You should also minimize activities that cause an adrenaline release, such as intensive exercise, exposure to heat, and hot showers, since they can trigger or aggravate hives. Stress management is also crucial since, besides causing adrenaline release, it could be the main hives trigger which worsens the longer stress goes unchecked. Home remedies can significantly lower the itch, which helps as it could be all you need for chronic hives to stop flaring up.
Follow treatment plan
Your doctor tailors the hives treatment plan considering your overall health and hives severity. Following the treatment plan even when the hives seem to have disappeared is essential. Moreover, if you only take medication like prescription antihistamine when experiencing flare-ups, it is less likely to deliver optimal results. If you feel the medication is falling short, talk to your doctor. They can adjust the dosage, prescribe a different medication, or add another for better impact.
Unlike many kin conditions, hives are not contagious. While anyone can get hives, they are prevalent in individuals with allergies, especially triggered by multiple allergens. Contact Catherine Fuller, MD, today for more on hives, diagnosis, treatment, and management.
