Hives Causes and Cures

The mere mention of skin rash disorders is enough to make us cringe. But, there is no escaping them, because just as we exist, micro organisms exist, who are the culprits behind the skin rashes we suffer, most of the times. Hives, known as Urticaria in medical terms, is one such rash. Distinguished by its dark red, raised and itchy skin bumps, urticaria is caused mostly due to allergies. What happens in the case of hives is that, wheals, or raised bumps bordered by a red base, crop up on the skin surface.

Inflammatory agents, like histamine, released by the cutaneous mast cells, lead to fluid leakage from superficial blood cells, which is the major reason for the outbreak of hives. This is irrespective of whether it is induced by allergic or non allergic conditions, or whether it is acute urticaria or chronic urticaria. For proper hives treatment, it is necessary to have knowledge and understanding of the causes of hives. This will help in the precise treatment of hives. The following paragraphs elaborate on various hives causes and cures.

Causes of Hives
Idiopathic: Idiopathic causes mean that there are no definite causes of urticaria. It just happens. But, as they say, nothing happens without a cause, so perhaps, the age old reason for 'no reason' could be stress and poor emotional health. Recent studies have, in fact, established a connection between chronic hives and post traumatic stress.

Allergic: Undoubtedly, the most common cause of hives is allergies. Allergies to medicines, food products, and so on. When you are allergic to certain foods, hives can crop up on the skin surface within a few minutes to a few hours. This happens in response to the binding of allergen bound 'IgE' antibodies, with high affinity cell surface receptors, which results in the release of inflammatory substances, including histamine, by the skin mast cells. This induces an allergic reaction leading to hives and itching. Foods that are known to cause an allergic reaction, and consequently hives, are chocolates, peanuts, garlic, onions, shellfish, and pork.

Non-Allergic: Other than allergen and antibody interactions, leading to the release of histamine from mast cells, medicines or drugs can also cause hives. For instance, morphine, especially, may stimulate histamine release. Beta blockers, ibuprofen, some types of penicillin medications, tetracyclines, diuretics, and a few other medications, could also induce hives. In case of medicines, our body can respond by developing hives after the first dose, or the medicine may have to be taken for a week or two, to trigger hives.

Infection: Viral illness or infection is another common cause of hives. This is the most routine of hives causes in children. Infections like strep throat infection, urinary tract infection, and sometimes even athlete's foot, are associated with hives. Amongst other hives causes in children are food additives. Consumption of aspartame, tartrazine, annatto, erythrosin, to name a few have been proved to cause hives in children.

Immunological: Chronic stage of hives, in a few cases, is said to be triggered by auto immune problems. A considerable number of people with chronic urticaria develop antibodies directed at the receptors on the skin mast cells, impromptu.

The hives causes in adults are basically food and drug allergy related. Now that we have taken a look at hives causes, let's get an overview of hives cures.

Hives Treatment
As hives are caused by histamines, it is obvious that the first line of treatment, or cure for hives, will be in the form of anti-histamines. These could be diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine or cetirizine, or any other. A specific dose is required to protect the body from the allergic reaction, as well as relieve the symptoms. In case there is no pathological reason, and as mentioned earlier, some stress factor linked to it, stress management could sometimes prove useful. For that, trycyclic depressants could help in dealing with stress. In case the outbreak is chronic, prednisone, a corticosteroid, is also prescribed. Over the counter anti-allergic medicines also help in the reduction of symptoms.

Hives are one of the common skin rashes that itch. Hives causes and treatment eventually depend upon the constitution and the overall health of the person. That should be considered when the person takes a medicine. Now that you know about hives causes and cures, you need not worry. After all, who wants those red, itchy things all over their body? Well, definitely not me!