Hi Kabir,
Just to let you know that I was a hive sufferer for 2 years. You wrote to me earlier last year to give me advice on its treatment.
Im now writing to let you know that since then I started taking vitamin C and miraculously after 6 months or so, the hive disappeared. I hardly have an outbreak (knock on wood) unless some particular food or dusty environment triggers my skin. Even if it did, it will not cause a major outbreak. I no longer needed to take zyrtec for itching skin. It is a miracle.
Thanks for your help.
Stephanie
Hello,
First would tell you not to scare about, hives medically known as Urticaria, is an outbreak of swollen, pale red bumps or plaques (wheals) on the skin that appear suddenly -- either as a result of the body's adverse reaction to certain allergens, or for unknown reasons .i.e body’s immune response.
Hives usually cause itching, but may also burn or sting. They can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, lips, tongue, throat, or ears. Hives vary in size (from a pencil eraser to a dinner plate), and may join together to form larger areas known as plaques. They can last for hours, or up to one day before fading.
Hives and angioedema form when, in response to histamine, blood plasma leaks out of small blood vessels in the skin. Histamine is a chemical released from specialized cells along the skin's blood vessels. Allergic reactions, chemicals in foods, insect stings, sunlight exposure, or medicines can all cause histamine release. Sometimes it's impossible to find out exactly why hives have formed. The most common foods that cause hives are nuts, chocolate, fish, tomatoes, eggs, fresh berries, and milk. Certain food additives and preservatives may also be to blame.
Hives caused by direct physical stimulation of the skin -- for example, cold, heat, sun exposure, vibration, pressure, sweating, and exercise is called physical urticaria. The hives usually occur right where the skin was stimulated and rarely appear elsewhere. Most of the hives appear within one hour after exposure.
Skin tests(RAST) may be performed to determine the substance that you are allergic to. Routine blood tests are done to determine if a system-wide illness is present.
Apply cool compresses or wet cloths to the affected areas. Try to work and sleep in a cool room. Wear loose-fitting lightweight clothes. you can continue using antihistaminics like benadryl or zyrtec as it doesn’t have any infertility side effect except drowsiness or dizziness for some time.you can use weak steroid as well(e.g hydrocortisone as dermacort) or OPC-3, which is a powerful antioxidant and can reduce allergies by about 80-90%.
Hope it helps. Take care and pls do keep me posted.