Hives

[sachablue]

You know I have had these break out of hives over 20 years now.  However mine do not itch.  I do notice however they usually appear during winter peak season when skin is dry.  There are years that go by with no break outs and then they come in a series of consecutive seasons.  It's really odd!  I have never taken any meds for them.  I always figured it was stress related.  I am physically fit, run and enjoy weight training.  I always wondered but as quickly as they came, after weeks, they were gone.  Now recently it's been 2 or 3 years since I last had a break out and bang!! darn hives are back!  I am now 43 and running harder and really watching what I eat.  I am however stressed with finances and kids and household, work etc.  You know everyday life! haha.  I want them gone!  Not sure why there bothering me so much this time around.  Perhaps because I'm older and long for the youth feeling. The desire to feel sexy, pretty somewhat attractive perhaps.  I want to look decent for my husband and I can't because they are on my stomach!  I've also noticed they get really dark during hot showers and yes to what the last blogger said when water has made contact, really strange.  Then they lighten up when my skin dryes.  But def still there and larger ones on the front of my tummy and small ones on the sides of my mid section.  I don't care for meds at all!  I was curious this time around and after reading all these blogs, I will continue to work on my stress level and keep smiling because they usually disappear when the warmer season comes in.  FYI  I have noticed over 20 years, as I mentioned earlier they appear most during cold dry season and not during warmer seasons much less Summer.  Never have I had a breakout during Summer so it's really weird.  I do break out during my workouts.  Oh well ladies.  Like my mother said once "Welcome to the wonderful world of being a woman".  Hang in there ladies!  I will post again when summer comes around and lets see what happens this time around...

[margypops]

I have hives aswell and they are also worse in the winter ,I have thought I am allergic to a number of things but cannot pinpoint what so I just bear it and do what I can ..I put cortesol cream on each day but doesnt help at all when they flare..I can be sat at the computer and all of a sudden I feel the itch/burn  and huge swellings,hives appear, white on a reddish background .I have considered I am allergic to , cactus, gardens, trees , nickel metal , wheat, detergent to name a few , I have given up going to ask anyone about them ..

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, you have chronic urticaria. You are exposed to allergen and the allergen can be in the form of excessive bathing, low humidity environments, emotional stress, xerosis (dry skin), overheating of skin, and exposure to solvents and detergents. Avoiding these situations is helpful for acute flares as well as for long-term management.

In such condition maintenance of adequate hydration of the skin is quite important. Which includes thick creams (eg, Eucerin, Cetaphil, Nutraderm), which have a low water content, or ointments (eg, petroleum jelly, Aquaphor, Petrolatum), which have zero water content, are better. Esp. during winter season.

Along with above measure use of anti histamines and corticosteroids will help to reduce itching and hives of the skin as well as rash.

I suggest you to consult dermatologist. Take care and regards.