Ongoing: Random Hives

[Megs777]

Hello!

For the past month I have had random hives appear all over my body. And I mean random, I go days without having one single hive and then all of a sudden patches of hives appear!

Please keep in mind, I do not have any food allergies and have not changed any detergent, soaps, perfumes etc.

The only place I seem to break out is when I am in bed doing absolutely nothing. For instance, last night I was watching TV and began to itch, I pulled my shirt back and noticed a hive the size of a quarter. I recently washed my sheets with fragrance free detergent and dryer sheets.

My hives usually appear along my waistline, behind my neck and groin area. They can be the size of a water droplet to (the size of) 2 quarters put together.

I am getting frustrated because I cannot figure out what's causing my random breakouts. My only solution is to pop a benedryll, but I don't want to do that every time. However, if I don't take a benedryll my hives spread (not rapidly) & do not seem to go away quickly. So far, I have not had trouble breathing.

Like I said, I do not have any food allergies (or changed my diet) & although I am sensitive to fragrances, I've always used fragrance/dye free soaps.

WHAT'S CAUSING MY RANDOM HIVES? Any ideas are welcome.

[stozernz]

Have you had flu or cold like symtoms as well cos what you got souunds like what I have I also have a rash on my forarmand had been running the odd temp. are you on any meds you got gout or thiroid probsdo you use any viagria or the likes do you drink lots of milk

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Hives (medically known as urticaria) are red, itchy, raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes and sizes. They are of two types: acute and chronic(when hives persist for more than 6 weeks). The most likely triggers for acute urticaria are allergies to pets, horses, latex and foods, such as shellfish and nuts, bee or wasp stings, allergies to medicines, Viral infections, such as glandular fever and herpes, dental and sinus infections, fungal infections, blood transfusions and vaccines.

The cause of chronic urticaria is often more difficult to identify. Most cases are called chronic idiopathic urticaria, which means they're caused by the body's unexplainable development of antibodies to itself (auto-antibodies). My sincere advice would be to consult an allergist.
I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep us posted in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.