Hives... all of a sudden?

[jaminaway]

Hello.
     I am eighteen years old and have only had hives one other time in my life, which was a couple years ago related to a flu virus. I am healthy and fit and eat a well-balanced diet. However four days ago (Friday night) My torso suddenly started to itch, and spread to a large rash of hives. Since then I've pretty much stayed on benadryl, and the rash always seems to come back when the medication wears off. I haven't changed anything in my diet or surroundings that could have caused an allergic reaction. In conjunction with the medication wearing off, it also seems that the act of eating triggers the rash to begin again.
    I've read that hives can be caused by a sudden release of histamine from various diseases like amyloidosis. I've been concerned with this one as I've also had a slight, dull pain in my back, in the kidney region over the past couple days. Or could it possibly be food poisoning? And if so... would it last this long?
    I realize that it is very difficult to pinpoint the cause of hives. I'm just wondering, for someone who hasn't had problems with hives in the past like me, if I should be worried about something serious. And I'm also sick of being constantly drowsy on benadryl!
    Would a detox water fast help? I dunno.... any thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[RJ233]

Happy they disappeared. Hives are a hard thing to detect. If it starts again, I'd start that journal. It is easier to remember things right then, rather than later.Thanks for advising on your improvement. Best To You  RJ

[jaminaway]

okay so yesterday the hives sort of died down on their own. I didn't take any benadryl yesterday, and instead of a full-body attack, I just got a few on my arms and knees. By the end of the day those were gone and I don't have any at the moment, so maybe it was related to a virus or bacteria... I'm not sure! Hopefully they're gone for good but I guess only time will tell. Thanks for all of your tips and information. I'm very glad the rash had no relation to any type of disease, "knock on wood" haha. I'll let you know if there are any more problems! Thanks.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Urticaria, or hives, is truly not one disease, but a reaction pattern of the skin. Many cases of hives are "idiopathic," meaning no cause is known. Others may be triggered by viral infections or medications.

The mainstay of treatment of hives is antihistamine which may be necessary for prolonged periods (in excess of 6 weeks). Double conventional doses of these non-sedating antihistamines such as Cetirizine, Loratadine, Acrivastine and Fexofenadine may be needed to get symptom relief. Sedating antihistamines such as Chlorphenamine or Hydroxyzine are used at night to get urticaria control. Short courses of oral cortisone or steroids are taken for short periods (one to three days) to settle more severe symptoms.
You may take Vitamin C along with the prescribed treatment. Vitamin C is a general anti-allergy supplement. It helps stabilize mast cells so they are less likely to release histamine.

If the symptoms persist, then you can consult an immunologist. He may start with immunosuppressive drugs.

If the hives don’t go after 6 wks of treatment also, then it can be a case of chronic urticaria which needs further evaluation as it may be due to auto antibodies.
Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[RJ233]

If you had food poisoning you would be sick as all get out, vomiting non stop, diarreaha, and up at the hospital. Though you are using the same products, manufacturers will change ingredients at times and that may be what has happened. I used a deodorant for years, then started breaking out all of a sudden. Since it only affected my underarms, I changed. It went away. Start with what touches your stomach the most. Do you sleep with your shirt off? Bleach sheets/shirts. Try the clothes soap. See if it makes a difference. Think about 6-4 days ago. What did you do. Is there something you started doing 4 days ago. Did you just open a box of detergent, same kind as always? Have you been upset in the last 6 days, started a class or something that is aggrevating you. Do you break out every meal or just after dinner ?What do you do before and after you eat? Had your shirt off and gotten a little too much sun. For you to keep breaking out, it was something you are really allergic to if you were only in contact with it once, but in that case, you most likely would be broken out all over. Being in one area I would most likely think it is by touch. You would have to keep touching it to keep breaking out day after day. Are you sure it is hives and not a rash? My son suffers from hives when he gets upset. He breaks out and itches all over. If you can not detect anything physical within a couple days, go to the doctor to check for any virus that could cause it since you had it before like that. Did you have hives in only one area then? Check for ticks. They are small and can get in an area such as your hair and you wouldn't know it. They can sometimes cause rashes. If you do find one put alcohol on it before you pull it out so not to leave the head in. You have to get the head out because it can cause you big trouble. Let me know how things are going. Hope this helps you out. RJ

[jaminaway]

thanks... a journal is a really good idea. I've already gone through everything I've eaten though.. and nothing sticks out. I've been using the same deoderant, air freshener, soap, shampoo, and washing detergents long before the breakout, so I think it most likely something I've eaten. The rash has been pretty much non-stop for the past four days, except for when I've been on benadryl, so it's kinda hard to track everything.
If it was something I ate that could have given me food poisoning, how long would a reaction normally last?

[RJ233]

Hives can be caused by many things: nerves, clothing materials, washing soap for clothes & softners, bleaching clothing, bath soap, breathing substances in the air, such as certanin flowers, plants, cleaning liquids, air fresheners, perfumes, foods such as chocolate, different berries, different drinks (sometimes the manufacturers change ingredients and you don't know it and it causes reactions. You need to try soaps to bathe and wash your clothing and softners that are free from dyes and perfumes (free and clear--sensitive skin). Check to see if you have changed shampoo or conditioners. Don't just go by where you break out, because an allergy can come out in different spots. Do you sweat a lot under your shirt? Try dusting with cornstarch. Try wearing white cotton shirts for a while. Anything that you just bought wash b4 you wear it. Keep a daily journal of what you eat, where you go and the atmosphere, and if you get upset. You may find a patten to your break outs. Something has changed even a spice with a new ingredient in something you have always used, a new spice, a food tht you  suddenly are having reactions to, or something. It can be hours before you break out after being subjected to the culprit. When you start using sensitive skin things that touch your skin, then you can start eliminating things and a journal will help. If you get upset, keep record and see if you break out. If everytime you get upset you break out then it would most likely be your nerves. You don' t always smell something that causes reactions, glue is something that can bother you with absolutely no smell. Best Wishes, Hope you find the problem.  RJ