hives when nervous

[johannah705]

Whenever I get nervous like speaking in public, going to the Dr's office or anything that elevates your bloodpressure,  I break out into a rash or red blotches over my neck and chest and evenually upper back shoulders.  It feels hot and I know it looks weird.  It happened at the Dr's office and he told me to take Clariten or some other antihistime type aide.  I have and it doesn't do anything for it.  What do you think it is?  Why doesn't everyone suffer from this?  I see people on tv that are under pressure and you would think they would break out but they don't.  Like the lie detector show for instance and nothing happens to their skin!
Any suggestions and what causes this to happen....Nerves?
lisa

[peekawho]

Because it can.  It has a mind of its' own.

[johannah705]

How come your scale follows you everywhere also?

[peekawho]

*waggles eyebrows mysteriously*

I'm everywhere.  

[johannah705]

Now that was helpful to me!   I welcome your corrections to me.  It is kind of creepy how you are all over the posts.  The original one was in the diet section.  This one is under hives.  Are you a post stalker?  How does it work that you can know all the posts sites that I am on?    Just wondering in case I wind up in the paranoid section and you answer me there also!

[Dr_Aparna]

Hi,
The skin is the largest organ in the body, and it is very sensitive. Stress is known to alter our internal chemistry, and can cause a hormonal imbalance. This hormonal imbalance can significantly impact your overall health, and can affect the skin. So stress can cause hives.
Hives can occur anywhere on the body, and can range in size from few millimeters to a foot or more in diameter. They can burn or sting, and are almost always itchy. Often, they will come and go, and change size very rapidly.
Treatment is with an antihistamine or a steroid to relieve the symptoms.
ref:http://www.healthy-skin-guide.com/can-stress-cause-hives.html

[peekawho]

You did not spell "antihistamine" or "Claritin" correctly, and your post contained several punctuation errors.
Just being an honest  (and rude) American.

In answer to your question, some people who do frequent public speaking are sometimes given small doses of a beta blocker or other similar medication, which can blunt the symptoms that you mention.  

Here is an article that mentions their use:

http://www.drhallowell.com/resources/articles/public_speaking.html

Hope that helps,

Peek