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Hives May Be Common but That Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Need Specialized Help

Hives May Be Common but That Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Need Specialized Help

Hives, which come with red, itchy bumps on the skin, are a very common skin issue. Unfortunately, this leads many people to assume that they don’t need to see a specialist to take care of it. This is simply not true. While hives may or may not go away on their own, the reality is that they are just a symptom of a bigger problem.

To really get to the bottom of the cause of your hives – and to treat that underlying cause – it’s best to work with an allergist. Read on to learn more about hives, their potential causes, and how they can be treated. Then reach out to Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 to make an appointment for help.

Not all hives are created equal

Hives vary from one person to another. In some cases, they’re caused by allergies. In other cases, they’re caused by stress or sun exposure. They can also be caused by infections and illnesses. Hives can be as small is the head of a needle or as large as a dinner plate. Typically, they’ll develop immediately after being exposed to what triggers them, but it’s also possible for them not to show up for hours after the triggering experience.

In most cases, hives will go away on their own. However, it can take days or even weeks for them to do that. In the meantime, you’re suffering with itchy, red skin. There’s no reason to do this. Give your hives 24 hours to go away quickly on their own. If they don’t, then it’s time to call a California allergist who can find the cause and give you effective treatment.

Diagnosing the underlying cause of hives

It’s easy to diagnose that you have hives – we can simply look at your skin. The harder part is figuring out what the underlying cause is. We can provide a number of allergy tests that will show us if you’re suffering an allergic reaction. We generally get results in 15 minutes. Some of the most common triggers for hives are latex, certain foods, pollen, medicine, animals, and bites or stings from insects.

If you have hives for more than six weeks, then you have chronic hives. These are often caused by some type of underlying autoimmune issue. If this is the case, we’ll use a blood test to give us more details on what’s going on.

There are many potential treatments for hives

There are several ways we can treat your hives. To keep from getting more hives and to get rid of your itching, we may prescribe antihistamines. We can find the right type and frequency you can take them, with the goal of ensuring that your hives are treated. We will adjust them as time goes on and your needs change.

No matter if they’ve just shown up within the last day or two, or you’ve been dealing with hives for weeks, it’s time to reach out to Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group. Call us at 805-658-9500 to make your appointment and get on the path toward relief.