Here’s a situation that many of us have experienced at some time in the past: mysterious red bumps appear on your skin, you start itching uncontrollably, and you have no idea why. One common explanation is hives, which are medically known as urticaria and affect about 20 percent of people at some point.
Here’s a look at what hives are, what causes them, and how to take a natural approach to treating hives.
Common Causes of Hives
Hives are typically an allergic reaction to something that you have come into contact with, such as pollen, pet dander, or food. However, hives can also result from excessive stress, an infection, certain illnesses, or simply wearing tight-fitting clothing.
Hives form as the body releases histamine, which is stored inside bodily cells. The body releases histamine when your immune system identifies a threat. It can protect you from getting very ill, but it can also happen when no true threat is present and an allergic reaction forms. Other common causes of hives due an allergic reaction are plants, latex, bug bites, and medication.
What Do Hives Look and Feel Like
Hives are red and itchy bumps or welts that appear on the skin. They can be small, large, round, ring-shaped, randomly shaped, or even the same color as your skin. Hives are itchy, often appear in batches, and can spread to different parts of the body. Some hives only last for less than an hour, while others linger for about a day. They can appear on various places on the body but can be a serious cause for concern if they appear on the throat or tongue.
Natural Solutions for Hives
You can relieve some of the burning sensation of hives by placing a cold compress or bag of frozen vegetables on your skin. You can also take an oatmeal bath, try calamine lotion, apply a mixture to witch hazel, or soothe hives with aloe vera. Seagate Stop Rash is an all-natural, homeopathic remedy that provides rash relief with an omega-3 oil base and convenient spray applicator.
To prevent hives outbreaks, try to pinpoint what was unique in your day that led up to the hives. For example, some people have undiagnosed food allergies and break out in hives after consuming milk or peanuts.
Most hives will go away on their own with simple home remedies and natural approaches. But if your hives start spreading excessively, become unbearable, or cause trouble breathing, it is time to seek medical attention.