Hives, which in medical terms are called urticaria, are reactions on the skin characterized by the appearance of a reddish rash, raised surface, and itching. This condition generally appears as an allergic reaction.
Hives are a common skin problem and can happen to anyone. This skin disorder can appear suddenly, and sometimes it's confusing because it's not clear what the cause is. If you experience it often, let's look at what triggers the emergence of hives and how to overcome them.
Various Causes of Hives
Hives usually appear after the body is exposed to allergy-triggering factors (allergens). When that happens, the body will release a chemical compound called histamine into the blood, which then causes a reaction on the skin in the form of itching and skin rashes.
The following are some of the factors that cause hives to appear:
1. Food
Hives can appear when you have an allergic reaction after consuming certain foods or drinks, such as seafood or seafood seafood, eggs, nuts, and milk. Hives can appear immediately after you consume the food or drink, but can also appear several hours after.
2. Drugs
Hives are also often a sign of drug allergies, especially antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Allergic reactions to this drug can occur either due to topical drugs, oral drugs, or injection drugs.
3. Pollen
In Indonesia, plants can flower all year round and spread pollen at any time. In people who are allergic to pollen, exposure to these allergens can cause hives. In addition to pollen, several other allergens, such as dust, mites, animal dander, latex, and insect stings, you also need to be aware of.
4. Poison from insects
Some people can experience an allergic reaction due to the poison contained in insects, resulting in hives. A person can be exposed to poison from insects when bitten or stung by these insects.
5. Outdoor air
Besides being caused by exposure to allergens, hives can also occur due to factors from the environment, such as sunlight, cold temperatures, or hot temperatures.
6. Excessive sweating
Sweat basically does not cause an allergic reaction. However, sweating indicates that the body is experiencing an increase in temperature. For some people, an increase in body temperature can trigger hives.
7. Stress
Stress is one of the causes of hives that we often do not realize. Not just a trigger, stress can even be the cause of the worsening of the hives you are experiencing. When stressed, the body tends to release more histamine, which in turn worsens hives.
How to Overcome Hives that You Need to Know
To treat hives, your doctor may give you an antihistamine to relieve an allergic reaction. One type of antihistamine that is known to be effective in relieving the symptoms of hives is: fexofenadine.
Fexofenadine is a second-generation antihistamine that works by blocking the effects of histamine in the body so that it can prevent and relieve allergy symptoms, including hives. This drug works faster than other second-generation anti-allergic drugs. Another advantage of fexofenadine is that this drug does not cause drowsiness, so your activities will not be disturbed.
In addition to taking antihistamines, take the following steps to relieve your hives symptoms:
- Wear clothes that are loose and not too thick.
- Avoid using soaps that can irritate the skin.
- Avoid scratching the skin rash.
- Try to keep the area of the skin experiencing hives cool, to relieve irritation and itching.
So that hives do not reappear, the most effective way you can do is to avoid the cause. To make it easier for you to identify the cause of hives, note what you eat, what activities you do, when and where you move, and what you used before the hives appeared.
Once the cause of hives is known, you can begin to take steps to avoid it. For example, managing the type of food you consume, avoiding drugs that trigger allergic reactions, keeping the house clean, and managing stress well.
Although hives themselves are not a serious disease, if accompanied by severe allergy symptoms, such as swelling of the face (lips, eyelids, and tongue), dizziness, or difficulty breathing, you need to immediately see a doctor. These symptoms can be signs of a dangerous anaphylactic reaction.