January 16, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Hives, also known as urticaria, is a very bothersome problem for those affected. They are usually quite itchy although they do not have to be. A hive is typically a raised welt, wheal, or bump on the skin that may have an accompanying red blotch surrounding the bump. Hives however can be flush with the skin in some cases. The shape and size of a hive is very variable, ranging from pinprick-looking dots to large irregularly-shaped blob-like skin lesions. Not only can hives occur anywhere on the skin, but in some cases, they may be in the soft tissues (e.g., throat, tongue, lips, eyelids) or internally such as the gastrointestinal system (e.g., stomach, intestines). If the hives occur in the throat, the individual may experience a throat-tightening sensation. If the hives affect the tongue, lips, or eyelids, the person may develop localized swelling in these tissues. On the other hand, if they occur in the stomach, the patient may experience abdominal cramping, abdominal pain, nausea, and/or vomiting Usually, multiple hives occur at one time, but it is also possible to just have 1 isolated hive appear from time to time. A hive generally resolves within 24 hours, but may last longer. Hives tend to come and go and generally do not stay in one place for days, week, or months as is common with some other skin disorders such as eczema (i.e., atopic dermatitis).
The causes of hives are numerous. Some of the more common causes may include allergies to a medication (e.g., aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics), food, (e.g., peanuts, tree nuts, egg, wheat, fish, shellfish, soy, milk), or flying insect sting (e.g., bee, wasp, yellow jacket, or hornet sting). Some other causes of hives may include personal care products, environmental agents, infections (e.g., viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic), inflammatory conditions (e.g., vasculitis), autoimmune disorders (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, giant cell arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, scleroderma, polymyositis, dermatomyositis), physical stimuli (e.g., cold, heat, exercise, vibration, pressure, solar exposure, water exposure), and/or rarely cancer.
Hives can be categorized into 2 basic types – acute and chronic. “Acute” urticaria is defined as one having hives for less than 6 weeks. “Chronic” urticaria, on the other hand, is defined as one having hives for 6 or more weeks. Approximately 20-25% of the U.S. population will have hives at some point in their life. Acute urticaria is much more common than chronic urticaria, although chronic urticaria is not that uncommon.
It should be noted that it is not uncommon for someone who has either the acute form or the chronic form of hives to also have associated swellings (i.e., angioedema). These swellings may occur in conjunction with one’s hives or they may occur separately from one’s hives.
The diagnosis of hives is generally made after an allergist performs a comprehensive history and physical examination. In many cases, bloodwork, urinalysis, allergy skin tests, chest X-ray, and/or skin biopsy may be needed, particularly when a diagnosis of chronic urticaria is made. In these cases, it is important to rule out an underlying condition that may be the cause of the hives. If such a condition is identified, treatment of the underlying disorder may be all that is necessary in order to free the person of their hives.
The treatment of hives primarily relies on the use of antihistamines. Since histamine is the primary chemical that is responsible for the development of hives, most cases of hives are responsive to antihistamines which block the action of histamine on the skin. In some individuals, avoidance of a particular food or medication is all that is needed. For others, there are a variety of treatment options, some of which include antihistamines [e.g., Claritin (loratadine), Clarinex (desloratadine), Allegra (fexofenadine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), Xyzal (levocetirizine) leukotriene antagonists [e.g., Singulair (monteleukast)], histamine-2 blockers [Pepcid (famotidine)], corticosteroids, immune modulators, and “biologicals” [e.g., Xolair (omalizumab) injections] or various combinations of the above-mentioned medications.
The board certified allergy specialists at Black & Kletz Allergy have more than 50 years of experience in diagnosing and treating hives, as well as swelling episodes. They also diagnose and treat allergies, asthma, generalized itching, eczema, insect sting allergies, medication allergies, food allergies, eosinophilic disorders, mast cell activation syndrome, and immune disorders. Black & Kletz Allergy has offices in Washington, DC, McLean, VA (Tysons Corner, VA), and Manassas, VA and offer on-site parking at all locations. The Washington, DC and McLean, VA offices are Metro accessible and we provide a free shuttle that runs between our McLean, VA office and the Spring Hill metro station on the silver line. To schedule an appointment, please call us or alternatively, you can click Request an Appointment and we will respond within 24 hours by the next business day. Black & Kletz Allergy is proud to provide high quality allergy care to the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area residents in a welcoming and professional setting.
