Caution. Be advised that some cases of hives will cause shallowness of breath. If this happens or you’ve had them for over a week, see a doctor immediatly.
Some people describe hives as little nests of bees under the skin. The little bumps can change location from time to time and they do itch like crazy. They are accumulations of fluid under the skin caused by leakages from blood vessels caused by chemical imbalances in the body.
Frequently, their cause is easy to find. You eat a raspberry and end up looking like one.
Some causes of hives are hard to pinpoint. Some skins react to hot or cold air with an itchy rash. Everyday chemicals are sometimes the culprits. Even some pets may trigger an attack or that little growth on the tree next door.
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. So, yes, stress can cause hives.
When we are at wits end with worry, anger, fear, and torments of every sort, our bodies react in the same way our ancestors reacted when faced with danger. This normal reaction in some people produces hormones meant to get us through danger. These same chemicals are thought to also trigger outbreaks in some people. That’s why hives are sometimes viewed as one of the symptoms of anxiety attacks.
Chronic hives (those that last longer than 6 weeks) can be caused by fatigue and stress. If those things caused it in the first place, the itching is not likely to go away quickly.
Chronic hives are usually more mysterious. Their causes are rarely uncovered, even by expert investigators. Fortunately, both kinds of hives respond to a variety of treatments.
A cool not hot shower is the best course of action when the bumps and itching start. Hot water will make the itching and bumpiness much worse, very quickly. Histamines triggered by the heat are the cause.
For stress-caused hives, doctors often prescribes Doxepin, a combination of antihistamine and antidepressant medication. It’s often a tremendous benefit both to treat the hives and to help people relax. Some doctors view these symptoms as the manifestation of the first signs of clinical depression.
What to do? First determine whether or not the hives are caused by stress or allergies. They generally appear the same no matter what the cause, so you can’t tell just by looking at them whether they’re caused by a fight with your spouse or the new carpet shampoo they’re using at the office.
The trigger to a hives episode could be just a tiny trace of something or just a sharp word. Doctors recommend keeping an accurate journal of everything involved when the itching begins. Time, day of the week, location, food, chemical smells in the air, everything should be marked down. So, if the cause is not obvious, maybe the experts can find the clue in your journal.
Sometimes, there is an underlying illness causing the hives episode. Always see a doctor to make sure that nothing more serious is displaying itself.
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