Do Hives Recur?

Hives are skin rash that appear as red, itchy and raised areas on the surface of the skin. They can occur anywhere on the body but most often they appear on the neck, arms and legs. They leave rings or large patches of different shapes and sizes on the skin. At times hives tend to disappear and reappear on other parts of the body. Outbreaks of hives will usually last from few minutes to a couple of days. Allergic reactions commonly cause an outbreak of hives. Other causes include medications, insect bites, stress, anxiety and excessive sun exposure.

Unfortunately in some cases, recurring of hives takes place. Those people who are facing recurrence of hives need to take necessary precautions to prevent hives. Allergic testing by experienced physician is one of the preventive measures that will help in preventing hives. Finding the cause of recurrent hives is complex and lengthy process and requires tolerance and extensive detective work. Therefore it is suggested to see your dermatologist if your hives are recurring and provide as much information as you can to your dermatologist. Only a dermatologist can find out the causes, treatment and nature of your hives. Only when you are able to find out the cause, you can prevent your hives from recurring. Some of the treatment options for recurring hives are mentioned below.

Treatment for Recurring Hives:

1. Essential fatty acids called gamma - linolenic acid and oil of the evening primrose herb are important component to fight against recurring hives. Essential fatty acid is good option for treating recurring hives as they build up prostaglandins which are essential for enhancing immune system.
2. Antihistamines are the general medications for treating hives. This medicine can be purchased over the counter or obtained with a doctor's prescription. Antihistamines such as benadryl and chlortrimeton are good options. Prescription antihistamines such as Atarax and Allegra are at times used with other medicine to treat hives. Always remember that antihistamines can cause drowsiness and should be used with caution.
3. Steroids like prednisone are a good option to treat severe cases of recurring hives. Your doctor can also suggest topical steroids to treat inflammation and calm itching.
4. Regularly placing cool compresses to the affected areas provides relief from itching and also lessens the chance of the hives recurring. Since stress and anxiety is also a causative factor of recurring hives, therefore try to do your best to relax. You can also apply Aloe Vera gel on affected area twice a day to reduce the length of outbreak and to prevent it from recurrence.

If your hives do not get better and keep on recurring with the treatments discussed above, you should consult some experienced dermatologist.