What Causes Hives? How Long Do Hives Last?

What Are Hives?

Hives are raised, itchy welts that can vary in size and shape. They often appear as red raised welts, but may also be skin-colored. In severe cases, hives may merge together to form larger raised patches. The hallmark of hives is that they move around, as one area clears up as another area starts to itch.

Common Causes of Hives

Here is a fact that I find is the most frustrating for people: there is no single root cause of hives. Hives form when histamine and other chemicals are released by your body’s immune system, causing the characteristic swelling and redness of the hive. However, what triggers the immune system to begin with is different for everyone. Hives can be triggered by a wide range of factors from allergic reactions to temperature extremes to stress. In some cases, a person may have more than one trigger. Some of the most common triggers include:

• Allergic Reactions – Hives can be caused from acute anaphylaxis where hives occur quickly in response to a severe allergic reaction to a food or insect sting. However, hives can also be caused by delayed reactions to foods, preservatives or environmental factors.

• Physical Triggers (also known as cholinergic urticaria)- heat or cold exposure, pressure, exercise (body getting hot)

• Infection- your immune system may trigger hives in response to both viral or bacterial infection

• Stress

• An underlying medical problem– uncontrolled underlying medical problems can cause stress on the body, triggering the immune system to produce hives.

• Unknown (idiopathic)- In many cases, there is no single trigger that is able to be identified. When hives occur repeatedly without a clear trigger for more than six weeks, they’re called chronic idiopathic urticaria.

How Long Do Hives Last?

The duration of hives depends on what’s causing them.

• Acute hives: These last less than six weeks and often disappear within 24 hours to a few days. They’re typically linked to an allergy or infection.

• Chronic hives: These persist for more than six weeks, with new welts appearing as old ones fade. Chronic hives may come and go for months or even years, sometimes without an identifiable cause. For those who have hives that do not improve with antihistamines, there are now multiple other treatment options, including Xolair, Dupixent and the newest option Rhapsido.

In conclusion, hives are your body’s immune system telling you that something, whether that is an allergen, infection or stress, is throwing your body “out of balance”. If you are struggling to control your hives, make an appointment at Monarch Medical. We are here to help you discover your personal triggers and create a treatment plan tailored to you.