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Title: hokey pokey hives Post by cootie on Jul 23rd, 2005, 1:15am Anyone have any idea what the hell triggers stupid hives ? I get em every summer bad and suddenly start itchin all over.....starts around my ears and my face......I mean it bout drives me NUTS. Like yer in a test tube experiment with 1 million skeeters. I'm causein red spots scratchin they itch SO BAD. Sumtimes it goes as fast as it comes......othertimes I will end up in welts all over which take weeks to go away totally. Dunno what brought it on today......heat maybe cuz I seem to get em durin the hottest months but have gotten them sevral times goin south on vacation and traveling stresses me out cuz of TRAFFIC ass-holes and scariest moments on the big slab goin on. Looks lovely while on vacation all SPOTTY and some areas get a worse rash from itchin like a fool. My face has broke out so bad it looked like rough sandpaper there were SO MANY over lapping and so close......freaks me out. I am itchin so bad rite now I can't stand it head to toe and startin to notice bumps. That's the worse cuz they last too long. Even my eyes itch. I usually take that one over the counter med for them. (forgot the name.....tried an antivert tonight (half of one) There gettin worse rite now......not sure why. Pain meds do it too at times but doesn't explain why I got em now so bad. Did a road trip today and was hot.......maybe that's a lethal combo for me....sheesh. I got other events this weekend and don't wanna look like a POXY PAM. My face will feel greasy when they start and somea them welts look nasty on the face. Poke a dot Pam |
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Title: Re: hokey pokey hives Post by burnt-toast on Jul 23rd, 2005, 2:00am You're askin' for a list that's big, big, big. To narrow it down somewhat it's probably some type of plant that grows/blooms in summer that you're having a minor reaction to. Try some of the pure Aloe you can get in a bottle it's inexpensive and works well on skin irritations. Since taking Lithium I noticed that exposure to sun can cause minor hives on my arms - Aloe fixes me right up. Good Luck Tom |
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Title: Re: hokey pokey hives Post by BikerBob on Jul 23rd, 2005, 4:13am Get some Benadryl (a non-prescription antihistamine) and eat it Coots. Hives Related concepts: Chronic Urticaria, Urticaria, Welts, Wheals Introduction: Hives can be quite uncomfortable. I remember getting hives after being stung by a jellyfish, and I couldn't sleep without Benadryl for several nights. I also discovered that distraction can sometimes help with the itching. This is one situation where videos and kid’s cassettes might be a real boon. And don’t forget to add an extra hug or two. What is it? Hives are a sign that the whole body is experiencing a hypersensitivity reaction. Hives occur when the body's capillaries and tiny veins get leaky. Fluid escaping from some of these blood vessels becomes trapped in parts of the skin and lining membranes of the body, causing localized swelling. This leakiness can be caused by classic allergic reactions in which histamine triggers an inflammatory response. It can also be caused by a number of other regulatory systems in the body in response to different types of triggers. The most common allergic triggers are drugs, especially antibiotics; foods, especially fish, shellfish, nuts, peanuts, eggs, berries, and food additives; infections (which we'll discuss below); insect bites or stings; inhalants such as animal danders, pollens, and molds; and contact allergens like plant substances, skin creams, cat scratches, moth scales, or animal saliva. In college I had a pet tarantula for a while and some of my friends got hives from petting her hairy abdomen. :-) There are also a number of distinct physical causes of hives (known as urticaria in doctor-speak): * Cold urticaria – the most common of the physical causes. These hives are triggered by exposure to cold water or air. This would be a good excuse to avoid swimming in cold pools (something my kids love for me to do). * Dermatographia -- hives that appear where the skin is firmly stroked. (Named because you can write on someone's skin by raising welts where your finger traced). This occurs in about 5% of people (and many more if you repeatedly stroke hard enough). * Pressure urticaria -- hives that appear under tightly fitting clothing or jewelry. Unlike dermatographia, which occurs in seconds, this can appear many hours later, obscuring the cause. * Cholinergic urticaria -- hives that occur in response to heat, exercise, or emotional stress. This usually doesn't begin before adolescence. * Aquagenic urticaria -- hives that are triggered by contact with sweat or with water. In these people, exercise itself is not a trigger, and they can drink water without a problem. * Solar urticaria -- a rare disorder in which sun exposure results in hives. Sunscreen can help! I mentioned earlier that infections could trigger hives. We know that some parasites can be responsible for hives (including giardia and pinworms, which are common in day care settings). We also know that bacterial infections, most notably Strep, can be the culprit. Viruses of many types can trigger hives as well. Over 70 percent of the time no specific cause is found when children have hives. They were hypersensitive to something, but no one discovers what, and the hives go away. Doctors think that most of these unidentified cases may be from viruses, which would make them the most common cause of hives. This is particularly likely when there is a cluster of cases (although molds, animals, foods, parasites, etc. could also be responsible for clusters). Who gets it? About 20 percent of people will experience hives at some point in their lives. Those who have known allergies or a family history of allergies are more likely to get hives. All other things being equal, girls are more likely to get them than boys. What are the symptoms? Wheals or welts come and go on the skin or mucous membranes. These may itch intensely, itch only a little, or not itch at all. Each typically has a whitish, raised patch of skin surrounded by a reddish halo. The welts may be tiny or large, and may be all over the body or confined to one area. Is it contagious? Hives themselves are not contagious, but the triggers of hives, especially viruses, bacteria, and parasites, may be contagious. How long does it last? The individual welts often disappear quickly and are usually gone within 48 hours, although new ones may continue to appear for days or weeks. If new hives keep occurring for six weeks, this is called chronic Urticaria. How is it diagnosed? Usually hives can be diagnosed based on the history and physical examination. Sometimes specific allergy testing or testing for infection is needed to look for the underlying cause. Chronic urticaria is usually not serious, but can be a sign of an underlying disease process. Children with chronic hives should have a thorough physical exam and lab work just to be sure there are no underlying illnesses. How is it treated? Hives are usually treated with an antihistamine, such as Benadryl or the prescription Atarax. If drowsiness is a problem, one of the newer, non-sedating antihistamines may be a better choice. Sometimes antihistamines are coupled with a histamine H2 blocker, such as cimetidine, for a more powerful effect. A variety of stronger treatments are available, but are usually unnecessary. If there are other allergic symptoms, such as wheezing or tightening of the throat, then a shot of epinephrine may be needed. |
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Title: Re: hokey pokey hives Post by Melissa on Jul 23rd, 2005, 7:30am For the itching, I use the Aveeno lotion, works AWESOME! Sorry yer a jitterbug Coots. :-/ |
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Title: Re: hokey pokey hives Post by Jasmyn on Jul 23rd, 2005, 11:34am Cootie, try staying away from anything with the vitamin B in it. Drink Flaxseed oil tablets daily, try not to stress and bathe your body and face in whey (the watery liquid left when milk form curds). Use preferably real cow milk (none of this UHT process long life nonsense) that you allow to stand and curdle overnight when the climate it is hot. Use the watery liquid that forms at the top. In Africa and Asia you buy a powder called "Itchy Powder"(we are a basic people that uses basic names), it contains certain herbs and mint that cools and prevents heat related rashes and hives. See if you can find it at one of your pharmacies or health shops. Good luck! |
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Title: Re: hokey pokey hives Post by cathy on Jul 23rd, 2005, 12:59pm Hey Cootie.....you were absolutley fine when you came away with us....well you got a bit soggy on the canoe but apart from that you were okay ....hope your keeping well apart from the hives catch you around ;) :-* |
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Title: Re: hokey pokey hives Post by Tim_Z on Jul 23rd, 2005, 2:39pm I get hives every spring when the weather starts to turn warmer and the snow is melting. My feet and hands swell up and I will get hives all over my body. I have never found out why but I use Benadryl and it helps a lot. I know what you are talking about, its torture. |
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Title: Re: hokey pokey hives Post by Mastifflvr28 on Jul 23rd, 2005, 6:53pm howdy coots, I'm allergic to the sun and if I'm in it for any amount of time I welt up and break out on my face, and ITCH really bad. I use a lot of sunscreen and hats :) Hope ya feel better! Mast |
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