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Showering with hives. Ease the Itch of Chronic Hives: 9 Proven Techniques

by alexxlab

How to ease the itch of chronic hives. Discover 9 effective ways to manage the symptoms of chronic hives and find relief.

Managing the Itch of Chronic Hives: 9 Proven Techniques

Chronic hives can be an incredibly frustrating and uncomfortable condition, with the persistent itching and irritation causing significant distress. However, there are several effective strategies that can help ease the itch and provide much-needed relief. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore nine proven techniques to manage the symptoms of chronic hives and help you find the path to a more comfortable life.

Understand the Triggers

The first step in managing chronic hives is to identify and understand the potential triggers. Common triggers can include stress, certain foods, medications, infections, or even changes in temperature. By keeping a detailed journal of your symptoms and potential triggers, you can work with your healthcare provider to develop a personalized treatment plan.

Opt for Lukewarm Showers

While a hot shower may feel tempting when dealing with the itch of chronic hives, it’s actually best to opt for lukewarm water. Hot water can further irritate the skin and exacerbate the itching. Instead, try taking shorter, lukewarm showers and avoid harsh soaps that can strip the skin of its natural oils.

Moisturize Regularly

Keeping the skin well-hydrated can help soothe the itch of chronic hives. Choose a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturizer and apply it immediately after showering or bathing to lock in the moisture. Reapply throughout the day as needed to maintain a healthy, hydrated skin barrier.

Utilize Topical Treatments

Your healthcare provider may recommend the use of topical creams or ointments to help alleviate the itch of chronic hives. These can include over-the-counter options like hydrocortisone or prescription-strength medications like calcineurin inhibitors. Always follow the instructions and consult your healthcare provider before using any new topical treatments.

Explore Oral Antihistamines

Oral antihistamines are a common and effective treatment for chronic hives. These medications work by blocking the release of histamine, the chemical responsible for the itchy and irritated skin associated with hives. Your healthcare provider can help determine the right type and dosage of antihistamine for your specific needs.

Incorporate Stress Management

Stress is a well-known trigger for chronic hives, so it’s essential to incorporate stress management techniques into your daily routine. This can include activities like meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga, or simply taking time for yourself to engage in hobbies or relaxing activities.

Try Natural Remedies

In addition to traditional medical treatments, there are several natural remedies that may provide relief for the itch of chronic hives. These can include supplements like quercetin or omega-3 fatty acids, as well as the use of soothing essential oils like lavender or chamomile. Always consult with your healthcare provider before trying any new natural remedies.

Avoid Irritants

Certain environmental factors and personal care products can further irritate the skin and exacerbate the symptoms of chronic hives. Avoid using harsh soaps, fragrances, or chemicals, and opt for gentle, hypoallergenic alternatives. Additionally, be mindful of temperature changes, physical activity, and other potential triggers that may worsen your symptoms.

Seek Professional Support

If the itch of chronic hives persists despite your best efforts, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional, such as a dermatologist or allergist. They can provide a comprehensive evaluation, identify underlying causes, and develop a personalized treatment plan to help you find long-term relief.

Managing the itch of chronic hives can be a challenging journey, but with the right strategies and the support of healthcare professionals, you can find the path to a more comfortable and fulfilling life. By understanding your triggers, implementing proven techniques, and seeking professional guidance, you can take control of your chronic hives and regain your quality of life.

Hives: Self-care

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9 Ways to Ease the Itch of Chronic Hives

By Denise MannMedically Reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

Reviewed:

Medically Reviewed

Itch Relief Made Easier

They’re itchy, red, and raised and often appear at the worst possible times. About 20 percent of the population will get them at least once in their lives, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. They’re hives. And hives that last more than six weeks are considered chronic (persistent or recurring). For some people, these hives are a result of allergies, but for others there’s no discernible cause. Chronic hives with no known cause are called chronic idiopathic urticaria (hives).

The itching associated with these hives, which stems from the release of natural chemicals called histamines by your body’s immune system, can dramatically affect your quality of life. This is among the main findings of a study published in August 2015 in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Still, there’s a lot you can do to ease the itch of chronic hives.

Avoid Triggers

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“Allergy testing is typically the first step when someone develops hives,” says Gary Goldenberg, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. “Even if your blood work comes back negative, meaning the cause of the hives can’t be found, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any triggers.” Keeping a diary can help you identify your potential triggers. “Pay attention to what precipitates your hives and itching,” Dr. Goldenberg says. “If you go out for Italian food and eat tomato sauce and have a flare, you may want to avoid tomato sauce. ”

Don’t Scratch

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Yes, the itch can drive you crazy, but scratching hives may cause them to spread and become even more inflamed, says Neeta Ogden, MD, an allergist in private practice in Englewood, New Jersey, and a spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. “Cold compresses may help soothe the itch without aggravating the hives,” she says.

Take an Antihistamine

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Non-drowsy, over-the-counter antihistamines can combat itching and help break the hive cycle by blocking the symptom-producing release of histamine. “The key is to take the antihistamine every day at the exact same time,” Goldenberg says. “Antihistamines don’t treat the hives you have, but they can help prevent new ones from occurring in the next 24 hours.” Antihistamine creams can also stop the itch in its tracks, he says. Ask your doctor about what type of antihistamine is most likely to help relieve your itching.

Chill Out

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Stress makes everything worse. “Everything is amplified when you’re feeling stressed out,” Goldenberg says. “If you have hives, they can get worse with stress.” The best thing to do is to find ways to de-stress. Meditation, deep breathing, or just taking a walk can help. The key is consistency. “Find something that relaxes you and do it often,” he says.

Consider Acupuncture

Acupuncture may play a role in relieving the itch associated with chronic hives, according to a study published in September 2015 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Locate a practitioner near you with the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture’s acupuncturist finder.

Take a Cold Shower

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Hot showers or baths can make hives worse. “Heat can cause vasodilation, which essentially gives your hives more blood supply and a chance to spread,” Dr. Ogden says. Instead, take a cold shower or a cool bath to calm the itch. Always use soap and other products that are unscented and made for sensitive skin. “Products aren’t causing your hives, but you want whatever you use to be gentle enough not to make them worse,” she says.

Moisturize

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“Hives aren’t drying like other skin conditions, but if a moisturizer is soothing or cooling, it can be useful,” Ogden says. Some products also have an anti-itch component such as oatmeal that can help relieve the itch and soothe your skin. “But always do a patch test when trying something new,” she says. Wait 48 hours to see if there’s a reaction to the new ingredient. “If oatmeal proves helpful, consider a cool oatmeal bath when the itch of hives flares,” Ogden says.

Talk With Your Doctor

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“Check with your doctor to make sure you’re doing all you can to prevent and stop the itch,” says Goldenberg. If antihistamines aren’t helping, your doctor may prescribe another treatment. These may include corticosteroids, antidepressants, leukotriene modifiers, immunosuppressants, and omalizumab, an asthma drug now approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic hives. Light therapy may also provide some relief, Goldenberg says.

Is it possible to bathe and wash with urticaria for an adult and a child 2023

With various skin rashes, adequate care is needed: special creams and ointments, hypoallergenic underwear and clothing, diet. But is it possible to wash with hives? After all, bathing can lead to skin irritation and aggravate the condition. Therefore, people with this disease should take a bath carefully, following some rules.

Contents of the article

  • Bathing with urticaria – good or bad?
  • Effective therapeutic baths

Bathing with urticaria – good or bad?

Hygiene measures are an integral part of the comfortable state of each person. Swimming with hives is possible and necessary. After all, non-compliance with personal hygiene will lead to the addition of a secondary infection, and this will aggravate the patient’s condition. The rules for taking baths when sick are:

  1. Water temperature should be around 37˚. No need to make too hot water. It increases the permeability of blood vessels and after taking a bath, the number of rashes will increase;
  2. When bathing, do not irritate the skin with excessive mechanical action. You should use a soft washcloth and detergents without a scrubbing effect;
  3. Bath time should not exceed 20 minutes;
  4. For washing it is necessary to choose hypoallergenic gels;
  5. After bathing, gently pat the skin dry with a soft towel, without rubbing;
  6. 5-10 minutes after the bath, you can apply the cream or ointment prescribed by the doctor;
  7. You should not take a bath often, it is better to give preference to a shower.

Observing these simple rules, adults stop asking themselves whether it is possible to wash with hives. Bathing does not lead to unpleasant consequences, but, on the contrary, improves the condition of the skin.

Ban on bathing

It is strictly forbidden to take baths with a pustular rash. The skin with urticaria is constantly inflamed, therefore, favorable conditions are created for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. Getting on the skin, bacteria lead to pustular diseases. Taking a bath with such a complication is strictly prohibited, since there is a high probability of spreading the infection.

Therefore, with purulent pustules, showering should be limited. Moreover, places with a purulent rash should be washed with a special washcloth or not used at all.

Allergy to water – what to do?

Water urticaria is a rare type of allergy in which a rash occurs after contact with poor quality water. How to swim with water urticaria and can it be done? Of course, without bathing, a person will not be able to exist normally. However, water procedures should be taken according to special rules:

  • the duration of the shower should be several minutes;
  • wash water should be boiled;
  • is better to wash with filtered water or from natural sources.

Effective healing baths

Therapeutic bathing for urticaria is part of traditional medicine. In the recipes of many medicines, various herbs are taken as the basis. So why not treat your skin to a soothing herbal bath?

Therapeutic baths for urticaria: how to take, method of preparation

Medicated baths for rashes should be taken on average once a week. The frequency of application depends on how the skin reacts to the product. As for the duration, the first procedure should not exceed 10 minutes. You should see how the skin reacts to the therapeutic bath, whether the rash will intensify. Then you can gradually increase the duration of the procedure, but you can not take a bath for more than 20-30 minutes.

If during the bath itching increases, burning and other unpleasant sensations appear on the skin, the procedure should be stopped immediately, wash the body with clean water and apply a healing cream.

Methods for preparing baths for the treatment of urticaria:

  1. Fill a bucket of nettles with hot water and boil for 15 minutes. Pour the resulting broth into the bath. Nettle is an excellent remedy for hives, the effectiveness of which has been tested by many patients;
  2. Pour boiling water over 300 grams of marjoram herb and infuse for 30 minutes. After the infusion, strain and pour into the bath;
  3. Pour 300 grams of chamomile flowers with a liter of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes in a water bath. Strain and use to prepare a bath;
  4. Boil 300 grams of crushed oak bark in two liters of boiling water for 30 minutes. Strain and use to prepare therapeutic baths;
  5. In equal proportions, take sage, chamomile, valerian root, string, St. John’s wort, celandine and marjoram. For 1 liter of water in the bathroom, you should take 5 tablespoons of the collection. Boil in a saucepan, strain and pour into the prepared bath.

Take therapeutic baths in courses. If the skin tolerates the procedure well, then it can be carried out every other day with a course of 7-10 procedures. Tired of looking for a mirror casino ra? Then visit the site here and there you will find the official mirror of the site, as well as free slot machines and real player reviews about casino ra in 2021. Also a pleasant surprise on the site you will find numerous bonuses and promotional codes with free spins.

After taking a therapeutic bath, the skin calms down, itching decreases, the rash becomes less pronounced. Traditional medicine perfectly complements the traditional treatment of urticaria. However, if you are allergic to any herbs, it is strictly forbidden to take herbal baths, make lotions and drink infusions.

Author: Christina Palchik

Sources: medscape.com, mdlinx.com,
health.harvard.edu.

Global Platform for Allergy and Respiratory Patients

What is urticaria?

Urticaria is a common disease. It can happen at any age, from infancy to old age. Twenty-five percent of all people suffer from it at least once in their lives. In most cases, it is acute. According to conservative estimates, 1.0% of the European population currently suffers from chronic urticaria. Unlike children, in whom no gender-specific incidence of urticaria (urticaria) has been identified to date, urticaria in adults is more common in women. As for chronic urticaria, the ratio is approximately 2:1. People between the ages of 30 and 50 are often affected. It is relatively rare in people over 70 years of age. In contrast, neonatal urticaria, which usually lasts only a few days, is not uncommon.

Urticaria is characterized by the sudden onset of itchy blisters and/or angioedema. The skin of the whole body or only part of it may be affected. Blisters may occur only in response to certain stimuli (such as cold, pressure, or sunlight) or spontaneously, that is, apparently for no particular reason.

A blister has three typical characteristics:

  • superficial swelling of the skin of variable size, almost always surrounded by redness
  • itching or burning
  • volatility – the appearance of the skin usually returns to normal within 1-24 hours.

In appearance, these bumps resemble a tumor on the skin caused by the stinging hairs of the nettle (lat. Urtica dioica). The affected area of ​​the skin swells and turns red at first, and then from red to white in the center and around the red. The blisters seem to sometimes persist or “migrate”. This impression is due to the fact that the individual blister does disappear, but a new one appears next to it. Often, in addition to urticaria (sometimes without urticaria), there is a deep swelling of the skin – the so-called angioedema.

Urticaria is one of the most common skin diseases. It is also known as urticaria or hives. Approximately one in four people develop hives during their lifetime. Most of these episodes last only a few days or weeks and do not cause problems. This is called acute urticaria. It is much more difficult (to endure and treat) those cases that last several months or years (sometimes decades). The name comes from stinging nettle (lat. Urticaria dioica or Urticaria urens, urere = burn) – no doubt, because the skin in the case of urticaria looks the same as if it had been “burned” by nettles.

Symptoms of urticaria

Problematic itching

Itching is the biggest problem for patients with urticaria. Nighttime itching can be especially stressful because it disrupts sleep and drastically reduces quality of life.

Itching is particularly severe in patients suffering from so-called urticaria factification. Here, scratching and rubbing the skin leads to new hives and more itching. The slightest skin irritation, such as unconscious rubbing of the skin during sleep, can cause severe bouts of itching.

Appearance of itching

Release of histamine from mast cells leads directly to itching.
Many substances can cause itching. A common feature of these substances is that they release the neurotransmitter histamine into the tissue, which plays a key role in causing itching. The so-called mast cells of the immune system secrete certain neurotransmitters (especially histamine). Almost all of the histamine found in the skin is stored in what are known as mast cells. If these cells are activated, that is, these cells are triggered by a stimulus, then this is the starting signal for localized or diffuse spreading inflammation of the skin. As a result, the capillaries dilate, the skin swells, becomes red and itchy, and blisters form.

However, histamine also stimulates nerve fibers in the skin, which then release certain itch-causing substances (neuropeptides). These neuropeptides not only cause itching, but in turn activate mast cells, so that a vicious cycle begins, ending only when no more mast cells and nerves can be activated. Mast cells are predominantly located in close proximity to blood vessels and nerves. Therefore, the connection between mast cells, vascular cells and nerve fibers is established.

After an insect bite or contact with nettles, we most feel the itching effect of histamine. In addition to substances that release endogenous histamine, the venom of many insects, as well as poisons produced by itching plants, contain histamine, which penetrates the skin and irritates it. This stimulus causes us to scratch or rub the skin and allows more blood to reach that point so irritants can be removed more quickly.

What helps with itching?

For patients, itching is often the biggest problem and greatly impairs quality of life. You should avoid scratches and this is easier said than done. “How can I stop itching when it itches like this?” asked the patient.

  • Keep your nails very short and pat the itchy area with the back (top) of your hand.
  • Cooling relieves itching. You can use cool compresses that you keep in the refrigerator, but cold or cold showers can also be very helpful. If you suffer from cold urticaria, you should of course avoid these measures.
  • Mix half a cup of bicarbonate (eg baking powder) in cool bath water and buy for 10 minutes to relieve itching.
  • Rubbing the skin with water and vinegar (one tablespoon of vinegar per liter of water) may provide temporary relief.
  • Creams and gels containing antihistamines combine topical antihistamine action with a cooling effect.
  • A cream/lotion containing 5% to (maximum) 10% polidocanol, possibly with added urea, can be quite effective in reducing itching.
  • Using onions or drops (cottage cheese) is unlikely to help.
  • Cortisone ointments have no effect on itching.

Causes of urticaria

In the skin, histamine, responsible for itching and urticaria, occurs only in mast cells. Blisters occur due to the fact that the skin vessels in the affected area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin begin to leak. Histamine causes blood vessel cells to move away from each other by binding to specific structures (histamine receptors) on the vascular cells and thus indicating to the vascular cells that they should move away from each other. This allows blood fluid and some blood cells to escape from the inside of the vessel into the surrounding tissues. In addition to histamine, mast cell products such as leukotrienes or other messengers (called cytokines) can increase blood vessel permeability. The effect of antipruritic drugs in urticaria can be explained by the fact that these drugs specifically inhibit the binding of histamine to histamine receptors. Therefore, these drugs are called antihistamines. The fact that antihistamines do not help in all cases of hives indicates that histamine is not the only substance that causes itching and hives that plays a role here.

How are mast cells activated in different types of urticaria?

This question is most easily answered for allergic urticaria, a rare subtype of chronic urticaria. The mast cell is the main cell of allergy and is involved in all immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergies and is thus responsible for the symptoms of asthma, hay fever, or eczema. Urticaria can cause allergic activation of mast cells, that is, activation by IgE and an allergen (a substance that can cause an allergic reaction). In this case, allergens enter the body with food or inhaled air (for example, tree pollen, grass pollen, house dust mite droppings) and then activate mast cells, which are loaded with appropriate IgE antibodies. In rare cases, the ingestion of cross-reacting foods can provoke hives even in cases of such an allergy.

Anyone can become allergic during her or his lifetime. This happens if we become sensitized to certain pollen, such as birch pollen, after exposure to the pollen. Sensitization refers to the production of immunoglobulins (anti-proteins) against a particular substance, in our example against birch pollen. If we are sensitized, our bodies produce different immunoglobulins with different tasks. Immunoglobulins type E (IgE), produced by, for example, protective cells of the immune system, get stuck on specially prepared areas of mast cells (IgE receptors) on their way through the human body. Now, when our bodies come into contact with birch pollen again, the IgE that attaches to the IgE receptors on mast cells recognizes the birch pollen and collects it. The mast cell, to which IgE is attached with captive birch pollen, is activated and releases its histamine. An allergic reaction occurs. This most studied mast cell activation pathway is found in only a small proportion of all patients with urticaria.

Much more often, the formation of antibodies (protective protein bodies) against the IgE receptor or associated IgE seems to be the cause of urticaria. In 30 percent of patients with chronic urticaria, such antibodies against the body’s own substances can be detected. In other words, the body reacts against itself. Therefore, one also speaks of autoantibodies and autoimmune urticaria . A simple test for such autoimmune urticaria is to inject the patient’s own blood or a liquid portion of the blood into the skin of the forearm. In patients with antibodies against their own IgE or IgE receptor, this results in significant blistering.

The complement system is an important component of the body’s immune defense network. Its main duties include the direct destruction of cells and agents (such as bacteria or parasites) and the activation of the immune system. Activation of the complement system, for example in the context of bacterial infections, results in the release of powerful substances that activate mast cells. It is not uncommon for chronic urticaria to be caused by a chronic infection (for example, paranasal sinuses, tonsils, gastric mucosa or teeth): it is known that the removal of such a chronic focus of infection can lead to the healing of chronic urticaria. It’s called urticaria due to infection.

The term urticaria intolerance is used when the body cannot tolerate a substance. Discomfort arises from intolerance reactions to substances such as drugs, preservatives or colorants in food. Avoidance of the trigger substance, for example through diet, may lead to a cure.

Urticaria Diagnosis

Prepare to talk to your doctor about urticaria by doing the following:

  • Note when you first had hives and how often you’ve had discomfort since then.
  • What do you think is the reason? Are there triggers that make your hives worse?
  • Record your previous treatments (name, duration, dose).
  • Write down any medicines you have taken for urticaria (name of medicine, duration of use, dosage).
  • How well did these drugs work, and what side effects did they have?
  • Write down any medications you are currently taking, even those you do not take for hives or have not been prescribed by your doctor.
  • Please also write down any medicines you do not take regularly (such as headache pills) and how many times a month you take your medicines and when you last took them.
  • If tests have already been done to determine the cause of your hives, please bring previous results with you.

Photograph your skin changes

In the era of mobile phones, this should be easy.

Many patients experience blisters on a non-daily basis. So you need to expect that you will not be able to show the doctor what your skin condition looked like at the time of the outbreak.

When photographing lesions, try to make them look like they do . Good lighting conditions (oblique daylight, no flash, no neon lights), sufficient distance (at least 30 cm) and a dark background will come in handy here.

Treatment of urticaria

Drug treatment is carried out in the same way in all cases of chronic urticaria.

The following medicines are used in a three-step regimen.

  • Antihistamines
  • Leukotriene antagonists
  • Cyclosporine A
  • Omalizumab (new in therapy)

Antihistamines

These drugs, which counteract the action of histamine and are well known to allergy sufferers, are the first to be used. Initially, a simple daily dose, such as that commonly used in allergic patients, is recommended. This corresponds, for example, to 5 mg of levocetirizine or desloratadine, 10 mg of cetirizine or loratadine, 20 mg of bilastine or 180 mg of fexofenadine. If discomfort persists after two weeks of continuous antihistamine use, the doctor may write a prescription for a much higher dose. Up to four times more than stated in the package insert compared to the usual dose. This is not dangerous. However, in some people, high doses cause fatigue or drowsiness.

About two-thirds of all patients with urticaria can tolerate the disease well with antihistamines and other non-pharmacological measures. However, other options are available for the remaining third.

Leukotriene Antagonists

Leukotrienes are chemical messengers that are created in association with inflammation and play a role in the development of asthma symptoms such as swelling and narrowing of the airways. Therefore, this drug is also used primarily for asthmatics, but is also effective in treating some patients with urticaria.

Leukotriene antagonists such as Montelukast increase the action of pro-inflammatory leukotrienes. However, they are considered less effective than antihistamines.

Cyclosporin A

Cyclosporin A suppresses the immune system and therefore mast cells. It is also used for severe psoriasis, severe atopic dermatitis, or chronic arthritis/rheumatoid arthritis. This can cause – sometimes serious – side effects, so treatment must be carefully monitored.

Omalizumab

New drug – omalizumab. This drug was also originally developed for the treatment of asthma. Its effectiveness against urticaria was discovered by chance. Omalizumab is not taken as a tablet, but injected under the skin. Omalizumab is effective against immunoglobulin E (IgE). In fact, this immunoglobulin – at least so far has been thought – plays only a minor role in most forms of urticaria. However, in allergic patients, IgE is known to play a very important role in the activation of mast cells. Presumably, blocking IgE with omalizumab simply prevents mast cell activity, or “cascade”, leading to more urticaria and angioedema.

There are numerous clinical studies showing that omalizumab is good and safe, but above all it is usually very fast acting. If discomfort cannot be controlled with this regimen for a short period of time, cortisone can be given as a tablet or injection. This solution should always be used as a single therapy or as a short-term therapy. Continuous treatment with cortisone is not suitable for urticaria.

Other methods

Experimental methods include, for example, symptomatic treatment with probiotics, so-called histamine addiction therapy (with histaglobin), injections of autologous whole blood, and acupuncture.

First aid kit

In cases of severe chronic urticaria, such as mucosal edema causing difficulty in swallowing and shortness of breath, it is recommended to wear the so-called emergency kit at all times, with which severe urticaria attacks can be controlled. Most of these emergency kits contain a fast-acting cortisone drug and an antihistamine.

What can a patient do for urticaria?

The most important step is to identify urticaria triggers and determine the individual threshold. Then, as much as possible, the trigger should be avoided. Continue to keep a diary to accurately document the course of the illness. Fewer seizures or a decrease in their severity is already a success.

In connection with some forms of urticaria, tolerance is possible, similar to immunotherapy used in patients with allergies. This is partly because mast cells, when they release their histamine, take some time before they can be activated the next time. Some patients deliberately use it.

For example, a daily cold bath (for the hands) may cause the symptoms of a catarrhal urticaria to disappear for the rest of the day, or at least alleviate these symptoms. A person who reacts to stress with blisters may deliberately induce blisters with friction or pressure before a stressful situation, such as an exam or a job interview, to avoid itching in a later stressful situation. But please discuss such measures with your doctor because reactions vary greatly and no one should risk a violent reaction if there is no help.

Stress, by the way, very often becomes a trigger or an intensifier of urticaria. It’s true that “avoiding stress” is much easier said than done. Again, keeping a diary will help you identify the stress that is causing your hives. Learning relaxation techniques or autogenic training may help.

Avoid taking NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). These include, for example, acetylsalicylic acid (in aspirin, tomapirine, etc.), diclofenac, ibuprofen, phenylbutazone. Taking even a single dose of one of these drugs can cause hives.

Especially avoid strong alcoholic drinks. Alcohol can irritate the lining of the stomach, so certain gastrointestinal enzymes (diaminoxidases) needed to break down histamine can no longer break down dietary histamine well enough.

Histamine is then absorbed into the bloodstream through the lining of the small intestine and can cause hives and associated discomfort. Alcohol can cause mast cells, the main trigger cells for hives, to be more easily activated.

Spicy foods can also irritate mucous membranes and are therefore often poorly tolerated and should be avoided in patients with urticaria.