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Customer question:

Is hives a severe skin disease? Anonymous customer's question

Pharmacist's answer:

Hives, also known as urticaria, is a common condition that affects the skin and causes raised, itchy rashes. In most cases, it is not a severe skin condition and usually goes away within a few hours or days. However, it can sometimes take on a chronic form or be a symptom of a more serious medical condition.

In most cases, hives are mild and transient.

Some causes and factors that can cause hives include:

• Allergies: food, medicine, insect bites, pollen, latex, etc.
• Physical factors: such as heat, cold, sun, pressure, or friction.
• Infections: Viral or bacterial infections can cause hives.
• Autoimmune reactions: when the body attacks its cells.
• Stress: psychological stress can trigger hives.

Symptoms can be alleviated with antihistamines and other medicines prescribed by the doctor. However, there are certain situations in which hives can signal a more serious medical condition, so it is always recommended to consult a doctor if symptoms persist for a long time. There are problems with breathing, facial swelling, or other severe symptoms. If hives are chronic or cause severe discomfort, a thorough diagnostic evaluation may be performed to determine the cause and rule out any more severe conditions.

Can hives be a symptom of a particular disease?

Yes, hives can be a symptom of certain diseases or medical conditions. Although, in most cases, hives are the result of allergic reactions, other causes are not related to allergies.

Some of these causes are:

• Infections: Certain bacterial or viral infections can trigger hives.
• Autoimmune diseases: some autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or vasculitis, can cause hives.
• Sudden release of histamine: in some cases, hives may occur due to the release of histamine, which is unrelated to histamine release due to an allergic reaction. This is known as idiopathic urticaria.
• Stress: psychological stress can trigger hives in some people.

Interesting reading: Hives in a child

Interesting reading: Hives disease