Itchy Hives
Those Itchy Hives May Be More Than Annoying
Goodness how we hate those pesky, itchy hives, and worse yet, the not knowing where they came from this time. Maybe you are one of the lucky ones who know exactly how you got them this time, but they are so common and can show up so quickly, so mysteriously, that it can be hard to come up with answers. What we can do is be careful to notice any patterns which could denote an allergic reaction to certain foods or medications. This can be particularly difficult to do for children, or if you are a pretty consistent snacker throughout the day. And most manufacturers don’t make it all that easy for us to decide what we eat, and you will notice that there are certain chemicals and preservatives that will cause itchy hives when we least expect them.
You may also contract itchy hives from making contact with certain plants and grasses outdoors, not to mention from insect bites and bee stings. Hives in children can be a sign of bigger things going on or yet to come with an allergy, so ask them lots of question to find out if their tummy hurts, they have a hard time breathing, or if they feel tired or dizzy. Most likely, the itchy hives will be the only symptom of an allergic reaction or sensitivity problem, but it never hurts to make sure. If there are any poison oak or poison ivy on your property, it is recommended that you kill them with a chemical application, such as Round-Up or Weed-B-Gone, and let them completely die before plucking and discarding them.
The medications that are most likely to cause itchy hives would be ibuprofen, aspirin, or any narcotic pain relievers in the codeine family. Also, the penicillin family of antibiotics will cause hives as a symptom of allergy or sensitivity, so be sure that you pay close attention to what you are taking and how much. The reaction can take days to show up, so don’t count your medications out of the running. Aspirin should never be given to people under the age of 20, and itchy hives associated with the use of aspirin may be a sign of Ryes Syndrome, an often fatal condition.
To treat the discomfort of your itchy hives, you can use a few different topical solutions, and these should be accompanied by an oral antihistamine as well. Steeped and cooled black tea bags are great when placed on the area of rash, as is ice when alternated at ten minutes on and ten minutes off. Calamine lotion or milk of magnesia will help to draw out moisture and should offer fast soothing of the rash.