Urticaria, commonly known as hives, is a skin condition marked by red, raised, itchy welts that appear suddenly on the skin.<\/p>\n
These welts can vary in size, merge into clusters, and often disappear within 24 hours\u2014though new<\/p>\n
ones may appear elsewhere. In some cases, the condition can persist or recur, affecting a person\u2019s quality of life.<\/p>\n
Urticaria occurs when mast cells release histamine, causing fluid to leak from small blood vessels and create the characteristic swelling.<\/p>\n
Common Symptoms:
\nRaised welts (hives), red or skin-colored<\/p>\n
Intense itching (pruritus)<\/p>\n
Welts that fade quickly but may reappear elsewhere<\/p>\n
Angioedema (deeper swelling), sometimes affecting lips, eyelids, or throat\u2014potentially life-threatening if it impairs breathing<\/p>\n
Types:
\nAcute Urticaria: Lasts less than 6 weeks, often linked to a known cause.<\/p>\n
Chronic Urticaria: Persists longer than 6 weeks, often with no identifiable cause.<\/p>\n
Inducible Urticaria: Triggered by physical factors like pressure, cold, heat, sun, or scratching.<\/p>\n
Common Triggers:
\nAllergens: foods (nuts, shellfish), medications, insect bites<\/p>\n
Infections: viral or bacterial<\/p>\n
Physical stimuli: cold, heat, pressure<\/p>\n
Emotional stress: may worsen symptoms<\/p>\n
Autoimmune causes: especially in chronic cases<\/p>\n
Treatment:
\nAntihistamines: Main treatment to relieve itching and reduce hives<\/p>\n
Corticosteroids: For severe or persistent cases<\/p>\n
Avoid known triggers whenever possible<\/p>\n
Diagnosis is clinical, based on history and symptoms. With proper care, symptoms can often be managed effectively<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Urticaria, commonly known as hives, is a skin condition marked by red, raised, itchy welts that appear suddenly on the skin. These welts can vary in size,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n