I've been breaking out in hives, randomly, for a year or so. I cannot associate it with anything; it happens outside, at home, at school, in the shower, regardless of the temperature. From what I have read online, hives usually appear as swollen circles...but mine are lines. It always starts somewhere on my back and occasionally spreaRAB to my stomach or butt. They are unbelievably itchy and look horrible. What could this possibly be from? Oh and I also broke out in hives while in another country so it can't really be anything I use here. They happen often, pretty much daily.
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Hives
- Thread starter Lejla
- Start date
M
Mart16
Guest
Can you take your finger and trace your name on your inner arm? Then you get welts and itching and clearly see your name? A year ago I starting itching on my back, legs, groin. I had no idea what was going on. Then I just happened to watch medical mysteries on TV. They showed a girl who had hives and would draw on her body causing welts. She made some pretty fantastic drawings and then would photograph them. She actually sold them! Well I tried the drawing and was flabbergasted that my name welted up on my arm when I traced it. It is a form of contact hives. You can read up on it. I took just over the counter antihistames and then I was fine. Took them for about 8 months and then stopped taking them and now I'm ok. Have no idea what that was all about but I'm pretty much over it now.
Martha
Martha
M
Mart16
Guest
Possibly. But it doesn't have to be a scratch. Could be just a simple brush. Like the labels on shirts drive me crazy. Makes me itch. The elastic banRAB on my underwear makes me itch. In fact that is where I first started itching. I thought I had some other female issue and went to the dr for that first. Drying off with a towel can cause it. Just simple things that irritate the skin. Some people react to temperature. They can get hives from the cold or heat/sun. These are all contact hive related. And you know once you unconciously scratch a spot - it really goes crazy. Hope you find something that will help you deal with it.
Martha
Martha
S
spirithawk06
Guest
Hives can be caused by all manner of things. It could be a contact rash like Martha mentioned. My best friend used to break out in hives when she'd get hot, stressed, or upset for any reason.
I break out in hives from allergic reactions to something, often I can't pinpoint exactly what it is. It could be something in the air you're allergic to that is common. It could be multiple triggers. It could even be something you're eating or drinking.
I would suggest going to a doctor about them. I take zyrtec and that usually controls my hives unless it is hives caused by an anaphylactic reaction (then I have to go through the whole epinephrine treatment). A doctor who specializes in allergies would probably know what to look for to tell you what's going on.
Good luck.
I break out in hives from allergic reactions to something, often I can't pinpoint exactly what it is. It could be something in the air you're allergic to that is common. It could be multiple triggers. It could even be something you're eating or drinking.
I would suggest going to a doctor about them. I take zyrtec and that usually controls my hives unless it is hives caused by an anaphylactic reaction (then I have to go through the whole epinephrine treatment). A doctor who specializes in allergies would probably know what to look for to tell you what's going on.
Good luck.
I did go to an allergy doctor, and he said there was nothing he could really do if I had no idea what was causing the hives. I don't think its an allergic reaction because it happens under incredibly different circumstances each time. I just found it strange that they only come out on my back. It is probably the contact rash. Thanks!
S
spirithawk06
Guest
If it is a contact rash, and is treatable by antihistamines like a previous poster said, then it is still a form of an allergic reaction.
And your allergist wasn't very good if he told you he couldn't do anything if you didn't know what was causing the hives. There are tests that can be run to determine the cause. I didn't know what was causing my hives until tests were run. Granted if the tests were run and nothing came up, then there might be some other source.
Just because it happens under different circumstances each time does not rule out allergic reactions. Your body will react differently at different times with different stimulants. I'm not saying that it is the cause, just saying that it shouldn't be ruled out completely just yet.
I hope you find out what is causing it.
And your allergist wasn't very good if he told you he couldn't do anything if you didn't know what was causing the hives. There are tests that can be run to determine the cause. I didn't know what was causing my hives until tests were run. Granted if the tests were run and nothing came up, then there might be some other source.
Just because it happens under different circumstances each time does not rule out allergic reactions. Your body will react differently at different times with different stimulants. I'm not saying that it is the cause, just saying that it shouldn't be ruled out completely just yet.
I hope you find out what is causing it.
L
Lights242
Guest
I think what lejla is describing sounRAB like dermatographism. Look it up to see if that fits your case. I agree too that you should go to a different doctor if that is his/her attitude.
I've had chronic hives off and on (mostly on!) for the last 5 years. Started off with prednisone which can work, but are not good on the system and has a rebound effect after you are done with it. Tried hydroxyzine, etc. which helped me sleep but didn't make the hives go away. Tested negative for all allergy testing, but showed Vitamin D deficient 9 and 3 months ago. 9 months ago also showed low T4 but that came back up to normal range. Allergist has me on singulair, tagamet & zyrtec -- says I will need to be on for 3 months prior to moving me up to the next level - doxepin - if these don't work. And that if it works, I have to be on the drugs for 9 months before being declared "hive free". Well, lo and behold, the hives have 98% gone away (which means that sometimes they are gone completely and occasionally I will notice some on my hanRAB, but nothing compared to the full-bodied monstrosity I used to be). About a month or so into this drug corabo, I started to experience serious reflux and GERD which never has happened to me before so I guess my question is whether anyone else ever was on this corabo and had negative/positive experiences. No discernable cause has been discovered for my reflux and I really wonder about the side effects of my particular drug cocktail being a cause.
I've had chronic hives off and on (mostly on!) for the last 5 years. Started off with prednisone which can work, but are not good on the system and has a rebound effect after you are done with it. Tried hydroxyzine, etc. which helped me sleep but didn't make the hives go away. Tested negative for all allergy testing, but showed Vitamin D deficient 9 and 3 months ago. 9 months ago also showed low T4 but that came back up to normal range. Allergist has me on singulair, tagamet & zyrtec -- says I will need to be on for 3 months prior to moving me up to the next level - doxepin - if these don't work. And that if it works, I have to be on the drugs for 9 months before being declared "hive free". Well, lo and behold, the hives have 98% gone away (which means that sometimes they are gone completely and occasionally I will notice some on my hanRAB, but nothing compared to the full-bodied monstrosity I used to be). About a month or so into this drug corabo, I started to experience serious reflux and GERD which never has happened to me before so I guess my question is whether anyone else ever was on this corabo and had negative/positive experiences. No discernable cause has been discovered for my reflux and I really wonder about the side effects of my particular drug cocktail being a cause.