Hives Specialist

What are hives?

Hives, also called urticaria, are red bumps or welts that can be quite itchy. They can appear anywhere on your body, from your eyelids to your toes. Hives may involve small or large (dinner plate size) bumps. Hives can look similar to eczema in some cases, but they’re a different condition. 

Although most cases of hives clear up within only a few hours, some children and adults suffer from recurring or even nonstop hives. If your hives don’t resolve fast, or if they’re part of a serious allergic reaction, it’s important to reach out to Sirven & Associates Allergy and Asthma Center now.

What causes hives?

Generally, hives develop when you have an allergic reaction to medication or food. This essentially means that your body overproduces chemicals that cause the hives.

Hives may also appear when you’re highly stressed, when you have an autoimmune disease, if the weather is extremely cold, or when you have a viral infection. Sometimes the reason for hives is unknown. Regardless of the cause, Dr. Sirven can diagnose your hives and prescribe a treatment to make you comfortable. 

Are hives contagious?

Most of the time, hives aren’t contagious. But it depends on the underlying cause. Some infections that cause hives are transmissible, for example. To be on the safe side, it’s best to avoid skin-to-skin contact with others when you have hives. 

How do you treat hives?

At Sirven & Associates Allergy and Asthma Center, Dr. Sirven performs a careful exam and asks you a series of questions to determine what triggered your hives. The underlying cause often helps dictate the specific treatment path. Your treatment also may vary according to the intensity and frequency of the hives. Common hives treatments include:

• Non-drowsy oral antihistamines
• Sedating oral antihistamines
• H2 antagonists
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Leukotriene modifiers
• Oral steroids, for severe flare-ups

If you experience chronic, severe hives that last six weeks or more, you may need an injectable medication called omalizumab. 

Managing the underlying cause of your hives, when possible, is also important. Dr. Sirven may recommend dietary changes, stress management, or medication changes if those factors are related to your hives. 

Hives may be painful and aggravating, but they’re also manageable with Dr. Sirven’s help. Call Sirven & Associates Allergy and Asthma Center, or click the online appointment tool to get started today.