Urticaria (Hives) Treatment
Urticaria, commonly known as hives, is a very itchy red rash that’s usually associated with allergic reactions.
Although not medically serious, hives can be very frustrating and uncomfortable – but solutions are available. Get in touch today to find out how the team at The Dermatology Clinic can help.
While many people experience one or two bouts of hives in their lifetime, for some people, hives can become a chronic or frequent problem. Find more information below on hives, and the treatments available at The Dermatology Clinic London.
About hives
Hives are caused by excess histamine being released into the skin by the immune system. This leads to a series of raised, red wheals appearing on the skin. These often become swollen and are incredibly itchy. They look almost exactly like the rash you might get following an allergic reaction to a nettle sting.
Triggers
Most of the time no cause for the urticaria is found, however, triggers include:
- Stress
- Allergies
- Environmental temperature changes
- Infection
- Medication
- Food
Although the urticaria rash is identical in appearance to the rash caused by allergic reaction, there is often no obvious cause and the wheals can occur anywhere on the body.
Treating urticaria
Most cases of urticaria are acute and resolve fairly rapidly, but if the itchiness is affecting your daily activities, our professionals can prescribe some antihistamines to soothe your symptoms.
If you suffer from long-term urticaria and antihistamines don’t help, experts at The Dermatology Clinic have a number of other treatments to relieve your symptoms. We may recommend a short course of steroid tablets to reduce any swelling. In severe cases, our dermatologists can provide medication such as ciclosporin to dampen the body’s immune system to provide relief from your symptoms.
