Ailments and Situations - Hives

 
(also referred to as...)

Urticaria

 
Description

Hives are an allergic reaction on the surface of the skin in response to an allergen. The lesions are called "wheal and flare" lesions and are mainly caused by the release of histamine in the skin. Hives have affected 15 to 20 percent of the population at one time or another. Although they can occur at any age, hives most often affect young adults.

In a typical allergic reaction, an allergic antibody (IgE) and an antigen or foreign molecule bind with certain white blood cells to stimulate the release of histamine. In the case of hives, however, other factors seem to play a greater role in histamine release.

There are several types of urticaria that are grouped depending on the cause. The six main groupings are physical (most commonly dermographic, cholinergic, and cold), drug-related (most commonly penicillin and aspirin), food allergies, food additives (most commonly benzoates, salicylates, sulfites, and tartrazine,), infections, and stress.

 

Prev - Next >>