All about allergy

Author: Richard E Daily, MD, FAAEM, Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Skagg’s Community Health Center.
Editors: Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM, Research Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Mary L Windle, Pharm D, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine.com, Inc; […]

Hives and angioedema may be very uncomfortable but will not cause serious harm.
The hives will not leave scars.
Most people do well with treatment.
Hives and angioedema usually will last only a few hours to a few days. Chronic hives lasts longer than 6 weeks but is rare.
 
 
Allergy journal

Avoid exposure to any food, medicine, or physical agent that has been identified to cause your hives or angioedema.
Reducing emotional and physical stress may help. In rare cases, you may need to take antihistamines or other medicines for an extended time to prevent further hives or swelling.
 
 
Allergy journal

Take all prescribed medicines as directed except for those drugs you are instructed to take only as needed. This will reduce the possibility of the hives or swelling coming back.
Contact your health care provider or return to the hospital if you have any of the following:
Rash or swelling returns or gets worse
Difficulty with your medicines
New […]

Short-acting type H1 antihistamines: These medications, including diphenhydramine (Benadryl), are the primary treatment of mild cases of hives and angioedema. These are available without a prescription and are inexpensive. However, they must be taken every 6-12 hours and cause sleepiness, which can interfere with normal activity.
Long-acting H1 antihistamines: These may also be used for mild […]

The treatment of hives depends on the severity of the symptoms. For mild to moderately severe localized symptoms, a nonprescription antihistamine by mouth is usually adequate, along with skin care measures for comfort. For more severe cases, an injection or short course of a corticosteroid may be needed to rapidly reduce swelling and itching.
 
Allergy journal

Self-Care at Home
Stop any food or medicine identified as the cause of the hives or angioedema.
In very mild cases, no treatment at all may be required.
If symptoms are making you uncomfortable, take a nonprescription antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), by mouth, per the package instructions or as directed by your health care provider, until symptoms […]

Your health care provider will examine you and ask questions about how the hives or angioedema started. Tell him or her about the following:
Any medicines (prescription and nonprescription) you have been taking even if you stopped them in the past few days
Any dietary supplement or herbs you take, even if only sometimes, and the last […]

Contact your health care provider if you have hives or angioedema. After hearing your symptoms, he or she may want to see you for an office visit.
If you are having any of these symptoms along with hives or angioedema, you may be having an anaphylactic reaction. Go immediately to a hospital emergency department.
Difficulty with breathing […]

Hives is a rash of smooth, raised, pink or reddish bumps of different sizes called wheals that comes on suddenly. The wheals look something like mosquito bites. They may cover all or part of the body and are usually very itchy.
Hives usually appear first on the covered areas of the skin such as the trunk […]

Hives and angioedema are reactions of the skin to the release of histamine or other chemicals into the blood. This is often, although not always, due to an allergic reaction.
There are many causes of hives and angioedema. At least half the time, the specific cause cannot be determined.
Some of the more common triggers are the […]

Hives is an allergic skin reaction that comes on suddenly. The hives themselves are slightly raised, smooth, flat-topped bumps called wheals (look like mosquito bites) and welts that are usually more red in color than the surrounding skin and cause severe itching.
Angioedema is like hives, only the welts are larger and form at a deeper […]