Hives are irritating and uncomfortable. They can also be serious. When it comes to hives, you need the expertise of a board-certified allergist and immunologist. That’s where Allergy, Asthma & Immunology of the Rockies, P.C., comes in. With locations in Avon, Basalt, Aspen, Frisco, and Glenwood Springs, Colorado, the practice offers high-quality, comprehensive care for hives and other skin issues. Find out how they can help you by calling today or booking a consultation online.
Hives are a skin rash. Sometimes mistaken for bug bites, hives cause red or skin-colored bumps and itching that ranges from mild to severe.
A bout of hives can go away quickly or last for weeks or months. Although hives aren’t life-threatening, any swelling related to hives that makes it harder for you to breathe needs immediate emergency care.
Certain factors, such as exercise, stress, and alcoholic beverages, can worsen the itching. Scratching also makes itching worse. It’s a good idea to seek care from an allergist if you think you have hives.
Hives can vary in size, from pen tip-sized bumps to larger-sized welts. With hives, you may have:
Hives can appear on any area of your body. The bumps and welts may move around, change shape, disappear, and reappear over short periods of time.
Your practitioner diagnoses hives by asking a series of questions. You’ll be asked about:
If your hives are possibly linked to a food allergy, your practitioner will ask you about your diet. You may want to keep track of what you eat to see if a specific food or ingredient triggers hives.
Your practitioner may also perform skin tests, such as a scratch allergy test or contact allergy test, along with blood or urine tests to pinpoint what’s causing your hives.
Your provider works with you to determine the triggers of your hives so you can avoid them. You may benefit from medications like antihistamines to ease your itching, redness, bumps, and welts.
Xolair is an injection available to treat hives that are more chronic.
If your outbreak of hives is severe, your provider may recommend a steroid like prednisone or an immune modulator. Both of these medications work to alleviate your symptoms. If hives are causing swelling of your lips or tongue, you’ll typically be prescribed an epinephrine pen, which you should keep handy at all times.
Ready for relief from hives? Call or book a consultation online today with the dedicated medical professionals at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology of the Rockies.
