Get the Most Out of a Virtual Doctor Consultation for Hives

An outbreak of hives is as worrisome and temporary as catching a cold for most healthy individuals. But the condition can seem relentless for those who have chronic hives, or urticaria.

Hives on the skin surface are raised, often itchy, red bumps (welts). They can be due to food or medicinal allergic reactions. Without any cause, they can also appear. Hives are also called urticaria. Hives can change size and shape, and appear on your skin anywhere. They can be mild or severe and may last for a couple of minutes to a couple of days. Urticaria that lasts longer than six weeks may be a chronic condition that needs long-term treatment.

Can hives occur anywhere else?

Deeper swelling of the skin and mucosa can also be caused by hives, which is called angioedema. Often, these swellings are larger, last longer, can itch less, hurt or burn less often, and respond less well to antihistamines. For instance, large swellings over joints, even if the joint is not involved, can cause pain that feels like arthritis. Angioedema affects the face and lips most frequently. Although it can be uncomfortable and cosmetically embarrassing for hives and facial swelling, they are not usually dangerous. It’s always better to consult a Rash Specialist Homer Glen to avoid any kind of problems regarding your health.  

Types of hives (urticaria) 

There are different types of hives (urticaria), including:

• Acute: Hives or swelling that lasts less than six weeks are considered to be acute, which means suddenly they appear. Acute hives and swelling are often caused by allergic reactions to certain foods or medications.
• Chronic: Chronic hives are itchy red welts that persist for at least six weeks and have no known cause. 
• Physical: In particular situations, some individuals develop hives and swelling. When you are in the cold, heat, or sun, hives might pop up. After exposure, physical hives usually appear within an hour.

Symptoms of Hives

Depending on the individual and the situation, hives look differently. They can show up on your body anywhere. Signs of hives include:

• Raised, red welts or bumps on the skin.
• Blanching of the skin(the center of the hive turns white when pressed).
• Itchy skin.
• Swelling (angioedema).

Using Telehealth for the treatment of Hives

A large part of treating hives is about identifying the cause or trigger, and you and your physician can help determine the next steps by determining this information. It’s also important to know what type of hives you are experiencing. Hives will likely go away on their own if the cause is identified and avoided. Tell your Rash Specialist Doctor homer glen about recent illnesses, suspected food reactions, and the medicines you’ve taken. Take photos of your hives to share. To monitor the situation, you might need to have follow-up visits every month or two. The cause of chronic hives is never identified sometimes, but they can still be effectively treated. 

Preparing for Your Telehealth Appointment

No one knows better than you what your hives are like. The number of hives and the severity of your resulting itchiness is invaluable information for your allergist physician to have, in addition to self-identified triggers. Try to maintain a daily calendar of suspected triggers, affected areas, the size of your outbreaks of hives, and your itch level which may be mild, moderate, or severe. This may seem like a lot of work, but when you have hives, that’s all you can think about anyway, right? All the information you can collect before and between appointments will absolutely pay off in helping your allergist doctor help you get effective relief faster and for the long haul. You can schedule your appointment or book a telemedicine consultation from the comfort of your home through the PatientMD platform. The physicians at Suburban Wellness practice a high level of involvement in care management, treat patients with individualized plans following the highest medical and ethical standards. 

It's also a good idea to make sure that the device, applications, and internet connectivity you rely on are in working order before visiting your virtual doctor. To take notes during the call, keep a pen and paper handy, and have any medications that you are taking, readily available. You will also want to set up in a quiet, secluded area of your home so your appointment is private and uninterrupted. 

To wrap it up:

If you’re experiencing what you think may be repeated attacks of hives, or aren’t sure - Connect with our physicians today. Our physicians can diagnose the cause of the rash, provide advice, and prescription medication to help tackle the condition. Embrace the latest technology to take good care of yourself!