Hives

For most healthy individuals, an outbreak of hives is as worrisome and temporary as catching a cold. But for those who have chronic hives, or urticaria, the condition may appear relentless.

Hives are elevated, often itchy, red bumps on the skin surface (welts). They may be due to allergic reactions to food or medicine. They can appear without any cause, too. Urticaria is also known as hives. Hives can appear anywhere on your skin and may change sizes as well. They can be mild or severe, and they can last from a few minutes to a few days. A chronic condition that needs long-term treatment may be urticaria that lasts longer than six weeks.

Can hives occur anywhere else?

Hives, which are called angioedema, may also be responsible for deeper swelling of the skin and mucosa. These swellings are often larger, last longer, can itch less, hurt or burn less frequently, and respond to antihistamines less well. Large swellings over joints, for instance, can cause pain that feels like arthritis, even if the joint is not involved. The face and lips are affected most frequently by angioedema. Although it can be uncomfortable and cosmetically embarrassing for hives and facial swelling, they are not usually dangerous. It’s always better to consult an Internal Medicine Specialist like Dr. Rathna Kumar Yallapragada, MD if you experience any hives symptoms. 

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 by determining this data, you and your doctor can help determine the next steps. It's also essential to understand what kind of hives you're experiencing. Hives will likely go away on their own if the cause is identified and avoided. Tell your doctor about recent illnesses, suspected food reactions, and the medicines you’ve taken. Take photos of your hives to share. You might need to have follow-up visits every month or two in order to monitor the situation. The hives causes are sometimes not identified, 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 keep a daily calendar of suspected triggers, affected areas, the size of your rash outbreaks, and the level of itching that 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 Curewell Medical Center 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 going for a telemedicine appointment. It is always advisable to keep a pen and paper handy to take notes during the call 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 up:

Connect with our doctors today if you are experiencing what you think may be repeated attacks of hives, or are not sure. To help tackle the condition, our physicians can diagnose the cause of the rash, provide advice, and prescription medication. To take good care of yourself, embrace the latest technology!