Anyone Know Anything About Hives?

[CPchick]

Sorry I have been MIA again. I still read/lurk when possible and you and your kids are always in my thoughts.

I have a question for the allergy experts.

For the past week or so, I have been experiencing what looks like bites on my skin. Last Tuesday and Wednesday, they formed on the scars on my knees before going away. On Friday night, an itchy rash came up on my arms and legs, much like the 'bites' I had before, except in groups and more severe. They were gone when I woke up the next morning. Sunday night I had them again, this time on my arms, hands and neck. They were itchy and red, so my mum gave me some benadryl, and the next morning they were mysteriously gone again. Yesterday morning (Monday) I did some searching on google and concluded they were hives. The description matched exactly what I was experiencing, but the sites did not outline a specific cause. I was expecting them to come up again last night just as I was going to bed, but they didn't come, so I was pretty pleased about that. I shouldn't have counted on it though, because I woke up with them all over my legs this morning.

I would have gone to school, except the anti-histamines my mum is giving me to stop the itching makes me drowsy. I have been awake for about 2.5 hours and the hives are pretty much gone now.

So anyway, any ideas as to what could be causing this? I have changed my sheets, bedding etc, and my mum is using the same washing powder she has used for awhile. The only medication I am on is for acne, but I have been on it for about three months. I don't have any other allergies, so what could be causing this? :confused:

[Naominjw]

So very many things can cause hives. Saccharin was the first thing to cause mine. Then aspartame. Then who knows... but what I have found is that gluten sensitivity can cause it. Combo of Singulair & Zyrtec kept them under control without drowsiness.

My younger daughter (who also can't eat gluten) had evidence of hypothalmic issues, possible mitochondrial issues, immune problems... got cholinergic urticaria (hives). Combination of Singulair, Zyrtec & allegra helped, but now she is gluten, dairy, soy & egg-free, on hormones, etc... has no issues with hives.

[lacyndarella]

My neice has unexplained hives. It is an allergic reaction, so you are allergic to something. With Katelyn, they have not been able to pin it down...maybe a food die...did you eat anything red? lol Katelyn drank a strawberry crush right before breaking out last time.

[Ladybug]

Do you have dry skin? Sounds like something you are coming in contact with since it does not involve your trunk area and only appears on the extremities and neck area, which I'm guessing are the exposed areas when you have clothing or pj's on? I know you changed the sheets and all, but there wouldn't be any chance of bed bugs right? Anything change in shower or fragrance products or sunscreen (even swimming pool chemicals) or a cute little fluffy animal you are snuggling? Hopefully no other symptoms will develop and the benadryl will calm everything down before you turn the house upside down to find out what it is! We've had lots of food, chemical, environmental, med reactions. The only instances that they sound similar to yours is from contact dermatitis and it stopped within days, except one sunburn and suncreen reaction which lasted a couple of weeks.

[lacyndarella]

dye...not die. I can't spell today. ug

[momster]

I get hives once in a while. When I have a real allergic reaction, I always see a doctor. If the hives continue or get worse, you should see one, both to identify the cause and to treat the hives. The reason it's important to treat the allergy is that if you continue to expose yourself to the allergen, your body can start to ramp up its response to something more serious than hives on your leg (like hives in your throat, as happened to me once!).

I hope they go away on their own - good luck.

- momster