When individuals see red rashes on their skin, their first question is usually what it is.
At first glance, the rashes may be mistaken for other types of skin conditions but if it has the following symptoms then it is probably hives.
Hives appear as red raised bumps on the skin which are caused by allergic reactions and can be seen on different parts of the body.
What do they look like? Hives generally appear as red or white welt on the surface of the skin which can appear on the arms, legs or even on the face.
The cause of hives is difficult to pinpoint only because there are so many things that can cause it such as certain kinds of food, medication drugs or weather changes.
In some cases, hives can form a giant red blotch on the skin by lumping together.
What distinguishes hives from other conditions is that they tend to appear practically out of nowhere and disappear in a similar fashion.
So basically you might see cases of hives appear on your arms and completely go away in a few hours but it may reappear somewhere else.
One common symptom of hives is itchiness although this is not always the case.
Feelings of discomfort and pain are also common for both children and adults.
Hives are allergic reactions which mean that most cases tend to resolve on their own but there are treatments available to ease the swelling.
Hives treatment A very common treatment is to make use of antihistamine such as Benadryl which can be purchased at a local pharmacy.
Antihistamine not only helps to soothe the irritation but it can also help to reduce swelling as well.
Just be sure that you carefully read the dosage chart to ensure that you are giving the right amount.
As you might imagine, hives can make it difficult to sleep at night so one suggestion is to use a cold compress wrapped around the inflicted areas.
Doing this will keep the skin from getting too dry as you want to avoid this as much as possible.
Relieving the itching sensation will definitely help you to sleep better at night.
The best way to treat hives is to first determine and isolate what exactly caused the outbreak.
You may be able to determine the cause right away especially if it is an allergic reaction to food but other cases may be more difficult to identify.
If the hives still do not go away after implementing the treatments as explained above, then it may be a more chronic condition.
Your best choice is to consult with a doctor for further analysis and they may even prescribe stronger medication if needed.