First of all, it should be understood that getting hives on fingers or hands is not much different than getting hives anywhere else. They can appear on any part of the body. But hives on fingers, or hives between fingers can be a little more bothersome and usually itch more.

Contact Urticaria a Likely Suspect

Common sense dictates that contact urticaria be looked at as a first possibility for the cause of hives on fingers and hands. Some allergic reactions happen suddenly just from skin contact with the allergen. Think about how many things your fingers and hands come in contact with daily and it becomes obvious why this is the most likely cause. A reaction to latex is common. So wearing latex gloves, even briefly, will cause hives on fingers. This is just one example but any time you develop hives on fingers, hands, or even the wrist area, think back to the last substance your hand came in contact with. It might be as simple as that.

Vibratory Hives on Fingers Also Common

Vibratory hives is experienced by many and if you are a person who uses hand tools or kitchen appliances, this may be causing your hives on fingers or hands. Again, this is kind of common sense but often overlooked. If this is a result of something you do for a living, you may need to find a long term solution of a natural type, or consider steroid treatments. Antihistamines don’t seem to provide much relief for vibratory hives.

Why Do Hives on Fingers Look Different than Hives Elsewhere on the Body?

Some people call hives on fingers “nettle rash” or “strawberry rash” or some other name. The fact is, they are still hives. Fingers and hands don’t have as much loose skin as other parts of the body. Because the skin is so tight, hives on fingers usually appears as little pimples of small rash-like areas. This is because the swelling just doesn’t have the opportunity in terms of skin area to present as large wheals or welts. But those small pimples will be every bit as itchy, even more so. Just use a little common sense and think of your hives on fingers and hands as any other case of hives. The location on the hands and fngers actually should make the cause a little easier to figure out.

It should be understood that hives caused by anything can show up on any part of the body at any time, so having hives on knees and elbows is not necessarily any more or less common than having them appear somewhere else. But there is anecdotal evidence that points strongly to hives on knees and elbows being caused by an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions, contrary to popular belief, are not the most common cause of hives. Of those cases that are diagnosed, most of them are found to be caused by a virus or some other infection.

But for some reason hives behind knees, or hives on knees and elbows are most commonly the result of an allergic reaction. So if this applies to you, the obvious job for you is to see if something you ate or something you have come in contact with is causing these hives. Some people find that keeping a journal or diary of your food intake and activities will help you narrow it down if the allergen is not readily apparent. But there are some other conditions that either mimic hives, or resemble hives and cause hives on knees and elbows. Some of these are explored below.

Angioedema Most Closely Resembles Hives

Angioedema is swelling that that affects the deeper layers of the skin but closely resembles hives. And in the most common of the acute cases triggered by allergens, angioedema starts in many times with hives on knees and elbows. The hives of angioedema is usually not as itchy as common hives, but the swelling and pain can be worse with these hives. Knees and other joints can become more painful. Food and drugs are common triggers.

Contact Dermatitis Can Mimic Hives As Well

Contact dermatitis happens when certain substances come into contact with the skin and cause a rash. This rash can look very similar to hives. And the reaction can look like hives on knees and elbows in particular. Because the contact causes the rash, it occurs often on the knees and elbows because we naturally kneel or lean and rest with our elbows, which become the first area of contact. Poison ivy is an example of this type reaction. The best treatment is to wash the area thoroughly as soon as possible to avoid spreading further.

A cold soak or cold compress will relieve the itching, as will some lotions and ointments.

Similar to contact dermatitis is eczema, which is also triggered by allergens. The rash is a little more scaly and red but can look similar to hives on knees and elbows. Do not scratch eczema and treat it the same way as contact dermatitis.

A hives outbreak can happen to anyone at any time. Most of the time you don’t even know why they happen. So the usual course of treatment is to grab the antihistamine bottle and swallow a couple tablets and wait for your hives outbreak to go away or to ease up.

Sure, the Claritin, Zyrtec, Benadryl, and other over the counter antihistamines can provide relief.  But what about the side effects? Along with the hives outbreak that may come back when the medicine wears off, now you are drowsy, or agitated from epinephrine, or both. Antihistamines work by suppressing the release of histamine, thus suppressing the symptoms of the allergic reaction that caused the histamine release.

What About Some Natural Antihistamines?

Before these drugs existed, people used to eat foods that acted like antihistamines. This can even have the added benefit of preventing a hives outbreak from happening at all. Sudden outbreak of hives are less likely if you can incorporate some of these foods into your diet. High on the list of foods that act as antihistamines are those with a high content of vitamin C and vitamin A. Along with preventing a hives outbreak, they are healthy.

What Kinds Of Foods Can Be Natural Antihistamines?

Foods that are high in vitamin A and can be natural antihistamines are carrots, mangoes, spinach, tomatoes, and many of the other green vegetables. Some fruits high in vitamin C include Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, tangerines, grapefruits and limes.

Another way to build up natural antihistamines and help prevent a future hives outbreak is to keep your diet high in Omega-3, which also makes a good antihistamine.

Some foods are high in Quercetin and Pycnogenol. These agents can help block the release of histamine by cells. These foods include, among others,  broccoli, citrus fruits, berries, onions, garlic, and apples.

Bromelian is an enzyme found in high concentration in pineapples. This is considered by many natural alternative enthusiasts to be the best natural antihistamine. Pineapple is delicious in many dishes. This is a tasty way to prevent or treat a hives outbreak. So next time you are trying to think of a better way to live with chronic outbreaks of hives, head to the grocery store instead of the drug store.

Hives, known medically as urticaria, is experienced by about one in five of all people of all races and in all countries. But when dealing with one of the outbreak of hives, sex can become uncomfortable to say the least. For some with urticaria, sex is avoided because of embarrassment. For others with hives, sex seems to be the trigger. That is the worst scenario and there are some things you can plan to keep from breaking out in hives. Sex may not be as spontaneous, but at least can be more satisfying and enjoyable

How Can Hives, Sex Become Not So Strange Bedfellows?

The first thing you should do is talk with your partner ahead of tie about your condition. Let them know what triggers your urticaria. Sex can become more comfortable if you know that your partner at least knows the possibility exists that you may break out in hives or that the sexual activity itself may trigger an outbreak of hives. Sex can certainly be disrupted quickly if the wheals of hives appear and your partner is completely surprised.

• If there is a medication that you have found controls or prevents your hives, sex should be postponed (if possible) until you have given the medication time to be effective. Of course, the best idea for medication is to take it regularly so you won’t have to postpone anything. No sense ruining the feeling of the moment if you can help it.
• If you are in your own home, try cooling down the room prior to any activity. Cooler room temperatures will lessen the chances of aggravating your urticaria. Sex and sexual activity raises the body temperature so cooling the room a bit will lessen the chances of an outbreak
• Some people have a problem with sweating bringing on an outbreak of hives. Sex usually brings about at least a little sweating. Try to pace things a little bit to avoid excessive sweating. This is easier said than done but at least if you think about it ahead of time, you might control the pace a bit. Who knows, it may make the whole experience more pleasurable for the both of you as well.
• Turn on a ceiling or room fan to try to keep the sweating down, again to try to avoid the hives. Sex in a wind tunnel is no fun, but a little air circulation is more comfortable anyway.

Nobody knows better than you what aggravates your particular urticaria. Sex will be a lot more comfortable if you try to avoid any triggers ahead of time.  Just a little thought will lessen the impact your hives has on your sex lifr.

As bothersome and full of symptoms that will drive you crazy as hives is, common cases of hives and bruising are a telltale sign that something besides one of the common types of urticaria is not your problem. You probably know that the medical name for hives is urticaria, and bruising is not one of the common symptoms. Chances are your hives with bruising is caused by a condition known as urticarial vasculitus.

What Is Urticarial Vasculitus?

It is a variant of cutaneous Vasculitus. Cutaneous is a term for inflammation of blood vessels that are in the skin. Most commonly, there will be the familiar slightly swollen and reddish wheals on the skin that looks very much like common urticaria, and bruising or inflamed blood vessels are found upon close examination. Sometimes microscopic examination is needed to see the inflammation. It is classified as either normocomplementaemic or hypocomplementaemic. The latter form form of the condition has also been connected to systemic conditions like angioedema. Hives and bruising has also been seen in cases of angioedema but the swelling goes deeper under the skin than with hives.

What Are The Causes Of Urticarial Vasculitus?

The causes of urticarial vasculitus are not really known but the following conditions have been associated with it.

• Inflammatory connective disorders
• Hepatitis B, C and mononucleosis
• Leukemia and other internal cancers
• Immunoglobulin disorders

Like common hives, the cause usually remains undiagnosed. But just because cancers are among the possible causes, nobody should jump to the conclusion that the presence of hives and bruising means some form of cancer.

What Are The Signs Or Symptoms Of Urticarial Vasculitus?

The first symptom of urticarial vasculitus is a hives eruption that is painful and burning. Itching is common. The lesions are usually red patches with a white center. And along with the hives, bruising and bleeding under the skin are common first symptoms. These lesions will usually go away after a day and tend to stay in the same spot. Itching results from the eruption of urticaria and bruises in the form of patches show up. This bruising is called ecchymoses. A darkening of the skin can occur as the healing process takes hold. A skin biopsy is usually required to confirm the diagnosis.

How Is Urticarial Vasculitus Treated?

Antihistamines usually provide relief from the urticaria, and the bruising will go away on its own.

The only type of ordinary urticaria that sometimes causes markings is the type caused by excessive scratching in the same place. This is known as dermographism. If the area is scratched long enough, bleeding can even occur. The scratching further aggravates the hives, and bruising, and bruising after hives is usually the case when this happens.

Hives is a common skin disorder that bother about a fifth of the population at some point in their lives. Hives are caused by the release of histamine under the skin, causing a fluid leak that results in the itchy, unsightly, burning hives to appear anywhere on the body. They can be chronic – lasting for more than six weeks, or they can be a one-time occurrence – acute hives. Most often, the cause of the hives isn’t figured out. But that doesn’t make them any easier to live with. The itching is intense, the appearance can make you very self-conscience, and burning hives can also be a little painful. But intensely burning hives are not normal and can indicate a slightly different problem.

Angioedema Can Cause Burning Hives.

Angioedema is similar to hives in many ways. But the most significant difference is that the swelling of angioedema is beneath the skin as opposed to at the surface as in common hives. It causes more painful, burning hives rashes and is more commonly found around the eyes and lips. It can also commonly be found in the hands, feet, and throat. The burning hives rash may form a line and spread out in some cases, also unlike common hives. If irritated by excessive scratching, or other physical factors, the swelling will get deeper and the pain more intense.

Urticarial Vasculitus Can Also Cause Burning Hives

The causes of urticarial vasculitus are not known but the initial symptoms are very similar to many of the physical urticaria types. In fact, the first symptom is typically a hives attack that is both painful and burning. Hives like lesions appear but with a more white center. With urticarial vasculitus, the blood vessels under the skin will swell and bleed as well, but the bleeding is minimal and presents more like bruising. Sometimes the skin will darken in color after the lesions start to heal.

Solar Urticaria Can Sometimes Produce Burning Hives.

Solar urticaria is a photodermatosis that causes hives, burning, erythema, and itching after exposure to natural sunlight. The exposure can be only brief and still cause the condition. It is rare and usually disappears within hours at most after getting out of the sun.

Slightly burning hives are normal, but painful burning warrants further investigation to see if a possible cause can be found.

If the hives and vomiting seem to come out of nowhere the likely cause allergic reaction. In normal cases of hives, vomiting is not also present. An anaphylactic reaction, however can present urticaria, vomiting, and other symptoms all at once. In these cases, the symptoms come on quickly and then disappear just as quickly. Shortness of breath or any difficulty breathing can indicate a more serious reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention.

Chronic Hives and Vomiting

When you are breaking out in hives, vomiting, and itching all over, the most common thought is that you are having an allergic reaction. While this could be the case, in reality chronic hives are more often caused by a virus or an infection. And with viral hives, vomiting is actually quite common.

Don’t forget that hives are an immune system response and the immune system does respond to hives. Especially in toddlers and children hives, vomiting, and a fever is an indication that the immune system is trying to get rid of a virus or other infection. The immune system releases histamine in an attempt to fight the virus, and that is the cause of the urticaria. Vomiting is a common symptom of many viral infections, and will usually subside after a day or two. The hives are extremely itchy, and often remain after the vomiting has stopped. Try some antihistamine medication, either oral or in an ointment. If the fever gets high or the throat begins to swell, medical attention should be sought right away.

Infection can Cause Symptoms of Urticaria, Vomiting and Fever

The immune system responds to infections the same way it does to a virus.  Hives, vomiting, and other symptoms appear identically in both cases, and are equally bothersome. But with infection induced hives, the symptoms usually appear after the body begins to clear the infection. Even a common cold can cause these symptoms. The vomiting won’t last long in this case, but the hives may last for a couple weeks, and in some cases become chronic. Again, an antihistamine will help alleviate the hives. But a more natural approach is better for chronic cases of urticaria. Vomiting does not become chronic; therefore almost anyone can deal with it for a few days, with dehydration being the main concern. But chronic hives can last for years, and being on steroids or antihistamines for that length of time isn’t good for anyone.

When you break out in hives, signs are obvious visually and there is seldom any doubt about what is happening. With an acute attack of hives, known medically as urticaria, signs of raised red splotches on the skin that itch intensely and appear suddenly are often frightening if never experienced before. These welts can appear as a single splotch, or may appear in a cluster. The cluster or grouping is why the plural of the word is used – hives. Signs also include slight swelling at the surface of the skin.

What Is Urticaria?

The condition is an immune system response to something the body sees as an enemy. Histamine is released by the mast cells of the skin, which dilate the blood vessels, increasing the flow of blood to that area. This is what causes the first urticaria signs of swelling and red spots. Additional hives signs of itching and scratchy feelings are from the release of this histamine chemical. Many acute, or short term, attacks of hives are triggered by an allergy. Most chronic, or long term cases of hives are a result of a viral or infectious agent that the immune system is trying to defend against. Some of the triggers that bring on the dreaded hives signs of swelling and itching are:

• Allergies to something in the environment or something the skin has come in direct contact with
• An autoimmune disease like lupus can cause urticaria signs to occur repeatedly over time, becoming chronic
• Sweating
• Extreme temperatures (hot or cold)
• Exposure to the sun
• Vibration can cause hives signs, but they are usually short-lived and appear in the extremities
• Pressure to a certain skin area brings on the hives signs after the pressure is relieved

The Signs and Symptoms of Hives Usually Classified As Idiopathic

While hives signs and symptoms are fairly easy to see and classify, the cause remains a mystery in most cases. Doctors call this idiopathic urticaria.  It just means they have no idea as to the cause. Signs of hives come and go, tests are ordered, medications are tried, and yet the cause is never found in about 6 out of 10 cases.

Urticaria signs and symptoms are difficult to live with, especially if chronic. Keep in mind that there are natural and alternative ways to treat hives, and that it isn’t a good idea to remain on strong medications for extended periods. The urticaria signs and symptoms are bad enough that many people stay on steroids or antihistamines for years, but this isn’t good for anyone and it is best to find an alternative that works for you. Strengthening the immune system and eating foods that have antihistamine properties may be a good place to start.

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the development of hives, they can manifest as anything from a mild condition to a severe one. Coping with hives in its severe manifestations is a grueling experience.

The symptoms of hives cause discomfort in their mildest form, and, in their most severe, complicated form, they can result in death. Coping with hives in these different manifestations would entail seeking relief from them and their complications. This could be as simple as using a topical cream for the itching or as complex as getting a tracheotomy after developing upper airway obstruction.

The Prophylactic Approach to Coping with Hives

Perhaps the most productive approach to coping with hives is prophylaxis. Prophylaxis involves preventing the development of hives in the first place rather than responding to them only after the characteristic symptoms manifest. One way to do this is to first determine what the trigger is.

Hives can be triggered by a variety of factors, including bacterial and viral infections, allergens, physical stimuli and stress. If the hives are triggered by an allergen, then avoiding the allergen is a critical part of preventing their development in the future. If the hives are triggered by physical stimuli as unavoidable as sunlight or sweat, then preventing them is more of a challenge, perhaps even impossible.

Faced with this kind of challenge, one can opt to think outside the box. Hives are a reflection of an individual’s overall well-being. Thus, attention to the commonsense factors that contribute to health and well-being could help alleviate the worst symptoms of hives. Such factors include getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water on a regular basis, and eating balanced meals that include fresh fruits and vegetables. If a patient has demonstrated nutritional deficiencies, the appropriate nutritional supplements taken under medical supervision can make a significant difference.

Dealing with emotional stress is part and parcel of this strategy. Chronic stress results in the elevated secretion of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which can ultimately trigger mast cells to release histamine and provoke the appearance of the wheals associated with hives. Alleviating the stress would necessitate the adoption of stress management practices like meditation, breathing exercises and yoga.

If the stress comes from deep-seated psychological issues, then counseling can help to relieve it too. Interestingly enough, even in instances where hives is triggered by factors other than stress, adopting one or more of these stress management techniques is useful for coping with hives’ worst symptoms and the inconveniences they can cause.

Hives episodes can manifest in many different ways. Thus, an individual’s urticaria prognosis will depend on his or her circumstances. The hives prognosis may be affected by the length of the episodes and by the cause of the hives, among other factors.

Acute urticaria, which can last anything from a few hours to six weeks, can be triggered by viral and bacterial infections, foods, food preservatives and additives, insect bites and stings, and medications. Chronic urticaria, which can last from just over six weeks to many years long, may also be caused by a variety of factors. Among its triggers are physical stimuli like sunlight, heat, physical exertion, sweat, cold, pressure and water.

Most cases of chronic urticaria are idiopathic. This means that the people suffering from them and the medical professionals consulted are unable to determine what triggered them. The patients could unknowingly expose themselves to these factors every single day. For these people, being unable to identify the factor may result in an urticaria prognosis of lifelong discomfort.

For other patients with idiopathic chronic urticaria, either complete recovery or partial improvement is possible within one to five years. According to the March 2011 edition of The Journal of Family Practice, studies carried out in Netherlands, Brazil and Greece showed that full recovery would result for a third of such patients and partial improvement would result for another third. Those patients younger than 30 years in age with more severe hives or with physical hives tended to have the worst hives prognosis.

Some General Remarks about a Patient’s Possible Hives Prognosis.

While it is not possible to generate exact predictions for every stricken patient, the general urticaria prognosis is positive. Hives are usually uncomfortable but harmless. In a minority of situations, hives occur in tandem with a condition called angioedema in such a way as to potentially harm a patient. In these rare situations, unless the patient gets immediate medical assistance, the angioedema can cause suffocation and death.

In most cases, hives will eventually disappear quickly on their own, leaving no scars or discolored skin behind. Before then, one can take various medications to ease the discomfort associated with the symptoms. Many of the medications and home remedies for hives act to soothe the itching skin. Others, known as antihistamines, work by interrupting the process by which the mast cells in the patient’s skin produce histamine. Steroids are often used to treat severe cases of hives, but they have unfortunate side-effects with prolonged use.