Hives rash and welts are a fairly common and non-severe form of skin irritation that effect children and adults. In children hives are most often caused by an allergic reaction to foods or environmental allergens while in adults they are often related to drug allergies, stress, and other emotional triggers. Often hives rash and welts arrive without any noticed trigger and clear up on their own. When the hives last for longer than six weeks they are considered chronic and can often be an indicator of extended exposure to an allergen or of an underlying disease. In addition to the common form of hives rash and welts that are raised “wheels” of varying size there is angioedema.
Hives Rashes and Welts – Angioedema
Angioedema is similar to the typical hives rash though it affects the deeper layers of the skins tissue resulting in large, firm, thick welts rather than wheels. Angioedema can occur with hives and alone. Symptoms include swelling of the skin, redness, pain or warmth in the affected area, and, in the most severe cases, difficulty breathing or swallowing. Angioedema often breaks out around the eyes, cheeks, or lips but is also common on the hands, feet, genitals, inside the throat, and bowels. Like hives, most cases of angioedema will resolve themselves and basic at home remedies can be used to ease the discomfort of symptoms. A more severe form of angioedema is hereditary angioedema, which is a genetic condition. Hereditary angioedema can cause sudden onset of swelling of the face, hands, feet, genitalia, digestive tract, and throat. Abdominal cramping and difficulty breathing due to swelling are also symptoms. Because it is genetic in origin, hereditary angioedema does not manifest in conjunction with hives. It is important to seek emergency care if you experience throat swelling, chest tightness, and feel lightheaded.
Hives Rash and Welts – Immune Connection
Hives rash and welts can be caused by immune responses in the body to other forms of disease and infection manifesting on the skin. Medical researchers have found a link between hives and certain autoimmune diseases. Although rare, patients with lupus may have chronic hives due to the production of antibodies or sun exposure. A study published in the journal Dermatology found that patients with chronic hives also had high levels of thyroid antibodies linking it to thyroid disease. Patients with leukemia have also been shown to have a link with chronic hives and they can act as an indictor of the disease. Less severe immune causes can be respiratory infection, such as sinusitis, and other forms of chronic bacterial infection like urinary tract infection.
