Caution. Be advised that some cases of hives will cause shallowness of breath. If this happens or you've had them for over a week, see a doctor immediatly.



They are little red bumps on your skin that itch like crazy. Some people describe it as a bunch of bees having a party in there. They are caused by hormones in the skin that lets liquid ooze out of your veins which gathers in little pockets under your skin. Frequently, the hives will change location.

Frequently, their cause is easy to find. You eat a raspberry and end up looking like one.

The most common triggers are cold, sun and water. Other triggers of hives include: deodorant or perfume, pets, fungus, bacteria, or a disease. Other major causes: Viruses and certain diseases, such as lupus; medications, such as antibiotics and aspirin.

Our body's covering is an organ. As such, it is very sensitive to chemical changes. Stress changes body chemistry, some of it very drastically so yes, stress does cause hives in some people.

No one knows for sure what triggers an outbreak but, it is thought to be a combination of a chemical produced in the gut, adrenaline and another hormone released as part of the 'fight or flight" phenomenon. Get all these together in overabundance and you could get real itchy, real fast. Some people get hives as one of the symptoms of anxiety attacks.

If stress caused the rashes, they will stay till the anxiety is removed. One won't go away without the other. If they stay longer than six weeks, they are called chronic hives.

Remember, chronic hives are not always caused by stress. Sometimes even experts in the field cannot find the cause. Luckily, there are many fine, effective treatments available today.

A cool not hot shower is the best course of action when the bumps and itching start. Hot water will make the itching and bumpiness much worse, very quickly. Histamines triggered by the heat are the cause.

Hives that are caused by stress need two kinds of medication. One is an antihistamine to drain the bumps and another is an antidepressant to help the patient relax. One drug often prescribed is Doxepin. If it appears that the hives are one of the signs of clinical depression for the patient, other medications will be in order.

The itchiness is the same, no matter what caused it so it is really hard sometimes to identify what triggered it. Perhaps it is a mixture of stress and chemicals in your environment.

Sometimes finding the cause of hives involves some detective work. Doctors suggest keeping an accurate diary of everything when an episode begins. It is important to note everything from the time of day, the food that's in front of you, the location, the mood you're in, the situation itself and how stressful it might be and also how long the episode lasts.

Hives have many causes. Sometimes they are the symptoms of other illnesses so it is very important to have your doctor check you out for any other problems which might be lurking behind the outbreak.