The causes of hives and how to treat them

  Urticaria, commonly known as wind bumps and rash, is a restrictive edema reaction due to the dilation and increased permeability of small blood vessels in the skin and mucous membranes. It can be caused by food such as fish, shrimp, crab, eggs, drugs, inhalants such as pollen, feathers, dust, gas, various infections, insect bites, physical factors such as irritation, hot and cold sunlight, etc., and mental stress. It starts and ends at times, and does not leave any trace after fading. Clinically, urticaria is divided into the following types: acute urticaria, chronic urticaria, cutaneous urticaria, cold urticaria, cholinergic urticaria, solar urticaria, stress urticaria, contact urticaria, and giant urticaria (also known as angioedema, which can cause life-threatening asphyxia when it occurs in the throat).  The fundamental treatment of urticaria is to remove the cause of the disease, but the search for the cause is sometimes difficult. The first step is to remove and reduce the various suspected contributing factors, followed by internal treatment with anti-allergic drugs. Anti-allergic drugs mainly include antihistamines H1 receptor antagonists (there are one generation and two generations, the first generation has few side effects), and can also be combined with H2 receptor antagonists. Vitamin C and calcium can be used in combination with antihistamines to reduce the permeability of blood vessels. More severe acute urticaria and giant urticaria, especially when there is anaphylaxis or laryngeal edema, should be treated with epinephrine and corticosteroids. However, chronic urticaria is not suitable for corticosteroid treatment. Chronic urticaria can be treated with herbal medicine in addition to antihistamines. All the above treatments must be carried out under the guidance of a doctor.