Hives and Allergies
A skip through the grass, certain clothing materials, or a bite of peanut butter toast could send your body into a frenzy and make your skin literally crawl. You may begin seeing reddish bumps and patches or begin feeling an insane itch on your arms or neck. This is your body’s response to an allergic trigger.
Hives occurs when your body releases histamine and other chemicals in your blood to combat the allergic reaction, exposure to the cold, exercise, sun exposure, nervousness or stress. As a result, swollen, itchy and red patches appear quickly on your skin. They can surface anywhere on the body and in slight variations like pink or red bumps, raised patches of skin, rings or groups of rings joined together. Hives can even change location on your body in a matter of hours.
When you sit down with your doctor to talk about hives, don’t leave any details out. Your recollection could offer telltale clues to pinpoint the cause of your reaction. Sometimes doctors recommend an antihistamine to relieve the itchiness and ask you to avoid the trigger that caused it. In some cases, it could be a sign of something more serious. To be safe, call one of our certified dermatologists at Knoxville Dermatology Group to schedule an appointment.
If you have any questions about hives or about changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.
