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If you’ve ever experienced a bout with hives, you know how miserable in can be. You may be wondering what causes hives and how you can keep from having them. You’re not the only one; hives are fairly common but no one who experiences them wants to repeat the condition again. When you understand the most likely triggers, you’ll be equipped to avoid the causes of hives and find an appropriate hives treatment for you.

How Do I Know If I Suffer From Hives?

Hives show up as red clusters on your skin and usually itch like crazy. Doctors will refer to these bumps as wheals. No matter what you call them, they can cause a lot of discomfort. These bumps are similar in appearance to mosquito bites but will appear in large clusters rather than as single bumps as you would see with a bug bite.

Wheals vary in size. Most of the time, they will be small and resemble mosquito or spider bites; but you can tell they are hives because of their appearance in clusters. Be aware that wheals can become large; up to 4 inches wide, with a white center surrounded by a red ring.

The wheals will often be very small, so a cluster of small wheals may look like on larger one. These will appear to be a giant red patch which is extremely itchy and may cover an entire limb. Cases of hives will appear differently on different people.

How Long Do Hives Usually Last?

There is no one answer to this question. Hives can last for hours, for only minutes or for a day. They usually last no longer than a day; but there are those who have chronic hives. If you suffer from hives for an extended period, then you should go see your physician as soon as possible so you can get rid of hives quickly and safely.

What Can Trigger A Hives Outbreak?

Generally, hives are caused by an allergic reaction to something. If you can find which things cause you to have outbreaks of hives, then you can often avoid having repeated outbreaks just by avoiding your personal triggers.

Hives triggers include chemicals you might be exposed to, fungi and bacteria as well as certain plants if you have allergies to them. Sometimes hives are preceded when a scrape or cut permits your skin to be exposed to these substances. Since it is very itchy, it’s hard to stop scratching the area, which makes the condition worse.

Allergies are the most common causes of hives. They can be the symptom of an allergic reaction to factors such as pet dander, but it is more common to have hives as the result of an allergic reaction to food. Your doctor can help you to learn if there are any foods you should avoid in order to prevent hives. Still another cause of hives is stress. Because stress causes your body’s natural chemical balance to get out of whack, there can be various physical symptoms including hives.