Hives, otherwise known as urticaria can occur suddenly. They may be related to a recent viral illness, certain medicines, insect bites or food.
But sometimes, you may not find any cause or trigger. For patients suffering from this condition for longer than 6 weeks, we will run some blood tests. By doing so, we will check for underlying issues. It could be thyroid abnormalities or parasitic infections.
Generally, regular antihistamines such as cetirizine, fexofenadine etc. can successfully treat this condition.
This will usually relieve your symptoms 20-30 mins after taking the medicines. In severe cases, you may need a course of oral steroids.
You should avoid alcohol and NSAID painkillers (brufen, aspirin family) during periods of flare as these can worsen the condition.
Hope this helps!
Best regards
Dr Stephanie Ho, Dermatologist
