Rashes and Hives
Both rashes and hives affect the appearance, color and texture of the skin and may be localized to a part of the body or affect all the skin. Causes for each may or may not be similar, and may reflect an underlying health condition or disease. Anyone can be affected by rashes and hives, and people are often brought into emergency rooms in the US as a result of such allergic responses.
How do rashes and hives differ?
Rashes and hives may differ in cause, in symptoms, and from person to person depending on health condition. Rashes usually present as an area of skin full of tiny red splotches or pimples that may tingle. Hives usually itch and form raise red bumps of skin that can burn too. The word hives derives from a Latin word, Urticaria, meaning “to burn”. Usually, hives are a triggered allergic response that last up to six weeks. Those lasting longer may be due to other more chronic conditions. Hives can be managed, but not really cured whereas rashes can be treated based on diagnosis.
Types and causes of rashes and hives
The type of rash or hive really depends on cause and severity.
Types and causes of rashes
Rashes may be a response to fungi, viral or bacterial infections, reaction to medications such as immunizations, dermatitis conditions, auto-immune disorders, pregnancy, menstruation and hormonal fluctuations, skin friction such as chaffing, and nervous response to anxiety. Other chemicals or substances found in dye, ink, metal, and food may also cause rashes. Rashes are usually classified according to the type and cause of dermatitis.
Types and causes of hives
Hives is classified as ordinary or physical depending on symptoms and cause. Ordinary hives may have no cause, or the cause may be medicinal, where physical hives is caused by direct physical stimulation of the skin, such as through bites, stings, and friction. Hives can be hereditary, have no identifiable cause or be caused through allergy to bites, stings, foods, and medications. Hives can also be triggered by changes in temperature, in pressure, and by ultraviolet concentration in sunlight.
Usually hives is triggered by allergic response and causes cells to produce histamine because of fluid that starts to leak from the blood vessels. This is what causes the distribution of swollen itchy bumps.
Diagnosing rashes and hives
Diagnosing rashes
With the diverse causes of rashes, diagnosis requires a full history of lifestyle, medications, health conditions, and evaluating all symptoms. Usually a physician examines the physical site of the rash by looking at appearance, symmetry and distribution of the rash. Rashes should not be self-diagnosed in case the cause is infection.
Diagnosing hives
Similarly, diagnosing hives which usually presents suddenly and can rapidly change is also through physical examination, considering patient history, and identifying cause. When mucous membranes are affected, the swelling can be deep called angioedema. Testing histamine levels can help in diagnosing hives, but may not give the cause.
Treatments for rashes and hives
Treating rashes
Treating rashes depends on the cause that may include:
- diaper, sweat or heat rash
- underlying health condition, such as diabetes
- viral, bacterial or fungal skin infection
- medication induced or hormonal triggered, such as in pregnancy or menstruation
- forms of dermatitis
Identifying cause is vital for selecting the right treatment. Sometimes dermatitis is the cause and then specific dermatitis treatments are needed, such as prescription-strength steroids (cortisone creams). In other cases, non-steroidal creams are used such as Protopic or Elidel. Topical hydrocortisone treatments are commonly used for contact dermatitis rashes. Therefore it is important to seek medical attention for a rash.
For further information, see the sections for treating the different types of dermatitis. Some people opt to use home remedies for soothing rashes, such as oatmeal baths, using aqueous moisturizers, and identifying and avoiding allergic triggers.
Treating hives
Seeking medical attention for hives is important because of how the condition can rapidly change, the stress buildup in the body, and the possibility of anaphylactic shock that is life-threatening. In treating hives, usually it is to soothe symptoms while the allergic condition works its way out of the person’s system. Underlying health conditions are taken into consideration in treating patients with hives. Some treatments include:
- Antihistamines, such as Benadryl or Claritin
- Oral steroids, such as Medrol
- Oral leukotriene receptor drugs, such as Montelukast
- Corticosteroid Creams
- Antifungal antibiotics
- Tricyclic antidepressants, such as Elavil
- Ultraviolet radiation, such as in light therapy