Usually, an effective treatment can be found. Taking nondrowsy antihistamine pills daily helps block the symptom-producing release of histamine. They have few side effects. Examples include:. If the nondrowsy antihistamines don't help you, your doctor may increase the dose or have you try the type that tends to make people drowsy and is taken at bedtime.
Examples include hydroxyzine pamoate Vistaril and doxepin Zonalon. Check with your doctor before taking any of these medications if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, have a chronic medical condition, or are taking other medications. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Chronic hives can go on for months and years. They can interfere with sleep, work and other activities.
The following precautions may help prevent or soothe the recurring skin reactions of chronic hives:. You'll probably first visit your primary care doctor. He or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in skin diseases dermatologist or to an allergy specialist. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. Hives themselves are an unsightly and uncomfortable symptom, but they can also be a warning sign of something more severe that may require medical treatment.
The allergy specialists at Premier Allergist can help you find relief for your hives outbreak, determine the underlying cause, and develop a plan of action with you to avoid flare-ups in the future. Hives, known medically as urticaria, are red bumps or itchy patches of skin that appear suddenly. Hives can be triggered by an allergic reaction, or for other unknown reasons. There are a few different types of hives that can appear on your skin:.
Chronic urticaria — or chronic hives — can sometimes be a sign of a more severe underlying medical condition, but they can also be a result of frequent exposure to an allergen. Some of the most common causes of chronic hives we see at Premier Allergist are:. At Premier Allergist, our allergy specialists may prescribe antihistamines to treat recurrent hives and relieve symptoms. Because the hives can fade by the time you see your doctor, it may help to take a picture of them.
Blood tests usually are not needed unless the hives have been coming back regularly for more than six weeks. Other testing may be done if your doctor thinks a specific cause is likely. The most important treatment is avoiding the things that cause your hives, if your doctor finds out what is causing them.
Your doctor may have you take medicines called antihistamines, if needed. Many of these are available without a prescription. Sometimes your doctor may have you take more than the normal dose, but this should only be done under his or her supervision.
Sometimes other prescription medicines also are used to treat hives. Already a member or subscriber? Log in. Interested in AAFP membership? Learn more. This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.
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