Hives, also called urticaria, affect one in five people in the United States. Hives appearing on the skin’s surface are usually caused by an allergic reaction, and can be found anywhere on the body. Angioedema is the swelling of deep layers of the skin, and can appear around the lips, eyes, cheeks, hands, and feet.

Call Bluegrass Family Allergy at 270-228-2811 to schedule a consultation concerning your urticaria or angioedema. 

Are There Different Types of Hives & Angioedema?

There are two types of urticaria, acute and chronic. Acute urticaria lasts less than six weeks and is often caused by certain foods or medications. Chronic urticaria lasts more than six weeks, and the causes are difficult to identify without the help of an expert.

There are four types of angioedema: allergic, drug-induced, idiopathic, and hereditary. With allergic angioedema, the swelling is usually caused by a food allergy. Drug-induced angioedema is caused by medication that creates adverse reactions in your body. With idiopathic angioedema, there is no known cause for swelling. Lastly, hereditary angioedema is inherited from a family gene.

What are the Causes & Symptoms?

There are many different elements that may trigger urticaria or angioedema, including certain foods, insect stings, medications, latex, pet dander, pollen, and more.

Hives symptoms include raised, red, itchy bumps and blanching (when the center of the red hive is pressed, it turns white). Angioedema symptoms include swelling in the eyes, throat, mouth, hands, or feet. While angioedema is rarely life-threatening, if you experience difficulty breathing, call 911 immediately.

Is There Medication for Relief?

In 2014, a new treatment was approved by the Federal and Drug Administration for urticaria called Xolair, and this infrequent injection may offer relief. Xolair is an injectable prescription medicine used to treat moderate to severe asthma and hives that will not subside after H1 antihistamine treatment.

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