What causes hives? The outbreak of hives is based on several factors, with allergic reactions and stress topping the list. Allergies to food products, dust, pets in the home and pollen in our everyday environment are just a few of the substances that can trigger a reaction that requires hive relief medication.

Causes
Hives and rashes may occur for various lengths of time without any specific reason. They can appear occasionally or regularly, and there doesn't necessarily need to be a particular trigger causing the outbreak.

An imbalance in hormone levels, resulting in high levels of histamine produced by the body, is attributed to stress that, in turn, causes an outbreak.

Of the different types of hives, doctors cannot definitely pinpoint the exact cause of chronic hives. Although ordinary and regular hives occur with similar physical symptoms, the underlying cause of hives is not always known.

Potential causes for breakouts include:

• Food allergies, even if it is a food you are accustomed to eating
• Food additives
• Pet dander
• Bee stings
• Medications
• Mold
• Cold, sunlight
• Insect bites
• Fungus
• Infections
• Stress
• Underlying health issue

Types
Chronic hives last for extended periods of more than a week and require medical care. This type of outbreak may be due to an imbalance in the hormones due to prolonged stress causing the body to react by releasing extra histamine. Because of the extra histamine, the immune system that normally acts as a deterrent against foreign substances instead reacts with an outbreak of hives.

Ordinary hives last for shorter periods from a few minutes to several days. The red, itchy welts or rashes appear on areas of the face and body and usually disappear on their own. Food, dairy products, hot or cold temperatures, soap, detergent and stress cause ordinary or physical types of outbreaks.

Prevention
With hormonal imbalances, issues with the immune system, allergic reactions, health issues and stress all factoring into causes for hives to break out, a check-up by your doctor will help determine the proper treatment and prescription for oral medication or injections to relieve the symptoms.

Do not take over the counter drugs without first checking with your doctor.

If symptoms of hives continues for more than a week, occurs repeatedly, causes swelling in the face or throat or affects breathing or constricts swallowing, contact your doctor immediately for emergency treatment.