Cause 7: Hives – The Sudden Swellings
One of the common offenders when it comes to itchy skin rashes is hives, also known as urticaria. These are raised, red welts of various sizes that appear suddenly on the skin, causing both discomfort and confusion. They can pop up anywhere on your body, including the face, lips, tongue, throat, or ears.
Hives are usually a reaction to certain allergens, much like the allergic reactions we discussed earlier. The list of potential triggers is long and varied, encompassing certain foods (especially peanuts, eggs, nuts, and shellfish), medications, insect bites, and even physical stimuli like pressure, temperature, exercise, and sun exposure.
When your body encounters a trigger, it releases histamine and other chemicals into your bloodstream as part of its defense mechanism. These chemicals cause your blood vessels to leak, leading to the swelling and redness characteristic of hives. The histamine is also responsible for the itching sensation.
In terms of duration, hives can be a short-lived annoyance or a long-term battle. Acute urticaria usually clears up within a few weeks and is typically related to an allergic reaction. On the other hand, chronic urticaria lasts longer than six weeks and can be caused by an autoimmune response.(7)
