Three reasons you might be breaking out in hives this summer

Hives are the swollen, pale red bumps or patches that appear suddenly on your skin. They might itch, but they can also cause you discomfort with burning or stinging.

Allergic reactions, chemicals in certain foods, insect bites, sun exposure and even medication can all cause them.

You can develop hives anywhere on your body, including your face, lips, tongue, throat and ears. You might find that they range in size from the tip of a pencil to the size of a dinner plate and they can last for a couple of hours or for up to several days.

It’s not always known what causes you to get hives… In fact, doctors don’t always have the answers either, but they can be easily treated.

Here are a few reasons why you might find yourself with a case of hives this summer season.

Your medication

If you take non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen or aspirin, meds like morphine or antibiotics you could break out in hives. You’ll find that if you are going to have a reaction to the medication it will happen within an hour of you taking the drug.

You’re allergic

It’s summer time and there are all sorts of things that can make you itch and scratch. Things in the environment that could make you break out include the heat, grass, pollen, dust mites and even the sun.

You have an autoimmune disease

If your hives stick around for a long time (say, a month or more) you might have an autoimmune disease. It could be your thyroid, you might have diabetes, or coeliac disease. It’s best you consult with your health care professional to determine the exact cause.

You ate or drank something weird

Some foods and alcohol can cause you to break out in hives. There are increasing numbers of allergic reactions to food and food additives. You could have a reaction to seafood, eggs and nuts, as well as the sulphites in wine or the colouring added to food.

Your clothes are too tight

Believe it or not, how tight your clothes are can cause and outbreak of hives. Wearing loose fitting clothing can alleviate your desire to scratch, so if you get hives when you wear those tighty whiteys consider switching.

You got sweaty

Heat-induced hives is a common thing and it’s caused by exercise, hot showers, sweat and anxiety. You’ll find the hives caused here are positioned on your chest, neck and can spread around your face and back. You might want to see your health care professional if you’re breaking out in hives from the heat on a regular basis.

Have you ever broken out in hives? Do you know what caused them?