Contact Hives

Contact hives should be distinguished from other allergic contact dermatitis where dermatitis reactions develop for a long time after coming in contact with certain offending stimuli.

As apparent by the name contact hives, an instant but momentary localized swelling and redness occurs on the skin after direct contact with certain offending stimuli. Reports of contact hives caused by a variety of compounds, such as foods, preservatives, fragrances, plant and animal products, and metals, continue to be reported. Symptoms are similar to other types of physical hives, i.e. hives and stress.

In different cases of contact hives, the contact can be immunologic and nonimmunologic. Causes of nonimmunologic contact hives include balsam of Peru, benzoic acid, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamic aldehyde, sorbic acid, and dimethylsulfoxide. Causes of immunologic contact hives include natural rubber latex, raw meat and fish, semen, many antibiotics, some metals (e.g. platinum, nickel), acrylic monomers, short-chain alcohols, benzoic and other miscellaneous chemicals.

Since the exposure to the contact hives patient is usually similar to other contact stimulus, watchfulness is required to make certain that the patient is properly investigated and diagnosed as contact hives in the setting of hand eczema may be ignored.

The most common characteristics of contact hives are itching, local burning sensation, and tingling. Red swellings or wheals may also occur, especially on the hands. The color of the wheals shows the severity, which can range from slight redness or spots with minimal swelling to fiery redness with tense swelling and wheals. Rash caused by contact hives usually resolves by itself within 24 hours of onset.

The worst thing about contact hives is that symptoms may occur in organs other than the skin due to unknown triggers. They are more likely to occur in patients with immunological contact hives. Symptoms of extracutaneous reactions that can be caused by contact hives include wheezing, runny nose, watery eyes, lip swelling, hoarse throat, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, and severe anaphylactic shock, which can be life threatening.

 Contact Dermatitis Hives

Contact dermatitis hives is a rare skin allergy condition that occurs when an offending stimulus (certain external substance) comes in contact with the skin. Clear symptoms of allergy usually appear within 30 minutes after the exposure. Once the person prone to contact hives comes in contact with this stimulus, which is normally quite harmless for most  people, inflammation occurs.

 

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