It doesn’t matter if you are suffering from hives or angioedema, neither one is a pleasant experience. Many patients feel desperate and hopeless. However, if you learn the basics of these diseases and how to treat them properly, you can make your life much easier.

Let us first consider the differences: angioedema is deep inside the skin and usually not visible with naked eye, whereas hives are on the dermis or upper layer of the skin. Hives rashes are itchy while angioedema swelling is not itchy, but can be painful in some cases.

Angioedema can be lethal, but hives do not threaten the patient’s life. As far as the similarities are concerned, both of these diseases have pretty similar triggers and causes e.g. allergies, pressure, stress, extreme temperatures as well as similar treatment

Do read my next post equating dermographism and angioedema which will be here in the upcoming week.

People suffering from hives know how itchy the hives rashes can be, but sometimes the itching gets so bad that it becomes literally intolerable. When you experience that stage, do not forget to try these steps which will reduce the itching and burning .

If you want to show off your body by wearing tight clothes, postpone the show for some other time as these clothes can multiply the itching.

Most of the time the  itchy hives can be a great nuisance, but it is amazing that simply exposing the affected area to fresh air reduces the itching significantly.

Similarly, cooling down the affected with an ice pack, cool compression or simply a cloth dipped in cold water can reduce the itching.

However, even after trying all these steps if the itching is still persisting, you may take non-sedating over the counter antihistamines. But the best approach in this case would be to consult a hives specialist.

Next week, dermographism and its most common types will be posted along with some more valuable home remedies.

Some hives patients might think learning the pathophysiology is unnecessary. It is the study of changes of normal biochemical functions, mechanical, and physical, in the human bodies which are caused by a disease or any other abnormal syndrome. So they might think this should be studied by medical students or DRs only, but if you know the hives pathophysiology, then the hives treatment will be a lot easier to manage.

The most common symptom of hives is the hives rashes. These rashes are caused by the release of certain fluids including histamines, bradykinin, leukotriene C4, and some other vasoactive fluids by the mast cells. Hives rashes can also involve  capillary or membrane damage as well. When these fluids e.g. histamines are released into the dermis, the hives rashes appear on the skin, which are itchy and usually red in color.

If you want to learn how you can stay safe from hives, do not miss the next post due in the upcoming week.