Why do I Have Hives on my Arms?
You’ve probably been scratching at your itchy arms for a few days now. You started to see the red swellings on your arms, but have no idea what’s causing them to appear. That’s okay the Internet isn’t going to tell you, and neither are your other friends. So hopefully you’re using this guide to figure out why you have itchy hives on your arms.
If you’ve ever had itchy red bumps appear on your skin and wondered why you’re not alone. Hives are a common skin condition with several possible causes.
Why do I have hives on my arms?
When you have hives, your body’s immune system reacts by releasing histamine. Histamine causes blood vessels to dilate and leak fluid into the surrounding tissue, which results in the welts and swelling that characterize hives.
Skin rashes can be caused by a number of factors and may be either temporary or permanent.
You have hives on your arms because you have an allergic reaction. Hives are raised, itchy bumps that usually appear on the skin after a trigger, like touching poison ivy or being stung by an insect. When people have hives, it’s because their immune system is overreacting to something that shouldn’t harm them.
The most common triggers for hives are:
- Foods and medications,
- Stress,
- Heat,
- Cold,
- Sweating,
- Exercise (especially in hot weather), or
- Even blood pressure
- Drugs like ACE inhibitors or ARBs.
Some people with chronic hives may also be sensitive to sunlight and other types of light (like fluorescent lighting).
You may have hives on your arms if:
- You’re allergic to something
- You have a viral infection
- You’ve been bitten by a mosquito or other insect
- You’ve been stung by an insect-like a bee or wasp
If you think you have hives, it’s best to see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will be able to determine the cause of your hives and treat them.
If you have hives that don’t go away after a few days, see your doctor immediately because they could be caused by an underlying medical condition such as an infection or cancerous growths in your bloodstream (lymph nodes).
Why Do I Get Hives in the Cold?
What Can Cause you to Break Out in Hives?
