Why do you get Hives?

I have always been interested in hives. I ask myself, why do you get hives? The answer is rather simple: histamine reactions. But what causes them, exactly? Well, there are a number of factors that can lead to a histamine reaction. It is the result of the IgE antibodies reacting to the antigens (allergens) on the skin’s surface.

What is causing you to have hives? A lot of people have hives at times, and it may be for a lot of reasons. On this page, I will shed some light on why you get hives and what you can do to alleviate them.

Why do you get Hives?

Hives, or urticaria, is a skin condition that causes red raised bumps on the skin. It’s very common and affects about 10% of people in the US. Hives come in many different forms, and their causes are often unknown.

To understand why you get hives, it’s important to know what hives are and how they form. Hives are caused by inflammation of the skin’s smallest blood vessels. This inflammation causes swelling in your skin which leads to the bumps that characterize hives.

When you have a reaction like this, your immune system releases chemicals called histamines into your bloodstream as a response to an allergen (such as pollen) or a trigger (like exercise).

These histamines cause more blood vessels to dilate and increase capillary permeability, allowing fluid from surrounding tissues to leak into the skin. The result is redness and swelling in affected areas of your body.

What is causing you to have hives?

In most cases of hives, no underlying cause can be identified—it’s thought that these cases are simply due to an overactive immune system reacting to stimuli such as pollen or exercise in an exaggerated way.

Hives are caused by an allergic reaction that causes the immune system to release chemicals such as histamine, which leads to swelling, warmth, and inflammation in the affected area.

The exact cause of hives is unknown, but they’re most often linked to food allergies, insect bites or stings, medicines, or stress.

Hives can be treated with antihistamines or corticosteroids that suppress your immune system.