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The 411 on Hives

 

Hives, also known as urticaria, is an allergic reaction to allergens, which causes the skin to break out in pale red, swollen, itchy bumps or plaques. An allergic reaction is a negative immune response caused by a substance, or allergen, that the body has become hypersensitive to. Allergies can come in all shapes and sizes, and so can their reactions.

Seasonal allergies, however, is the reaction you may experiences during changing seasons, specifically fall and spring. This is when pollen levels are higher and causes your body stress while you react and cope with the changing levels. These aren’t necessarily allergies but cause the same reaction. Allergies are specific substances, or allergens, that your body has an adverse reaction to at any time. If you suffer from allergies, it is important to understand what hives are, their symptoms and how to treat them.

What are Hives?

Hives is an allergic reaction to allergens. Temperature extremes, stress, infection and illness can also cause hives, but is less likely. They can cause itching, stinging or even burning. They appear on the skin, or anywhere on the body, including the face, hands and tongue. Hives normally appear in three different shapes: tiny bumps, blotches or large connected raised sites, also known as plaques. Diagnosing hives can be difficult; so, make sure to take special note of your symptoms and even consider taking photos of the irritated site. There is no test to diagnose hives so a thorough skin test or blood test may need to be performed.

Know the types

  • Individual Hives: These hives last from around a few hours to up to a week. Individual hives are more common than any other type and the least severe. This can appear from any stressor mentioned above, like an allergen to extreme temperatures.
  • Acute Hives: Acute hives last from about a week to six weeks. Commonly, acute hives are a reaction to foods, medications or insects that you may be allergic to. If you experience acute hives, it’s important to see a dermatologist or allergist to get tested and see what you may be allergic to.
  • Chronic Hives: This includes hives lasting more than six weeks. It is extremely hard to diagnose but many believe it stems from more serious illnesses like cancer or hepatitis. If you are struggling from a disease or illness and experience hives lasting more than six weeks, talk to your doctor about specific ways to safely treat them.

Goodbye Hives

  • Antihistamines: These can be store bought in a cream or prescribed by a doctor or dermatologist as a pill. Store bought antihistamine cream works to soothe affected skin and relieve the itch. If prescribed by a doctor or dermatologist, antihistamines may be taken regularly to stop hives from appearing in the first place.
  • Cool Compress: Soak a towel in cold water or wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply it firmly to the inflamed area. This will calm the inflammation of the skin, lowering the raised areas of the skin and calming the itchier ones.
  • Visit a Dermatologist: If you experience hives, especially acute or chronic, visit your dermatologist. There, they can ask you questions on symptoms and family history, as well as performing an allergy test. This can help you understand why you get hives and ways to avoid the allergens that trigger the reaction.

Treating and diagnosing hives can be difficult. While there are a number of home remedies to treat hives, it is still important to take careful note of your reaction and seek medical attention if your condition worsens or becomes a regular occurrence. At Knoxville Dermatology Group, the professional staff can help treat your hives, so you can live life more comfortably. To make an appointment, visit our website or call us at (865) 690-9467.

Contact Dermatitis: Get Comfortable in Your Skin Again

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We’ve seen our fair share of skin conditions at Knoxville Dermatology. A common condition we see is contact dermatitis – both irritant and allergic.

Irritant dermatitis is the more common of the two. As the name implies, an irritant causes the redness, soreness or inflammation to occur. Some irritants are acidic or alkaline containing materials such as detergents or fabric softeners. Hair dyes, rubber gloves and even long-term exposure to wet diapers can cause an irritant dermatitis reaction.  Irritated skin usually appears dry, red and rough. You may even develop cuts and cracks on your skin.

Your skin’s sensitivity and allergic tendencies affect the severity of allergic dermatitis. When exposed to materials such as poison ivy or oak, fragrances, fabrics or nickel, your skin may not have an immediate reaction. However, regular use or contact with allergic triggers can create sensitivity.

Symptoms of allergic dermatitis includes red bumps that may form into blisters; scaly, raw or thickened skin; oozing or crusting skin; or skin that feels tender.

We have recommendations for effective treatments, so don’t suffer with irritated skin. Call one of our certified dermatologists if you are experiencing irritant or allergic dermatitis symptoms.

If you have any questions about contact dermatitis or about changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Hives and Allergies

A skip through the grass, certain clothing materials, or a bite of peanut butter toast could send your body into a frenzy and make your skin literally crawl. You may begin seeing reddish bumps and patches or begin feeling an insane itch on your arms or neck. This is your body’s response to an allergic trigger.

Hives occurs when your body releases histamine and other chemicals in your blood to combat the allergic reaction, exposure to the cold, exercise, sun exposure, nervousness or stress. As a result, swollen, itchy and red patches appear quickly on your skin. They can surface anywhere on the body and in slight variations like pink or red bumps, raised patches of skin, rings or groups of rings joined together. Hives can even change location on your body in a matter of hours.

When you sit down with your doctor to talk about hives, don’t leave any details out. Your recollection could offer telltale clues to pinpoint the cause of your reaction. Sometimes  doctors recommend an antihistamine to relieve the itchiness and ask you to avoid the  trigger that caused it. In some cases, it could be a sign of something more serious. To be safe, call one of our certified dermatologists at Knoxville Dermatology Group to schedule an appointment.

If you have any questions about hives or about changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Bling that Stings


Because keeping up with jewelry trends can be expensive, we sometimes look for bargains or knock offs. Unfortunately, bargains can cause green rings, itchy ears or red rashes. Don’t let jewelry allergies stop you from looking great. Use these steps to stay stylish without the itch!

If you have sensitive skin with allergies to nickel and other metals, you may have to cut out the costume jewelry and inexpensive trendy pieces. If reactions are mild, you may continue to wear those pieces and treat symptoms with a hydrocortisone cream or antihistamine pills. If reactions are severe, you may have to make an adjustment to your jewelry shopping habits.

Focus on building a collection of high quality pieces that can be worn in many different contexts. High quality doesn’t necessarily mean diamonds and rubies. Jewelry made of stainless steel or yellow gold will not cause a reaction. Other nickel-free metals include pure sterling silver, copper, platinum and titanium. If you must wear earrings that contain nickel, add plastic covers made specifically for earring studs.

You may not be able to buy jewelry as often if you’re shopping for allergy-free pieces, but at least you’ll avoid the bling that stings!

If you have any questions about changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Hive Got a Problem

“Hive” got a problem and so does about 20% of the world. It’s estimated that 20% of all people will get hives at some point in their lives. That’s a lot of allergies, huh? Well it turns out there’s more to hives than just allergies.

These itchy, swollen bumps are your body’s response to histamine released in your skin. As a result, blood plasma leaks out of blood vessels in your skin to form hives. Most people know that hives appear when you either touch or ingest something to which you are allergic. Things like grass or certain fabrics can cause this allergic reaction. You can also get hives from the chemicals in your food, insect stings, sunlight exposure or even stress.

You can relieve the symptoms by keeping your skin cool. Apply wet cloths periodically to your skin and wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothes. Also, try to identify what may have caused the reaction and immediately remove it. Hives can last for hours or up to a day before fading. Sometimes they can fade and new ones will appear in its place. Call our certified physicians if you experience long-lasting hives, any dizziness or swelling, or if you experience any difficulty breathing.

If you have any questions about hives or notice any changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians in Knoxville to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.