What are Hives?
Hives are patches or welts on the surface of the skin that can be small or large in size. Hives can greatly range in size, with some presenting as the size of a pin-point and others expanding to a larger section of skin that can span across a large area of the body. Regardless of their size, they normally fade within 12 hours. These irritating welts are also known as urticaria, the medical term for hives. Dr. Snyder’s team of board-certified dermatologists in Austin, TX can help diagnose, treat, and prevent urticaria outbreaks for the 15% of the population that will experience hives at least once in their life. Once hives begin to present themselves on a person, they can engage in certain protocols to help keep them at bay and/or treat them with expedience.
What Causes Hives?
Hives are caused by a number of factors. When experienced as a single episode, hives are usually caused by a virus or infection. These single episodes usually dissipate anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks. In other cases, hives can be caused by an allergic reaction to things such as medications, insect bites/stings, nuts, certain fabrics, and much more. Stress and anxiety can also create a flare-up in some patients. While hives caused by the aforementioned catalysts can easily be treated, another form of hives, known as physical urticaria, proves more difficult to treat. Some other causes of urticarias include exercise, pressure, cold, heat, and sunlight. Our team of dermatologists will conduct a thorough skin analysis to understand what is causing the outbreak of hives so that treatment can be given, and prevention protocols provided so additional outbreaks do not occur.
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Have questions or want to schedule an appointment? Contact us today to speak with a member of the Snyder Dermatology team. We’re here to address your concerns with compassionate and effective care.
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I love Dr. Mary, Parker! She’s always on time or early, extremely friendly, and she put me at ease with her sense of humor and kindness. Visiting her is like hanging out with a friend and she takes really great care of me. She’s fast and efficient and very competent and caring. I highly recommend her!
-Amy A.
Dr. Renee is great. She was very informative and addressed all my concerns with straightforward info and solutions all while respecting my conservative attitude about cosmetic procedures. I was very pleased with my visit and my end result!
-Bonnie S.
Everyone here was so helpful and kind. I haven’t had many Dermatologists who took my case seriously and they were so professional and thorough. I would definitely recommend this office to anyone!
-Brian C.
Board-Certified Dermatologists
MEET OUR DOCTORS
Snyder Dermatology is the premier practice for medical and cosmetic dermatology in Austin, TX. Centrally located, our dynamic team of board certified dermatologists focus on providing patients with the most advanced medical care and treatment options. Our practice is distinguished by our compassion, our desire to fully understand our patients’ needs, and our commitment to being good stewards in the communities where we live and work.
Symptoms of Hives
Diagnosing hives involves detecting your symptoms and identifying what causes your hives. Our dermatologists take multiple steps to correctly diagnose your hives and find out what is causing them. To do this, one of our dermatologists will ask questions about your daily routine, review your previous health history, perform a blood work analysis, and perform a skin biopsy. Coming to see our board-certified dermatologists at Snyder Dermatology can help prevent hives like urticaria from happening in the future. Understanding what causes the breakouts and irritations is the key to prevention. For some people, it is hard to figure out what is causing your hives; this is when it is helpful to get diagnoses from one of our dermatologists to see what is best for you.
How to Treat Hives
Treatment for hives is usually in the form of a non-drowsy antihistamine, but also includes other medications that prevent irritation and swelling. These medications can be taken for both chronic hives and sudden episodes. CIU, or chronic idiopathic urticaria, is a type of hives that lasts for months and possibly years. More serious forms of hives are treated using a combined method with both antihistamines and omalizumab, an injectable humanized antibody that helps reduce sensitivity to allergens and irritants.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are experiencing symptoms of urticaria or already have an issue with outbreaks and controlling your hives, it is a good idea to find out what is causing them. If you are eager to find the cause of your hives and to get the treatment you need to find relief, call our Austin, TX, dermatology office and schedule an appointment so that you can get your hives under control.