Hives and Swelling

Hives and swelling are two of the most common allergy side effects. But if they occur regularly and don’t improve with over-the-counter treatments, it’s crucial to pinpoint the underlying cause. At the Asthma and Allergy Wellness Center in St. Charles, Illinois, allergy, asthma, and immunology specialists Priya Bansal, MD, and Haley Young, PA, provide various treatments for hives and swelling, including biologic therapy. Call the office to receive treatment for hives and swelling, or request an appointment online today.

What are hives and swelling?

Hives and swelling cause inflammation and irritation of the skin. 

Hives

Hives are red, itchy welts that form because of an allergic reaction. Welts can last for hours, days, or even weeks, depending on their underlying cause.

Swelling

Swelling causes your skin or a specific body part (like an arm or a leg) to become puffy and inflamed. Your body’s immune system produces a chemical called histamine during allergic reactions. Histamine causes your blood vessels to expand, resulting in swelling.

What are the symptoms of hives and swelling?

Symptoms of hives and swelling include:

• Patches of welts appearing anywhere on the body
• Welts that vary in size, shape, or appearance
• Skin that’s puffy or tender to the touch
• Painful swelling around the eyes, cheeks, or lips (angioedema)
• Itchiness
• A feeling of fullness or tightness in the affected body part
• Difficulty walking

Swelling causes the affected part of your body to look larger than normal.

Should I see a specialist about hives and swelling?

Make an appointment at the Asthma and Allergy Wellness Center if you have hives or swelling and they don’t improve with at-home treatments, like rest, ice, or taking over-the-counter medicine. That’s particularly true if your symptoms continue for more than a few days or keep you from routine activities.

What causes hives and swelling?

Hives and swelling occur for various reasons, including:

• Animal dander
• Pollen
• Insect bites and stings
• Medications
• Intense stress reactions
• Extreme temperature changes
• Excessive perspiration
• Contact dermatitis

In some cases, food allergies cause facial, lip, and tongue swelling.

How are hives and swelling diagnosed?

Your provider at the Asthma and Allergy Wellness Center reviews your health history, asks about your symptoms, and examines your skin.

If you have mild swelling or itching, your provider has you keep a symptom journal for several weeks. During that time, you keep track of your activities, the foods you eat, any medicines and supplements you take, and where and when the hives appear.

Allergy testing can determine what triggers your hives or swelling and help guide treatment.

How are hives and swelling treated?

Treatment of hives and swelling depends on the underlying cause and the severity of your symptoms.

The Asthma and Allergy Wellness Center typically recommends a combination of trigger avoidance and prescription medication. For example, you might benefit from anti-itch drugs that relieve swelling and skin irritation. Or your provider might prescribe immunotherapy or allergy shots to reduce your reaction to an allergic substance that causes hives and swelling.

The providers also offer advanced biologic therapy with treatments like XOLAIR®, DUPIXENT®, NUCALA®, and CINQAIR®.

Call the Asthma and Allergy Wellness Center to explore the treatments for hives and swelling, or request an appointment online today.