Tips To Help Pinpoint What Is Causing You To Break Out In Hives

If you have recently been breaking out in hives a couple times a week, the following tips may help pinpoint what is causing the reaction and help you cope with symptoms that you have been experiencing or eliminate breakouts altogether.

Keep A Food Journal

If you recently consumed a new type food or ingredient, you may be allergic to it. Start a food journal and document the items that you consume throughout each day. Take note of any times that your skin begins itching or that you notice visible welts on your skin and write down if this occurs right after a meal or at a random time when you haven't eaten any food for a while. If you notice a pattern and seem to suffer from hives only when a specific item is consumed, eliminate it from your diet to determine if it helps prevent breakouts.

Change The Types Of Soaps And Beauty Products That You Use

Purchase soaps and beauty products that contain hypo-allergenic ingredients. These ingredients are unlikely to cause an allergic reaction and may help you determine which product or products that you were previously using that were causing an allergic reaction.

If you used to typically only break out on your face, a beauty product that was applied to your facial skin may have caused the irritation. If you broke out on your hands, a type of dish detergent or bar of soap that you used may be to blame. Again, document all of the information that you collect so that you can narrow down the item that you may be allergic to.

Consult With A Specialist

If you continue to suffer from hives, even after attempting to change the foods and products that you consume and use, schedule an appointment with an allergy specialist. Provide the specialist with the information that you have collected, concerning the breakouts and opt for allergy testing. An allergist may inject you with several substances in order to determine if you are allergic to one of them. If they determine that you do have an allergy, they will prescribe allergy medication that will help keep the symptoms at bay.

You may also be provided with information about foods, soaps, or beauty products that can safely be used as substitutes to the item or items that you are allergic to. If your allergy isn't too severe, an allergist like The Regional Allergy Asthma & Immunology Center, PC may just recommend that you purchase an over-the-counter allergy product to take when you experience an allergic reaction.