Hives Specialist

The Allergy Clinic

Allergists located in Houston, Pearland, and Pasadena, TX

Whether hives occur occasionally or frequently, one thing’s for certain: You need to find the cause. The expert allergists at The Allergy Clinic in Houston, Pasadena, and Pearland, Texas, offer comprehensive testing to get to the root of what’s causing your hives. To see if an underlying allergy is causing your hives, book an appointment online or call the office nearest you.

Hives Q & A

What causes hives?

Hives, medically known as urticaria, are skin reactions that often develop because of exposure to allergens. They usually occur when your body releases histamines to combat allergens that your system thinks are attacking your body. You can develop hives because of:

A family history of hives
Autoimmune disorders, like lupus
Hormonal imbalances, such as thyroid disease or vitamin D deficiency
Food, environmental, drug, or other types of allergies

In some cases, it’s also possible to develop angioedema (swelling), which is a similar type of allergy-related skin reaction. Usually, angioedema develops in your hands, cheeks, lips, or near your eyes.

How are hives diagnosed?

Men, women, and children can have acute cases of hives where they have infrequent flare-ups. Others can suffer hives regularly. Either way, the first step is to have a thorough skin check and health evaluation at The Allergy Clinic. Your practitioner needs to know about:

What you eat and drink
Where your hives appear
How long your hives last
Any medications you take, including over-the-counter varieties

Depending on your symptoms, your allergist could recommend going through allergy testing. You might need a blood allergy test or comprehensive in-office skin testing, which will allow you to get results instantly.

Is there treatment for hives?

Yes. Once the team at The Allergy Clinic better understands why you’re breaking out in hives, they can put together a customized treatment plan. The first step involves treating any outbreak you have. You might need topical corticosteroid cream or oral antihistamines to bring down the inflammation.

The next step involves preventing future hive breakouts. Some of the best treatments include:

Anti-allergy antibody drugs, like XOLAIR®
Daily nondrowsy antihistamine pills

If you’re at risk of anaphylactic shock due to severe allergies, you might need to carry an epinephrine injection, too. These self-administered shots can prevent serious side effects that occur when you’re exposed to an allergen.

To find out what’s causing your hives, schedule an evaluation with The Allergy Clinic online or call one of their convenient locations.

What we offer