Itchy itch itch. This is a good stuff on idiopathic urticaria - itchy hives. The problem with hives is they come and go as they like. They have a mind of their own. It's great if the cause is obvious like a drug reaction but frequently their origin is as mysterious as the Mona Lisa's smile. Often it takes up to six weeks or longer before they go but they do go, I promise you.
TAKE HOME MESSGE:
- Use a non-sedating anti-histamine like Zyrtec or Atarx (more sedating than Zyrtec) in good doses twice a day.
- Wear natural fibers like cotton next to your skin.
- Short tepid showers and pat yourself dry. Rubbing the skin with a towel or hot shower will stimulate your skin to release histamine and boy will you itch.
- Use hypoallergenic everything from shower gel to hand soap.
- Keep a diary and see if something you're doing is causing the hives. Probably not but you could get lucky.
- If you've recently changed laundry detergent go back to the old one.
- if the cause is your lover's pet, and often is, avoid the pet or change the lover.
