47 REGENT STREET, KOGARAH, NSW 2217 T: 9553 0700

www.southderm.com.au

What do hives look like?

Uticaria Hives usually appear as raised red or pink areas on the skin. They
may appear swollen and can occur alone or in a group, and can
(Hives) also cover a larger area of skin. Hives tend to be itchy, but may also
sting or hurt. The welts may disappear after a short time but reappear
again. Some people get hives repeatedly at the same locations on
Urticaria, more commonly known as hives, is a condition their body.
where red welts or ‘wheals’ form on the skin. The welts can
be swollen and itchy and may appear on any part of the skin.
Sometimes large welts occur under the skin, causing the affected
They range in size, and sometimes join up to form very large
area to swell. This swelling is called angioedema. This often causes
patches. Each individual welt usually lasts for a few hours
the lips, eyelids and throat to swell. When the throat swells it can hard
before fading away. New welts may continue to develop as
to breathe. This is a very serious situation and requires urgent medical
old ones disappear. An episode of hives usually lasts less
attention.
than 6 weeks and is known as acute hives. However, some
people have them for a longer period of time (called chronic
hives). Hives are very common and anyone can get hives How are hives diagnosed?
during their lifetime.
Your dermatologist usually diagnoses hives by the appearance of the
welts on the skin. If the diagnosis is not clear your dermatologist may
perform allergy tests on the skin, order blood tests, or take a scraping
What causes hives? of affected skin (called a biopsy) to examine under a microscope.

Hives develop when a chemical called histamine is released

from the cells that line your blood vessels in the skin.
Histamine release causes the skin to react and form welts. The Treatment
histamine release is triggered by an allergic reaction or
exposure to other triggers. Hives are triggered by different Non-drowsy antihistamines are the most common treatment
things in different people. for hives. They can help to reduce the itching.

The most common triggers for hives include: Sometimes your dermatologist will prescribe other
medications to use in combination with antihistamines. These
include steroids, antibacterial creams and medicines that
• Some medicines: e.g. certain antibiotics and pain
reduce swelling and redness.
medications

• Foods: e.g. shellfish, nuts, eggs and citrus fruits In people who have more severe hives, e.g. swelling under the
skin, difficulty breathing, you may need to have an injection of
• Insect bites and stings: e.g. from bees or mosquitoes adrenalin as soon as possible to quickly get rid of the
symptoms. People who know they are severely allergic to
• Infections and some illnesses: e.g. viral infections, thyroid
certain things like nuts will often carry an auto-injector (e.g.
disease
Epipen) with them at all times. You can inject this yourself as
• Pollen from flowers or trees soon as you notice the symptoms beginning. If you need one
of these devices, your doctor will talk to you and your family
• Exposure to animal fur about how to use it.

• Pressure on the skin or touching something you are What else can I do about hives?
allergic to: e.g. latex, certain chemicals
When hives are mild you may not require any treatment as they tend
• Sun exposure (called solar urticaria) to settle down quickly on their own. Having a cool shower or placing a
damp, cool cloth on the affected area can also help.
• Exercise
The important thing is to try to avoid whatever triggers your hives.
Hives can develop within minutes of exposure to the trigger, For example, avoid eating any foods or using medications that have
or the reaction may take several hours to develop. Sometimes caused you to develop hives in the past, try to minimise exposure to
the cause of hives is not clear, especially in people who have animals if you are allergic to animal fur, etc.
chronic hives lasting many weeks or months.
If you get hives after eating certain foods, your dermatologist will give
you further information about food intolerances.
 47 REGENT STREET, KOGARAH, NSW 2217 T: 9553 0700
www.southderm.com.au

Salicylate, Amine and MSG Diets

Foods listed in the High and Very High columns should be AVOIDED
Foods listed in capitals also contain AMINES
Foods listed with an asterisk (*) contain MSG

Sweets
Negligible Low Moderate High Very High

Carob Caramels Molasses Honey

COCOA Golden Syrup Liquorice
Maple Syrup Peppermints
White Sugar

Herbs & Spices

Negligible Low Moderate High Very High

Garlic Allspice Aniseed

Malt Vinegar Bay Leaf Canella
Parsley Cardamon Cayenne
Saffron Caraway Cumin
SOY SAUCE* Cinnamon Curry
TANDOORI Clove Dill
Vanilla Ginger Five Spice
Nutmeg Garam Masala
Pepper (Black) Mace
Pepper (White) MARMITE*
Pimento Mint
WHITE VINEGAR Mixed Herbs
Mustard
Oregano
Paprika
Rosemary
Tarragon
Tumeric
VEGEMITE*
WORCESTER SAUCE

Vegetables
Negligible Low Moderate High Very High

Bamboo Shoot Brussel Sprout Asparagus Alfalfa Sprout Capsicum

Cabbage Chive Beetroot BROADBEAN Champignon
Celery Choko BROCCOLI* Cucumber Chicory
Lettuce Green Beans Carrot EGGPLANT Endive
Potato (Peeled) Green Peas CAULIFLOWER Watercress GHERKIN
Swede LEEK Marrow Hot Pepper
Dried Beans Mungbean Sprout MUSHROOM OLIVE
Dried Peas Red Cabbage Onion Radish
Brown Lentils Shallot Parsnip TOMATO PRODUCTS*
Red Lentils Pumpkin Zucchini
SPINACH
Sweet Corn*
Sweet Potato
Turnip
 47 REGENT STREET, KOGARAH, NSW 2217 T: 9553 0700
www.southderm.com.au

Foods listed in the High and Very High columns should be AVOIDED
Foods listed in capitals also contain AMINES
Foods listed with an asterisk (*) contain MSG

Drinks
Negligible Low Moderate High Very High

Coffee Coffee Coffee Tea

Decaffeinated Harris Instant Harris Mocha All Brands
Bushells Instant International Roast Peppermint
Other Andronicus Instant
AKTAVITE Bushells Turkish Moccona Instant Cereal Coffee
MILO Robert Timmins Instant Nescafe Instant Nature’s Cuppa
OVALTINE Pablo Instant Reform (Cereal)
Alcohol
Alcohol Tea Tea LIQUEUR*
Gin Camomile Decaffeinated PORT*
Whisky Fruit RUM*
Vodka Cereal Coffee Rosehip WINE*
Ecco
Bambu Other
Danelion COKE
Fruit Juice
Rosehip Syrup

Alcohol
BEER
BRANDY*
CIDER
SHERRY*

Fruit
Negligible Low Moderate High Very High

BANANA Golden Delicious Custard Apple ADVOCADO Apricot

Pear Peeled Apple (Peeled) FIG Grapefruit Blackberry
PAW PAW LEMON Granny Smith Apple Blackcurrant
Pomegranate Loquat Jonathan Ap[ple Boysenberry
Pear (With Peel) KIWI FRUIT Cherry
Persimmon Lychee Cranberry
Red Delicious Apple Mandarin Currant
Rhubarb Mulberry DATE
Tamarillo Nectarine GRAPE*
PASSIONFRUIT Guava
Peach Loganberry
Tangelo ORANGE
Watermelon PINEAPPLE
PLUM PRUNE*
Raisin
Raspberry
Redcurrant
Rockmelon
Strawberry
Sultana
Youngberry