Medications, especially penicillin and aspirin, can also cause hives. Stress, cosmetics, and exposure to heat, cold, or sunlight are irritants that can also trigger a reaction. The exact cause of hives can be difficult to determine. If you know what causes your hives, the best course of action is to avoid the allergen or irritant. If you develop hives, cool water compresses can provide relief from itching.
Medications can also help reduce symptoms.
If you experience dizziness, wheezing, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, or swelling of the tongue, lips or face along with hives, contact your physician or healthcare team immediately. Pollen Reports Get current pollen counts for trees, grasses, weeds and mold spores in your area. Allergy Learning Lab Get detailed allergy information, treatment options and tips for living with allergies. Pollen Maps See the national tree pollen map. Marshall Seese explains how higher pollen counts affect allergy sufferers.