Hives Specialist in Silver Spring, Maryland
Hives are itchy, raised welts that can appear suddenly and may be short-term or recurring. At Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland in Silver Spring, Maryland, our team provides comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment for children and adults with acute or chronic hives.
What Are Hives?
Hives, also called urticaria, are raised, itchy welts that develop on the skin. They may appear red, pink, or similar to your natural skin tone and can range from small bumps to much larger patches. Some patients also experience swelling in deeper layers of the skin, known as angioedema.
Hives may:
- Appear suddenly
- Cause significant itching
- Change shape or size
- Move from one area of the body to another
- Fade within several hours
- Disappear without leaving a scar or mark
Acute Hives vs. Chronic Hives
Understanding how long hives have been occurring is an important part of the evaluation.
Acute Hives
Acute hives last less than six weeks and may be triggered by foods, medications,
insect stings, infections, or other exposures. They often disappear once the trigger is removed or the underlying condition resolves.
Hives
Chronic hives last or repeatedly return for more than six weeks. They are typically not caused by a specific allergy and may have no identifiable trigger. Some cases may be associated with immune-system, autoimmune, or thyroid conditions.
What Causes Hives?
Not every case of hives has an identifiable trigger. Determining whether hives are acute, chronic, allergic, infection-related, or physically triggered helps guide the appropriate evaluation.
Possible causes or triggers of acute hives include:
- Viral infections
- Bacterial infections
- Foods
- Medications
- Insect stings or bites
- Latex
- Pet exposure
- Pollen
- Plants
- Other allergens
Possible causes or triggers of acute hives include:
- Heat
- Cold
- Pressure on the skin
- Exercise
- Sweating
- Sun exposure
- Scratching or rubbing the skin
Are Hives Always Caused by Allergies?
No. This distinction is especially important when evaluating persistent hives.
Acute hives can sometimes be caused by allergic reactions to foods, medications, insect stings, or other allergens. Chronic spontaneous hives, however, are rarely caused by a food or
environmental allergy. For patients experiencing hives for longer than six weeks, extensive allergy testing may not always identify a cause or be necessary. Our team evaluates the pattern of your symptoms and medical history to determine whether allergy testing or another form of evaluation is appropriate.
Hives and Angioedema
Angioedema is swelling that develops in deeper layers of tissue. It can occur by itself or along with hives.
- Lips
- Eyelids
- Face
- Hands
- Feet
Swelling may feel uncomfortable or tight and may last longer than individual hives.
Swelling involving the tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, faintness, or other signs of a severe allergic reaction require immediate emergency medical attention.
How Are Hives Diagnosed?
Diagnosing hives begins with understanding when and how the outbreaks occur. Photographs of your hives can also be helpful if your skin is clear on the day of your appointment.
Our team may ask:
- When the hives first began
- How frequently they appear
- How long individual welts last
- Whether the hives disappear within 24 hours
- Whether swelling occurs with the hives
- What foods or medications you were exposed to before an outbreak
- Whether you recently experienced an infection
- Whether you have other allergy symptoms
- Whether you have a history of thyroid, autoimmune, or other medical conditions
- Whether heat, cold, pressure, exercise, or sunlight affects your symptoms
Will I Need Allergy Testing for Hives?
Not every patient with hives needs allergy testing. When acute hives repeatedly appear after exposure to a particular food, medication, insect, or other suspected allergen, allergy testing may help clarify the trigger.
Skin Prick Testing
Skin prick testing may help evaluate suspected immediate allergic reactions to certain foods or environmental allergens.
Food Allergy Evaluation
If your history strongly suggests that a specific food is causing your hives, additional food allergy evaluation may be recommended. Depending on the circumstances, this can include skin testing, blood testing, or a medically supervised oral food challenge.
For chronic spontaneous hives without a consistent allergic trigger, extensive allergy testing is often not helpful.
Blood Testing
Blood testing may sometimes be used to evaluate sensitization to a suspected allergen or investigate other clinical concerns based on your medical history.
How Are Hives Treated?
Treatment depends on the type of hives, their severity, how frequently they occur, and whether an identifiable trigger is involved.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are commonly used to manage itching and reduce hive outbreaks. Our team will recommend an appropriate medication strategy based on your symptoms and individual needs.
Avoiding Identified Triggers
If a specific food, medication, insect, or physical factor clearly triggers your hives, avoiding that trigger may help prevent future episodes.
Managing Underlying Conditions
When another medical condition may be contributing to hives, additional evaluation or coordinated treatment may be appropriate.
Advanced Treatment for Chronic Hives
Some patients with chronic hives continue to experience symptoms despite standard antihistamine treatment. Additional treatment options may be considered for difficult-to-control chronic urticaria based on the patient’s symptoms, health history, and response to previous therapy.
Ongoing Monitoring
Chronic hives can change over time. Follow-up visits allow our team to monitor your symptoms, evaluate your response to treatment, and adjust your management plan when necessary.
Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
When hives continue for more than six weeks without an identifiable external trigger, the condition may be called chronic spontaneous urticaria.
This condition can be frustrating because patients often want to know exactly what is causing their symptoms. In many cases, however, there is no single food, pet, pollen, product, or environmental exposure responsible for the outbreaks.
Our team can help you better understand what type of hives you have and develop a treatment strategy based on your individual symptoms.
The focus of care is therefore often on:
- Recurrent unexplained rashes
- Hives that keep returning
- Skin symptoms after eating certain foods
- Reactions after taking medications
- Rashes after using specific personal-care products
- Symptoms that occur after touching certain materials
- Swelling associated with possible allergic reactions
- Eczema that may be affected by allergens
- Skin symptoms accompanied by other allergy or asthma concerns
- A rash with no clear cause
Hives in Children
Children can also develop both acute and chronic hives. Infections, particularly viral illnesses, are a common reason children develop short-term hives. Food allergies, medications, insect stings, and other exposures can also cause acute reactions.
Our team provides allergy and immunology care for children and works with parents to determine whether additional testing is appropriate based on the child’s symptoms and reaction history.
When Should You See an Allergist for Hives?
An allergy and immunology evaluation can help determine what type of hives you have and which treatment approach may be appropriate.
Consider scheduling an evaluation if you or your child experiences:
- Hives that repeatedly return
- Hives lasting longer than six weeks
- Significant itching that interferes with sleep or daily activities
- Hives after eating a particular food
- Hives after taking medication
- Hives following insect stings
- Hives associated with swelling
- Hives triggered by heat, cold, exercise, pressure, or sunlight
- Symptoms that have not improved with initial treatment
- Hives without an identifiable cause
Why Choose Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland for Hives Care?
Experienced Allergy & Immunology Team
Our providers offer specialized allergy and immunology care for conditions involving the skin, immune system, respiratory system, and allergic disease.
Care for Acute and Chronic Hives
We evaluate both short-term allergic hives and chronic urticaria that persists for more than six weeks.
Personalized Testing
Testing is selected based on your specific symptoms and medical history rather than using the same testing approach for every patient.
Care for Children & Adults
Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland provides allergy and immunology care for patients across different ages and stages of life.
Coordinated Allergy Care
If your hives are associated with food allergies, medications, skin allergies, asthma, or another allergic concern, our team can evaluate those issues as part of your overall care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about hives and treatments we offer at our office in Silver Spring.
Still have a question?
Call our office and our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about treatments, scheduling, or anything else.
What do hives look like?
Hives are raised, itchy welts that may appear red, pink, or similar to your natural skin tone. They can vary considerably in size and may change shape or move to different areas of the body.
How long does a hive last?
An individual hive typically disappears within 24 hours, although new hives may continue to appear elsewhere.
When are hives considered chronic?
Hives that continue or repeatedly return for longer than six weeks are considered chronic urticaria.
Are chronic hives caused by food allergies?
Usually not. Food allergies can cause acute hives, but chronic spontaneous urticaria is rarely caused by a specific food allergy.
Can infections cause hives?
Yes. Viral and bacterial infections can trigger acute hives, particularly in children.
What is angioedema?
Angioedema is swelling in the deeper layers of tissue and can occur with hives. It commonly affects areas such as the lips, eyes, face, hands, and feet.
Do I need allergy testing if I have hives?
Not necessarily. Allergy testing may be useful when your hives consistently occur after exposure to a specific suspected allergen. Extensive allergy testing is generally less helpful for chronic spontaneous hives.
How are chronic hives treated?
Antihistamines are commonly used as initial treatment for chronic hives. Patients whose symptoms remain uncontrolled may need adjustments in treatment or additional therapies based on their individual condition.
Does Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland treat children with hives?
Yes. Our team provides allergy and immunology evaluation and care for both children and adults.
Where can I see a hives specialist in Silver Spring?
Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland is located at 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 522, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Get Relief from Persistent Hives
Recurring hives can be uncomfortable, distracting, and frustrating—especially when you don’t know what is causing them. At Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland, our team provides comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment for children and adults experiencing acute or chronic hives.
Phone: (240) 531-2902
