How to treat hives and insect bites in the hot summer

Although none of these conditions are cause for concern, proper diagnosis can quickly relieve symptoms.

1. Learn about hives and insect bites

- Medal

Hives are raised red bumps (pimples) or patches on the skin. They are a type of swelling on the surface of the skin and occur when your body has an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction occurs when your immune system is exposed to an allergen, such as an allergy caused by a reaction to food, medication or infection, or it can be caused by another cause, such as exercise, heat, stress or alcohol.

There are two forms of hives: acute hives - rashes that can disappear quickly - and chronic hives - a condition that can recur many times and last a long time.

- Insect bites

Insect bites or stings are usually not serious and will subside within a few days. But sometimes they can become infected or cause severe allergic reactions.

Bites from some insects can also cause diseases, such as Lyme disease, tick-borne scabies, and mosquito-borne malaria in some parts of the world.

Insect bites are quite similar to hives because they are both triggered by the release of histamine in the body in response to an allergen.

2. How to distinguish between hives and insect bites

Hives and insect bites both cause itching and large, swollen bumps on the skin. However, these two skin conditions still have characteristics that help distinguish them easily.

- Symptoms of hives

+ Large swellings appear, which can form into patches of many shapes and sizes.

+ Appears anywhere on the body.

+ Concentrated in one area or spread throughout the body.

+ Feeling itchy, stinging or burning.

+ Looks pink or red when affecting people with fair skin; The color of the rash may be harder to see on brown and black skin.

+ Painful swelling of the lips, eyes and inside the throat.

- Typical signs of insect bites

+ Pain

+ Red

+ Swelling.

+ Itching, burning, stinging

+ Occurs sporadically in areas of the body

- Conclude

Through the above symptoms, it can be seen that hives and insect bites can be distinguished as follows:

- Insect bites are usually smaller than hives and have fewer bumps.

- Hives often flare up all over the body, while insect bites are often scattered or found in unprotected skin areas.

- For hives, when you press on the center of the bump on your skin, it may turn from red to white.

- When you have hives, you may experience other symptoms, such as swelling in your eyes, lips, or inside your throat, or if you have trouble breathing.

3. How to treat hives and insect bites

Most cases of hives and insect bites will go away without treatment. However, for quick symptom relief, hives and insect bites can be controlled with antihistamines.

- Treatment of hives

+ Use antihistamines

+ Use oral steroids if hives do not respond to antihistamines or topical steroids.

Using epinephrine when a severe acute allergic reaction can lead to a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis

+ Home treatments: cool baths, loose clothing, and cold compresses. Hydrocortisone cream or over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines can relieve itching and swelling.

- Treatment of insect bites

+ Use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if the sting is painful

+ Use antihistamines to relieve itching (but do not use antihistamine creams if you have caterpillar hairs on your skin).

+ Use hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and swelling

+ Apply cool compresses

+ Note: do not use home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda to treat bites or stings. Do not scratch the bite or sting, as it may become infected.

4. Other skin conditions often confused with hives

Hives are often confused with the following skin problems:

- Angioedema : The cause is usually an allergic reaction, certain medications, or genetic factors. Generally, angioedema is accompanied by swelling of the lips, eyelids, hands, throat, or feet, difficulty breathing, and cramps.

- Eczema (atopic dermatitis) : common in children but can also affect adults. Intense itching (especially at night), fluid-filled pimples, and red to gray-brown patches are signs of eczema, not hives.

+ Rosacea : usually appears as a red rash on the face where swollen blood vessels are visible. It is most common in middle-aged women with fair skin. The bumps look like acne and may contain pus, but the rash is not usually present.

+ Heat rash (also known as prickly heat) : As the name suggests, this condition often appears in hot and humid weather. Like hives, heat rash appears as red bumps on the skin, although heat rash in adults usually occurs in areas where sweat accumulates, such as the armpits, elbow creases, and groin.

+ Contact dermatitis : is a skin reaction caused by direct contact with something you are allergic to, such as soap, jewelry, or plants. The rash may be accompanied by blisters and usually lasts two to four weeks, while hives will appear and disappear within 24 hours.