Causes of Urticaria (Hives)
What causes hives? There are many different causes of urticaria, but it is mostly related to histamine release, an inflammatory chemical in the immune system. This can occur due to a variety of causal factors such as allergies, a weakened immune system, or certain drug types.
It can be important to have an idea of what is triggering this distress, as it can help you to take preventative measures against future disturbing urticaria bursts.
The causes of urticaria can be explained as follows: (1)
Allergies
Urticaria usually occurs after you have entered your skin with an allergenic substance, such as your skin pollen, stinging nettle or some type of food. When the immune system recognizes them as potentially harmful, it will release an inflammatory chemical substance to attack the potential irritant and to heal the affected area.
Histamine occurs frequently as a result of this chemical reaction, since it enlarges the blood vessels to provide more nutrient flow to the affected area. Sometimes, as a result, blood can leak from the veins and infect the surrounding skin tissue, causing urticaria to appear.
