# Something makes me break out in hives--but what? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 3, 2006, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043 "2006-04-03T08:41:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/1 "2006-04-03T08:41:35Z")
I know a fair number of people who say things like, “Peanut butter has made me break out in hives as long as I can remember”, or “I break out in hives every time I eat salmon–I found that out when my dad took me to such-and-such restaurant when I was 7” or somesuch thing. I’d never heard anybody say “Well, I never had any allergies, I played high school basketball and trained in the military without a problem, but one day when I was 19 I broke out in hives and I had no idea what from”. Then I sat on my couch watching UCLA vs LSU, and I was kind of itchy in a lot of places, but I didn’t think much of it cause I’m kind of an itchy guy most of the time. Suddenly–well, gradually over fifteen minutes or so–the Itch Mothership landed on my back and built up a base, where its Itch Workers frantically mined for gold and there was itching and scratching the likes of which hath never before been seen in my young life. _Great gourds of fire_, I thought, _I’ve never itched like this in my life!_ “Self”, I told myself, “it’s time for an investigation.” So I go to the bathroom and I doff mine shirt, and do turn myself about 180 degrees, and do stare in yonder mirror; Alas! MY WHOLE FUCKING BACK IS RED. ALL OF IT. I freak out, pop two Benadryl, spread Hydrocortisone all over, catch my breath, and go back to the game. This was _breaking out in hives_! This was what allergic people talked about! I’m allergic! To what? I took a shower at my girlfriend’s house that day, and I used her soap, but I’ve used it several times before without problems. I had chili while watching the game, which was unusual, but that too I had had several times before without problems. And anyway, it was my mother’s, and she said all the ingredients were things I’d eaten my entire life in her cooking. There is only one option remaining: I am deathly allergic to boring basketball. Seriously, though, what the hell is going on? How many times will I break out in hives before I figure out what causes it? ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/2 "2006-04-03T08:59:43Z")
Eep! Well… you can suddenly develop allergies seemingly out of the blue. I’ve used Ivory soap for years, but a just a few weeks ago, discovered it makes me break out in itchy, red hives. Is your shirt new? If so, was it starched when you bought it, or have you recently started using starch? When we used to get our annual, free, comapny uniforms from the factory, our shirts came _very_ crisp - starched. It took _several_ washes before they would stop irritating my skin. They, too, would cause itchy red hives all over. Good luck finding out whatever it is. I’ll send you non-itchy vibes. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/3 "2006-04-03T13:33:40Z")
Emotional stress can do it. Lots of stuff can do it. Allergies are weird. You can just wake up allergic one day. Hope you’re feeling better. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/4 "2006-04-03T13:59:25Z")
As a kid I had hives from moldy bread. And in my teens I had a hive breakout one night that we attributed to stress. I hadn’t eaten anything weird or done anything odd as far as we could figure out and I was under a lot of school stress at the time. I haven’t had one in a long time, but it can be something very random. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/5 "2006-04-03T14:08:53Z")
The things you are allergic to can change over time. Also, with rashes, often you could have had previous, lesser reactions that you just didn’t notice before, but each reexposure increases the reaction. I had that problem at work – and since I work at a chemical plant, odd rashes are cause for concern. Started out with an occasional, tiny rash on my wrist. Next time it was larger. Next time, my arms were sleeved in oozing pustules. Turns out they’d changed the laundry detergent used on our uniforms, and I’d developed a nasty sensitivity to it. If it happens again and you’re no closer to finding the cause, call a dermatologist. At least you’ll be able to get a cream or ointment that will soothe the symptoms and clear it up quicker. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/6 "2006-04-03T16:16:41Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > Is your shirt new? If so, was it starched when you bought it, or have you recently started using starch? When we used to get our annual, free, comapny uniforms from the factory, our shirts came very crisp - starched. It took several washes before they would stop irritating my skin. They, too, would cause itchy red hives all over. I’ve had it for almost three years now (I remember cause I bought it in Evanston, IL on a college tour after my junior year of high school). AFAIK it’s never been starched. I’ve been in the Air Force, where your worth is (at least on Lackland AFB) judged on how much starch overkill you can make your uniform suffer; I swear there was more starch than oxygen on that base. Anyway, it never gave me a problem. > [@Lightray](#): > > If it happens again and you’re no closer to finding the cause, call a dermatologist. At least you’ll be able to get a cream or ointment that will soothe the symptoms and clear it up quicker. Actually, it cleared up really quickly with Benadryl and Hydrocortisone. I have no qualms about that. I forgot to mention that in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/7 "2006-04-03T16:22:13Z")
Have you had unusual weather? Is there a lot of pollen right now? ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/8 "2006-04-03T16:28:16Z")
You could be allergic to perfumes or chemicals in the laundry detergent/fabric softener you use. One of my friends was getting burning, itchy rashes on various spots of her body a few years ago and had no idea why. Then one day she spilled a little laundry detergent on her hand and got awful hives where it had touched her skin. She switched to fragrance/dye free detergent and has been fine since. Worth a try, if you’re out of ideas. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/9 "2006-04-03T16:41:00Z")
If it’s really important to find out, start a food diary. Write down _every single thing_ you put into your mouth, and when your hives show up (and other important stuff like new brands of soap, etc). I was tormented by guava (!!) and had no idea, until I realized the new brand of tropical fruit punch I’d switched to contained a tiny bit of it. It was literally the only thing I’d recently introduced to my diet and I never would have thought of it without scrutinizing everything I ate. Lousy guava. Why must you bring such pain? ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/10 "2006-04-03T16:46:23Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Have you had unusual weather? Is there a lot of pollen right now? I live in San Diego. The weather is exactly like it is all year 'round. > [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#): > > You could be allergic to perfumes or chemicals in the laundry detergent/fabric softener you use. One of my friends was getting burning, itchy rashes on various spots of her body a few years ago and had no idea why. Then one day she spilled a little laundry detergent on her hand and got awful hives where it had touched her skin. She switched to fragrance/dye free detergent and has been fine since. Worth a try, if you’re out of ideas. I’ll give it a shot if I remember, but I’ve been using the same one for a while and I’m pretty sure I’ve spilled it before too. ---
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/11 "2006-04-03T16:53:39Z")
I’ve been a beekeeper for 28 years…I literally break into hives. 😃 I’ll be moving along now. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/12 "2006-04-03T19:35:14Z")
> [@hlanelee](#): > > I’ve been a beekeeper for 28 years…I literally break into hives. 😃 > > I’ll be moving along now. :rolleyes: Please stay and let us know the latest buzz. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/13 "2006-04-03T19:48:39Z")
It’s strawberry season in California. Have you been eating a lot of strawberries lately? Strawberry allergy is pretty common. My body decided to be allergic to strawberries when I turned 40. I lived in Ventura County at the time, and that county produced the most mind-blowing strawberries you ever tasted. I was stuffing my face with them. Suddenly I started getting itchy red spots on my wrists, knuckles, trunk and eyelids. I had never before been allergic to berries, but now every strawberry season I get a few hives. I’m taking Claritin for an unrelated problem, but the strawberry hives can sometimes break right through the Claritin. They’re too good to completely, forego, though! ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/14 "2006-04-03T20:01:38Z")
> [@teela brown](#): > > It’s strawberry season in California. Have you been eating a lot of strawberries lately? Strawberry allergy is pretty common. I love strawberries, hardly ever eat them, have never had a problem with them, and in fact haven’t had one since I was in Texas last summer. BTW, I don’t think it’s possible to understand the nature of the strawberry until you’ve had a California strawberry. In the above-mentioned Godforsaken Wet Smelly Armpit of the Universe, otherwise known as San Antonio, myself and the one other trainee from California went nuts when we found out there were strawberries at the mess hall, and all the Southerners shrugged it off like it was nothing. Yet one more reason I don’t understand Southerners. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/15 "2006-04-04T04:00:59Z")
I came into this thread thinking it was a guessing game. I’m very sad to see there will be no prizes for any winners… ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/16 "2006-04-04T06:01:42Z")
Greetings fellow bizarre, unexplained hives sufferer. This may or may not apply to you (because hives are weird like that), but I will tell you what my doctor and dermatologist told me. Hives are weird. _In some cases_ they can have many triggers that often will change over time and are downright maddening to track down. For a few people, you will never be able to convincingly say “\_\_\_\_\_\_ gives me hives” because it may one day, but not the next time. I’ve tracked food, stress levels, detergents, etc. for over two years now, trying to find the trigger, but no luck. In my particular case, I treat the symptoms rather than trying to find the cause. It occasionally pisses me off, but it’s been largely manageable. Good luck. YMMV, IANAD, and all that. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/17 "2006-04-04T11:57:45Z")
My mother recently decided that she’s allergic to sulfites, which cause a similar problem. Just google sulfite allergy. But get tested first for other allergies. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/18 "2006-04-05T04:59:28Z")
Last year, my eyelids were peeling, and I mean in big flakes and strips. I would hardly believe it myself, except that it was me. And it did stop around the time that I got sort of a handle on that one terrible period of 9th graders… Stress. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-makes-me-break-out-in-hives-but-what/351043/19 "2006-04-05T05:04:34Z")
I heard of one guy who was tested for allergens over and over, but nothing was found. When he went on vacation, his symptoms went away. You see, the area didn’t have his favorite canned corn.