So, I’m having some sort of allergic reaction. I don’t know what to-I haven’t changed detergents, eating habits or whatnot. I do have incredibly sensitive skin, prone to reactions to just about anything though.
So, I could feel them start to come up as I walked home from the train station this evening. Actually, if I’m honest, I knew they were coming up before I left work, but I chose to ignore them, since there wasn’t much time left. I’ve used the little benadryl lotion I had here-usually the champ for kicking them down. I thought I had an extra bottle, but it turns out that I didn’t. I’ll pick up more tomorrow, but that doesn’t help now. I’m also going to try to get in to see my dermatologist tomorrow, but I may not be able to.
Any other suggestions for getting rid of these?? I’ve not had a reaction this bad in years, so I’m wondering if there may be anything new on the market that might help.
OTC diphenhydramine pills or capsules (TM Benadryl) taken orally 25-50 mg every 6 hours as needed can abate lesser symptoms more readily than topical benadryl. But by all means see your dermatologist, to help determine what may be triggering them! And if you start having trouble breathing, log off the internet and call 911!
In my experience (18 years an MD) most people get hives once or twice in a lifetime, and no cause is discernable. If they respond to benadryl or other simple treatment, no biggie. But if you have continued recurrences, or act shocky (faint, trouble breathing, swelling up) its worth an allergy workup to try to determine the cause
OK, I break out in hives like that almost daily–any time I shower, excersise, get rained on, get stressed, get tired, get cold, and often for no reason at all. They vary from a light sprinkle to a head-to-toe (including ears, nostrils, navel, etc) break out. I never get shocky or anything. I can’t take benyadryl and still be functional–I keep some in the house in case I ever have a really severe outbreak, but a benyadryl means that I am not going anywhere but to bed for 12 hours. Is there anything else I can do?
You can talk to your doc about both allergy testing, to see what’s triggering you, and about the prescription-nonsedating antihistamines like claritin, zyrtec, or allegra.