Question About Hives

[Christine]

I have some hives on my neck. I *think* I know how I got them.

I ordered some mascara from Sephora and they sent me some samples. One of them was some Face Serum by Jurlique, which is supposed to be a very nice product and, I've heard, good for sensitive skin. I applied the serum to my face and neck on Friday night. I think on Saturday morning, I noticed a red mark on my neck but I get LOTS of splotches as that is just my skin. I then reapplied the serum on Saturday night. Neck was a little red after my shower on Sunday but nothing unusual. Late on Sunday, I started to feel itchy and then realized that my neck was irritated. It still didn't occur to me why. I also was wearing a new t-shirt but I was irritated up higher than where the shirt touched.

Yesterday (Monday morning) I woke up and I had some raised welts. I did not use the cream on Sunday night. The redness and welts are confined to the natural creases in my neck and along the thyroid surgery scar that I assumed that the cream was causing this as the creases and scarline was where it settled. I could be wrong though. By the end of the day, the welts and redness were quite a bit better and I thought they were on their way out.

Woke up this morning and they were kind of red. Didn't look too bad after I finished showering and getting dress and didn't feel the need to conceal them. Got to work, still looked good. A few hours later I had my bowl of cereal and then my coworker walked by and said "OMG, what is wrong with your neck." I looked in the mirror and the welts had "blossomed" again.

Now, I know one other time I had an allergic reaction to Neosporin (on my face) and this hive/welt thing went on for close to 3 weeks. Is there anything I can do to stop this. I can't take Benadryl during the day as it makes me very drowy. I did try hyrodcortisone cream but that seemed to make it worse/more inflamed.

Also, can a lotion really break out my neck and NOT my face? I hate hives.

 

[KimR]

Try zyrtec. My DD was getting hives on a daily basis and we isolated the cause to acidic foods, which is in practically everything she likes to eat. Her pediatrician recommended taking zyrtec each day and she hasn't had an outbreak since. Zyrtec is her new best friend.

 

[RadioNate]

I'm currently dealing with them on the palms of my hands. UGH!

I have no answers. Like the PP's daughter, I take daily Zyrtec to keep them at bay (I get them chronically) but it isn't helping the current outbreak on my hands.

Hives are crazy mysterious and it is highly possible you could get them in one place not another. It is all about where the histamines leak not necessarily where their was the direct irritation.

My have been there for 5 days and I'm leaning towards getting a steroid.

 

[Green Tea]

I have found Zyrtec is the best for hives as well.

 

[quasar4legs]

Hives are horrible. My son gets hives from a whole heap of sun blocks and from food colourings.

Hope you are feeling better, maybe try a nice coolish bath with pinetarsil.

Trish

 

[2BigKIdz]

I had hives almost every day for over a year, it was awful! They would pop up everywhere except my face, they would be on my neck just not my face. Anyhow, the dermatologist never could determine where they came from. For a month I took a combination of benadryl, zyrtec and claritin which made me feel like a zombie, none of it helped. They finally disappeared on their own just as quickly as they had appeared. Benadryl normally knocks me out too but once I took it regulary every day for several days it did stop making me tired.

 

[Green Tea]

In addition to the Zyrtec, take Zantac. Yep, the antiacid. Works on rteceptors which are similar to the ones producing histimines or some sort explanation my allergist told me. Pepcid has worked as well on mine.

 

[mom2travel]

I feel your pain - I had them for 2 weeks all around my torso about a month ago - awful!! I used benadryl and calamine lotion. Doctor said claritin or zyrtec might work too
Good luck!

 

[Christine]

Thanks all. I haven't tried taking Zyrtec or anything because I know I will be a zombie with it (I have tried it before). I may give the Pepcid or Zantac a try. Forgot about them being H2 blockers.

I actually have little bumps/welts on my neck that are almost invisible most of the day. For some reason, in the morning after I eat, they just FLARE for about an hour. It's weird. At least I think I know why I have them and it is some sort of contact dermatitis/hives. I just wish it would go away, it looks like someone tried to strangle me at times! Gosh, if was winter I could at least put on a turtleneck.

 

[RadioNate]

Thanks all. I haven't tried taking Zyrtec or anything because I know I will be a zombie with it (I have tried it before). I may give the Pepcid or Zantac a try. Forgot about them being H2 blockers.

I actually have little bumps/welts on my neck that are almost invisible most of the day. For some reason, in the morning after I eat, they just FLARE for about an hour. It's weird. At least I think I know why I have them and it is some sort of contact dermatitis/hives. I just wish it would go away, it looks like someone tried to strangle me at times! Gosh, if was winter I could at least put on a turtleneck.

Zyrtec seems to be the gold standard these days. I think atarax works better but it'll leave you comatose for days! I'm sorta zombied today but I'm on benedryl, zyrtec and have started the Hylands homeopathic hive pills. I don't know if they are working.

I think I'm going to try the pepcid or zantac once I think the benedryl wears off. I've got 13 hours left on the zyrtec.

let us know if it works for you.